MPDES Permitting Section Supervisor

Water Resources Office; Helena (MT); On-site; USD 85,000 - 93,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Telework eligible

Health Insurance

Paid Leave & Holidays

Retirement Plan

Job summary

The Montana Department of Environmental Quality's Water Protection Bureau seeks an MPDES Section Supervisor to lead a permitting team and translate complex requirements into clear priorities. You will learn the program and provide sound supervisory judgment, offering guidance to staff while delivering defensible decisions.

You will set timelines, provide feedback, and foster a collaborative environment that balances technical risk with timely action, supporting professional growth and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent deduction.
• Three years of progressively responsible experience including leadership or supervision.
• Experience managing multiple priorities and meeting deadlines.
• Preferred experience with planning, resource allocation, and stakeholder outreach.

Responsibilities

• Lead MPDES permitting team, set priorities, timelines and review focus.
• Provide timely, meaningful feedback and support professional growth.
• Balance technical complexity and legal risk to deliver defensible decisions.
• Build relationships across the bureau and agency to surface concerns constructively.

Skills

Leadership

Curiosity

Judgment

Learning new material

Communication

Relationship building

Prioritization

Decision making

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Job description

Job Description - MPDES Permitting Section Supervisor (26142705)

Position Title:

We are looking for an MPDES Section Supervisor who brings strong leadership, curiosity, and a commitment to helping people succeed. As part of the Water Protection Bureau, you will lead the team responsible for MPDES (Montana Pollution Discharge Elimination System) permitting; help staff navigate complex technical and regulatory questions and produce clear, well-supported, defensible permitting decisions; and build strong working relationships across the bureau and agency. You do not need to arrive as a permitting expert. You do need the ability and commitment to learn the program's technical and legal requirements quickly enough to exercise sound supervisory judgement, recognize when additional expertise is needed, and make timely decisions. We are looking for someone who asks thoughtful questions, listens to different perspectives, and helps a team turn complex requirements into clear priorities and practical next steps.

As the section supervisor, you will set clear priorities, expectations, and timelines; track progress; and resolve barriers to completing permitting work. You will help the team focus review where technical complexity and legal risk warrant it and streamline routine work without sacrificing quality. You will provide timely, meaningful feedback to the team, address performance concerns constructively, and support the professional growth of your team. The Water Protection Bureau values a collaborative environment where people share knowledge, ask questions, raise concerns respectfully, and work through challenges together. The successful candidate will be a person who shares and promotes these values.

We are looking for someone who can lead people while learning a complex program. The strongest candidates will bring:

• Experience leading a team, setting direction, and helping others succeed
• Curiosity, sound judgment, and the ability to learn unfamiliar technical and regulatory material quickly
• The confidence to ask questions and the humility to recognize and support others with relevant expertise
• Strong communication and relationship‑building skills, including the ability to surface concerns, explain decisions, and navigate disagreement constructively
• The ability to organize and prioritize work, make timely decisions, follow through, and adapt quickly as priorities change

The Water Protection Bureau is comprised of a passionate team of individuals who work on complex challenges at the intersection of Montana law, environmental protection, and economic development. At the Department of Environmental Quality, our ultimate goal is to champion a healthy environment for a thriving Montana. DEQ employees are the heart of our organization. We value the people and invest in their professional growth, promoting a culture of cross-agency collaboration as we find solutions to the environmental challenges we face. DEQ values – leadership, accountability, customer service, efficiency, excellence, and decision making – are fundamental to our work. Come be a part of the Department of Environmental Quality.

The MPDES Section Supervisor position includes a career ladder for professional development and pay progression. This position may be eligible for occasional telework.

Effective February 23, 2026, this agency participates in E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility. After accepting a job offer and completing Form I-9, your information will be submitted to the Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration for verification. For more information about E-Verify, please visit the E-Verify website found here, https://www.e-verify.gov/ .

Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent deduction.

Three years of progressively responsible experience including demonstrated leadership or supervision, may include experience from informal roles, and proven ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.

Preferred experience with business and management principles involved in planning, resource allocation, setting priorities, human resources management, leadership techniques, coordination of people and resources, and communication skills focused on stakeholder outreach.

Preferred education in water quality.

May require current valid Driver's License and clean driving record in accordance with State of Montana Vehicle Use Policy.

Alternative combinations of education and experience may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Applicant Pool Statement: If another department vacancy occurs in this job title within six months, the same applicant pool may be used for the selection. Training Assignment: This agency may use a training assignment. Employees in training assignments may be paid below the base pay established by the agency pay rules. Conditions of the training assignment will be stated in writing at the time of hire.

Salary: $

85,044.00 - 92,506.00 Yearly Telework Eligibility : Telework Eligible (Full-time telework is not available. Telework schedule must be supervisor approved.) Benefits Package Eligibility : Health Insurance, Paid Leave & Holidays, Retirement Plan

Number of Openings

1 Employee Status : Regular Schedule : Full-Time

Job Type

Standard

Shift

Day Job

Travel

Yes, 15 % of the Time

Primary Location

Helena Agency : Department of Environmental Quality Union : 000 - None

Posting Date

Closing Date (based on your computer's timezone)

Required Application Materials

Cover Letter, Resume

Contact Name: Tiffany Daley | Contact Email: [e-mail] | Contact Phone: [phone] Anyone who needs to request a reasonable accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the HR staff identified on the job listing or by dialing the Montana Relay at 711. Montana Job Service Offices also offer services including assistance with submitting an online application.

State government does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth or medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, marital status, creed, political beliefs or affiliation, veteran status, military service, retaliation, or any other factor not related to merit and qualifications of an employee or applicant.