Ecological Restoration Engineer

DER seeks an experienced professional to join our team as an Ecological Restoration Engineer within the Technical Services Branch.  The Technical Service Branch provides restoration planning, engineering assistance, knowledge management, and other services in support of DER’s restoration programs, operations, and communications. 

The Ecological Restoration Engineer (Restoration Engineer) works across restoration programs to build and support the Division’s restoration engineering and project management approaches.  The Restoration Engineer works closely with Restoration Section staff to support and enhance the quality, efficiency, and technical rigor of DER’s restoration work.  The position requires significant leadership, sound professional judgment, and a high level of professional expertise with ecological restoration, engineering in riverine and wetland settings, and the discipline of project management.  They will develop and launch DER’s Project Engineering and Management strategy, implement technical QA/QC processes, and provide engineering technical assistance to DER staff, partners, and projects.  The position will support project engineering and management capabilities for a diverse range of restoration activities, including wetland restoration, river and stream continuity, dam removal, retired cranberry bog restoration, and regional restoration partnerships.  The outcomes of this work will build DER and partner capacity to reduce project risks, improve project management practices, and increase the pace, scale, and impact of restoration throughout Massachusetts.

A cover letter and resume must be submitted as part of the application process and attached “as relevant” to the requisition.

The Ecological Restoration Engineer will be based in DER’s Boston office; the position will follow a hybrid schedule, consisting of in-office and telework.  In-state travel to meetings and site visits is required.

DETAILED STATEMENT OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

These duties will be carried out in close collaboration with DER’s Habitat Restoration and Capacity Building branches and other Division staff.

• Develop and Implement DER’s Restoration Engineering Approach (40%)

o   Assess DER’s current approach to restoration engineering, including dam removal, culvert upgrade, coastal wetland restoration, and other restoration project types.

o   Develop and implement a comprehensive restoration engineering approach that includes ecological restoration engineering best practices, policies, procedures, and standards. 

o   Ensure projects use best engineering practices, incorporate climate change appropriately into design work, and utilize DER’s internal knowledge base of proven methods and lessons learned.

o   Develop and implement the Division’s approach for technical QA/QC review of restoration engineering and design products.  Determine appropriate QA/QC measures to mitigate risks and ensure successful outcomes from project selection through post-construction monitoring and adaptive management.

o   Serve as a restoration engineering advisor on select restoration projects with complex engineering, hydrologic, and other needs.

o   Regularly review and update DER’s restoration engineering strategy and services to respond to changing needs.

• Develop restoration engineering and project management tools, trainings, and other resources (30%)

o   Develop restoration engineering tools and resources including manuals, templates, punch lists, training materials, presentations, scopes of work, and standards and specifications.

o   Fully document DER’s project management approach, principles, processes, and practices, and distill into comprehensive and standardized project management manuals, guidance, tools, and trainings.

o   Develop and deliver training programs and workshops restoration engineering and project management best practices.

o   Support the incorporation of project manager knowledge and other PEM resources into DER’s knowledge base.

o   Help DER share restoration engineering and project management best practices with outside audiences.

• Serve as the Division’s expert in the science and practice of project management (20%)

o   Maintain knowledge and expertise in the science and practice of project management.

o   Identify project management best practices that would be useful for DER’s restoration work.

o   Help Division staff integrate project management best practices into their work.

o   Lead development of a project management manual and a knowledge base of related resources, including standards, best practices, and lessons learned.

o   Provide ongoing project management training, learning, and other structures, services, and resources.

• Perform duties in support of DER operations (10%)

o   Contribute to DER’s strategic and annual work planning processes.

o   Collaborate with the Technical Services Branch Manager and staff to build the capacity of the Branch and support programmatic development and budget planning.

o   Provide PEM information to support project, program, and division-wide reporting and communications needs, including budget planning, grant reporting, newsletters, website, and social media.

o   Maintain accurate, organized data, files, and other information.

o   Represent DER in public forums and present at professional conferences.

o   Provide technical and organizational support to other DER staff and directors.

o   Collaborate with other DER staff to enhance professional, project, program, branch, and Division development.

o   Contribute to interagency coordination and policy activities.

o   Represent the Division in public forums and present at professional conferences.

o   Other duties as assigned.

https://massanf.taleo.net/careersection/ex/jobdetail.ftl?job=240000TZ