Assistant Division Chief, Technical Analysis Section (Environmental Manager II)

Maryland-Department-of-Transportatio; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The State Highway Administration's Office of Planning and Preliminary Engineering in Baltimore seeks an Assistant Division Chief to lead the Technical Analysis Section (Environmental Manager II). You will supervise teams handling highway noise, natural resources, and air quality while ensuring compliance with 23 CFR 772 and state laws.

This role requires extensive leadership, project management, and regulatory expertise, with strong communication skills for government and public interactions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in natural sciences or related field.
• Nine years of environmental analysis experience required.
• Nine years of environmental management experience including supervision.
• Two years of noise/acoustical analysis experience for transportation projects.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the Technical Analysis Section within OPPE.
• Lead noise, natural resources, and air quality teams to meet regs.
• Direct planning, prioritization, and execution of noise impact studies.
• Collaborate with FHWA and other agencies on environmental compliance.

Skills

Leadership ability

Noise analysis

Project management

Regulatory knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in natural sciences

Tools

Windows 11

MS Office 365

Adobe tools

GIS mapping

Job description

(Open Recruitment)

State Highway Administration

Assistant Division Chief, Technical Analysis Section (Environmental Manager II)

Grade 21 (8438) SP# 26-50-10

The State Highway Administration's (SHA) Office of Planning and Preliminary Engineering (Baltimore City) is currently recruiting for an Assistant Division Chief, Technical Analysis Section (Environmental Manager II) position. This position is open to anyone who meets the minimum and selective qualifications listed below. All eligible candidates must meet the minimum and selective qualifications by the closing date. This is a position specific recruitment. The resulting list of eligible candidates will be used to fill this vacancy or function only. You will need to reapply for any future recruitment conducted for this job classification.

Nature of Work

This position supports the Division Chief of the Environmental Planning Division by overseeing the Technical Analysis Section within the Office of Planning and Preliminary Engineering. The role provides leadership to teams specializing in highway noise, natural resources, and air quality, ensuring that all technical work meets state and federal requirements. A central responsibility is managing the Noise Analysis Team’s workload, including the completion of highway noise studies, preparation of technical reports, and communication with the public and elected officials. The Assistant Division Chief directs the planning, prioritization, and execution of community noise impact studies and specialized research projects to ensure full compliance with 23 CFR 772. This individual serves as the agency’s primary liaison to the Federal Highway Administration on matters of noise policy and regulatory interpretation. The role includes conducting engineering feasibility assessments, cost-benefit evaluations, and risk analyses to help safeguard the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) from potential liabilities.

This individual ensures that the Technical Analysis Section operates in accordance with EPLD, OPPE, and SHA policies and guidance, and that all work is consistent with state and federal environmental laws. Collaboration with FHWA and other regulatory partners is a key component of maintaining program alignment across the areas of noise, natural resources, and air quality.

Additional responsibilities include contributing to policy development, establishing performance measures, completing special assignments, and resolving conflicts both within SHA and with external agencies. The Assistant Division Chief functions as a subject‑matter expert in the project development process, providing leadership in noise and air quality analysis and ensuring technical proficiency across the division. It promotes decision‑making that appropriately balances environmental impacts with engineering standards and project needs.

The role also includes personnel leadership such as participating in hiring decisions, recommending promotions and reassignments, identifying training needs, and managing staffing resources. Alongside the Division Chief, the individual manages resource allocation for personnel, time, and materials. Responsibilities extend to overseeing consultant contracts, including a Maryland Environmental Services MOU, managing interagency agreements with federal offices, and supervising the review and processing of federal agency invoices.

MDOT offers a generous and competitive benefits package. You can learn about our amazing benefits here MDOT Benefits Guide.

The State Highway Administration (SHA) has been named a Training magazine Training Awards winner for the seventh consecutive year.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in natural sciences, earth science, physical science, environmental science, chemistry, physics, biology, agronomy, horticulture or related sciences, forestry, geography, environmental planning, civil engineering, sociology, economics, planning, anthropology, architectural history, or related fields such as ecology, landscape architecture, or environmental engineering.
• Nine (9) years of experience in environmental analysis, to include the development of plans, specifications, estimates and design.
• Nine (9) years of experience in environmental management to include the development, implementation and monitoring of environmental compliance plans for air quality, storm water management, wastewater treatment, hazardous waste management, pollution prevention, solid waste management or multi‑media operations, two years of which must include experience supervising employees, consultants or contractors in an environmental area.
• Two (2) years of experience in the principles, practices, procedures, and methodology related to noise and acoustical analysis for transportation projects including all associated federal laws and regulations.

*This statement contains a selective qualification, which is more focused in scope than the minimum qualifications for this classification. Selective qualifications are utilized when the position requires specific or additional bona fide occupational qualifications (i.e., knowledge, skill or ability).

Preferred Qualification

• Proficient in Windows 11, MS Office 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), and Adobe tools.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to build effective working relationships and collaborate across teams.
• Skilled in negotiation and conflict resolution, including in challenging settings.
• Able to lead teams and work independently under deadline pressure.
• Capable of advising on and resolving transportation‑related environmental engineering issues.
• Ability to support project managers in minimizing and mitigating environmental impacts.
• Skilled in interpreting maps, plans, and technical specifications.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local environmental laws, regulations, and guidance.
• Knowledge of research methods and statistical data analysis.
• Knowledge of consultant contract management and procurement.
• At least two years of supervisory experience in an environmental field.
• Knowledge of noise and air quality analysis methods and governing regulations.
• Ability to provide leadership and technical expertise in assigned environmental disciplines.
• Knowledge of environmental resource management, preservation, and enhancement.
• Understanding of acoustics fundamentals and the application of complex acoustical models.
• Ability to manage multiple technical projects and prioritize concurrent tasks.
• Ability to prepare and deliver environmental‑related presentations to staff and agencies.
• Ability to review and critique technical materials, engineering measures, and proposed mitigation.

Notes

• 1. Possession of a master's degree in one of the disciplines required may be substituted for one year of the required non‑supervisory experience.
• 2. Possession of a doctorate's degree in one of the disciplines required may be substituted for two years of the required non‑supervisory experience.
• 3. U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as defined under the Minimum Qualifications may be substituted for the required experience on a year‑for‑year basis.

Candidate must possess a motor vehicle operator's license valid in the state of Maryland.

Special Requirements

• Ability to interpret and apply state and federal laws, regulations, and guidelines, and guide others in their use.
• Ability to supervise, motivate staff, and maintain effective communication with supervisors.
• Ability to plan, direct, coordinate, assign, and evaluate work across multi‑disciplinary teams and manage multiple tasks.
• Strong conflict‑resolution skills and ability to maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to prepare clear, concise, and comprehensive reports.
• Ability to interpret maps, plans, and technical specifications.
• Ability to coordinate work with contractors and technical personnel.
• Strong oral and written communication skills for interacting with agencies, the public, and other SHA stakeholders.

The selected candidate may be subject to background and reference checks. A conviction is not an automatic disqualification from employment. Bilingual applicants are encouraged to apply.

Please Note: The State Highway Administration is not sponsoring new employees in application of the H‑1B Visa or providing an extension of an existing H‑1B Visa at this time due to budgetary constraints. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Federal regulations prohibit H‑1B Visa candidates from paying sponsorship fees, all sponsorship fees must be assumed by the potential employer.

Appropriate auxiliary aids and services for qualified individuals with disabilities will be provided upon request.

Applicants who have education obtained outside of the U.S. will be required to provide proof of the equivalent U.S. education as determined by a foreign credential evaluation service, such as the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services or World Education Services: International Credential Evaluation.

The incumbent in this position will not be a member of a covered bargaining unit.

WE ARE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. SHA does not discriminate based on age, ancestry, color, creed, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, mental or physical disability, national origin, race, religious affiliation, belief or opinion, sex, or sexual orientation.

Issue Date: 10/28/2026