Join the NepRWA team and help make a difference in your community!
Employment Opportunities
Immediate Opening: Stormwater and Water Conservation Specialist
Organizational Background
The Neponset River Watershed Association is a regional nonprofit conservation group working to protect and restore the natural resources of the 14-town watershed area that drains to the Neponset River in Greater Boston. The Association’s tight knit and mission-driven staff of eight applies its expertise in watershed science, policy, and communications to the cross-disciplinary challenges of managing an urban watershed.
Two critical goals for the Association are to reduce stormwater pollution and restore more natural streamflow patterns in our highly developed watershed. Toward those ends, we work with municipalities and property owners to reduce polluted stormwater runoff, increase groundwater recharge, reduce peak flows, and reduce the volume of water diverted from the watershed by municipal water supply and wastewater management activities.
Position Description
The Association has an immediate opening for a part-time Stormwater and Water Conservation Specialist. The Specialist will work alongside our other program staff to provide technical assistance, training, and outreach to residents, business owners and municipalities on stormwater management and water conservation issues. This may include activities such as:
- Working with businesses or municipal staff to evaluate opportunities to install stormwater BMP retrofits or update fixtures to increase water efficiency.
- Analyzing water use data to recommend and implement targeted water conservation outreach interventions and/or incentives.
- Contacting landscapers and retailers to encourage compliance with the MA fertilizer law and best practices.
- Delivering technical training for municipal staff, business groups or local residents on stormwater and water conservation topics and organizing training to be delivered by third party instructors.
- Helping to organize regional collaboration among municipalities in order to more efficiently implement stormwater and water conservation initiatives.
- Working with citizen and institutional volunteers to conduct education and implementation tasks such as installation of educational signage or constructing demonstration best management practices for stormwater.
Applicant Qualifications
The successful applicant should have a bachelors or masters degree in civil or environmental engineering, hydrology, geology, water resource management or a related field. Experience with stormwater management, water supply, and/or wastewater management will be invaluable as will experience working with municipalities. Experience with locating and designing stormwater best management practices and/or management of municipal water conservation programs will be very helpful.
The position requires strong analytical skills, including the ability to use spreadsheet, database, and GIS software to collect and make sense of environmental and utility data and develop evidence-based strategies to achieve environmental results.
The position requires strong communication and interpersonal skills that will allow the Specialist to effectively engage, educate, motivate and assist local residents, business owners, municipal staff, and volunteers in various settings including over the phone, through one on one interaction, group meetings, workshops and written communications.
Finally, the successful applicant will be excited about the opportunity to work in the nonprofit sector and apply their creativity and skills to produce tangible environmental results in partnership with a small team that has the freedom to focus on achieving meaningful conservation outcomes.
Position Details and Application Process
This is a part-time (20 hr/week) permanent position, with the potential to expand to full time work in the future if desired. The schedule is very flexible and the position is based out of the Association’s office in Canton MA. Applicants must have their own transportation and be comfortable working outdoors on uneven terrain. The position requires occasional participation in evening or weekend meetings or events. The position reports to the Association’s Executive Director. Compensation is commensurate with experience.
Applicants should forward a resume and a cover letter explaining their interest and relevant qualifications via email to Ian Cooke, Executive Director at cooke@neponset.org.
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. We expect to begin scheduling interviews for promising candidates by mid-June 2018. Visit www.neponset.org/about/employment.
Volunteer Positions
Citizen Water Monitoring Network Volunteers Needed!
“CWMN” is an important Water Sampling Volunteer Program that NepRWA has been managing for over 20 years.
We always need back up or fill-in volunteers to sample on days when our regular volunteers aren’t able to.
If you or anyone you know might be interested in helping us out, please email Annie O’Connell at o’connell@neponset.org.
We have many volunteer opportunities throughout the year. To learn more, visit Volunteer Opportunities or call the Watershed Association office at 781-575-0354.
