Regulatory Affairs Officer

Prince William Water; Woodbridge (VA); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Prince William Water seeks a regulatory affairs professional to oversee compliance initiatives across water and wastewater programs. The role supports the Director of Environmental Services and Water Reclamation, coordinating with state and federal agencies to implement and monitor regulatory requirements.

You will draft policy papers, manage permit activities, and communicate complex regulatory changes to internal teams, ensuring timely reporting and public communications where needed.

Qualifications

• Familiarity with environmental laws and regulations.
• Ability to interpret complex regulatory language and draft guidance.
• Experience coordinating permits and reporting with regulators.

Responsibilities

• Brief the Director and staff regarding regulatory agendas and actions, prepare briefing papers, and recommend courses of action for compliance.
• Apprise divisions of compliance responsibilities and assist with plans to implement regulations.
• Lead staff for new permitting activities and renewals, coordinating strategy and documentation for air, potable water, wastewater, and stormwater permits.
• Review industrial pretreatment permit applications, conduct inspections, and liaise with industry on regulatory requirements.
• Prepare annual Consumer Confidence Reports and coordinate submission to the Virginia Department of Health, ensuring compliance.
• Represent Prince William Water before agencies and legislators on regulatory issues.

Skills

Regulatory compliance

Policy analysis

Legislation monitoring

Environmental science

Water treatment knowledge

Job description

Position Summary

**This position is eligible for a partial telework schedule, with a combination of on-site and remote work based on job responsibilities and operational needs.**
Provides in-depth professional research, analysis, and evaluation of regulatory activities impacting the water and wastewater treatment industry and directives of Federal, State, and local entities; monitors Prince William Water's regulatory programs to ensure timely compliance with all regulatory obligations; advises the Director of Environmental Services and Water Reclamation and others of the technical, operational and financial impacts of existing and proposed regulatory rules, regulations, and directives and informs the same of schedules for rulemaking, issues, and initiatives. This position reports to the Director of Environmental Services and Water Reclamation. Demonstrates a commitment and supports a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Position Responsibilities / Essential Job Functions

• Brief the Director of Environmental Services and Water Reclamation and staff regarding regulatory agendas, actions, proposed activities, and resulting potential impacts; prepare briefing papers as regulatory legislation develops or regulatory actions progress; and recommend courses of action for resolution or compliance.
• Apprise Prince William Water Divisions of compliance responsibilities and assist the Divisions with plans and schedules to implement new, existing, or revised regulations pertinent to their respective operations and activities.
• Serve as the lead staff member for all new permitting activities and renewals except for construction-related permits. Coordinates with other Prince William Water staff in developing strategy, resolving obstacles, and preparing documentation to support Prince William Water permitting requirements, including air, potable water, wastewater, and stormwater. Serve as a resource for Division Directors in their execution of requirements in support of existing regulatory programs.
• Review industrial pretreatment permit applications, perform permitting research, propose to allow limitations and/or monitoring requirements, write new permits and renew existing permits, conduct industrial users' annual site inspections and inspection reports, approve industrial users' batch discharges, and act as a liaison to industry.
• Assist with the preparation of the annual Consumers Confidence Reports (Annual Water Quality Report), distribute to customers, submit to the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), and prepare certification of compliance.
• Represent Prince William Water on security, regulatory compliance, and drought issues in the Washington Area Metropolitan Council of Governments.
• Manage the BioSentry and Terrorism monitoring program.
• Develop all policies and procedures regarding regulatory requirements. In coordination with the Communications and Community Engagement Division, develop public information materials.
• Serve as the primary point of contact with the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), and other local, State, and Federal agencies and legislators concerning regulatory issues.
• Implement compliance with new regulatory requirements for water and sewer systems; trains appropriate staff; and drafts regulations and guidelines for other Prince William Water divisions and personnel.
• Review proposed legislation and regulations at the national, state, and local levels and determine the impact on Prince William Water; works with Prince William Water staff; recommends proposed courses of action to the Director of Environmental Services and Water Reclamation and the Deputy General Manager/Chief Operating Officer; and assists with implementation.
• Monitor the development of proposed legislation and proposed regulations from draft to final stages of development and keep the Director and the Deputy General Manager/Chief Operating Officer, and staff apprised of evolving changes; work with legislators and government agencies to promote Prince William Water interests.
• Participate in initiatives and legislative strategy development and manage the initiation through the legislative cycle.
• Participate with other appropriate Prince William Water staff members in the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), Virginia Association of Municipal Wastewater Agencies (VAMWA), the Water Environment Federation (WEF), Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA), the American Water Works Association (AWWA), the Virginia Section of the American Water Works Association (VA AWWA) and the Virginia Water Environment Association (VWEA) proceedings and meetings, technical seminars, committee workshops and other similar activities to develop industry strategies, positions and concepts for interfacing with legislative and regulatory bodies.
• Participate in projects that benefit Prince William Water and industry goals for treating water, wastewater, and residuals most effectively and efficiently.
• Under the supervision of the Director of Environmental Services and Water Reclamation, drafts and coordinates position papers and proposed correspondence for the Deputy General Manager/Chief Operating Officer to provide Prince William Water input into the legislative and regulatory process. Serves on legislative and regulatory committees to promote sound legislation and regulations development when such participation is directly beneficial to Prince William Water.
• Represent Prince William Water to outside groups and organizations; participate in external community and professional groups and committees; provide technical assistance as necessary.
• Makes presentations to the press, councils, boards, commissions, civic groups, employee groups, and the general public on regulatory compliance issues.
• Research and prepare technical and administrative reports; prepare written correspondence. Builds and maintains positive working relationships with co-workers, other employees, and the public using principles of good customer service.
• Operate a Prince William Water vehicle.
• May be deemed essential at any time.
• Perform other duties as assigned or required.

Essential Skills and Experience

Essential Competencies:

• Knowledge of the natural sciences (chemistry, biology, etc.), environmental and general engineering concepts related to the development, operation and maintenance of water reclamation facilities and related activities; environmental laws, regulations, practices and concept of treatment process operations; governmental regulatory agencies such as, but not limited to EPA and DEQ and technical regulatory watch associations such as, but not limited to NACWA, AMWA, VA AWWA, VDH and VAMWA; principles and practices of water treatment, process of water treatment, laboratory testing techniques and protocols; principles and practices of leadership, motivation, team building and conflict resolution; principles and practices of business correspondence and report writing; pertinent local, State and Federal rules, regulations and laws; principles and practices of supervision, training and personnel management; modern office procedures, methods and computer equipment; and English usage, spelling and grammar.
• Ability to organize, direct and implement a comprehensive regulatory compliance program; on a continuous basis, analyze technical reports and information; interpret and evaluate staff reports; know laws, regulations and codes; observe performance and evaluate staff; remember various rules and procedures; supervise, train and assess laboratory personnel; interpret and explain policies and procedures; analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions and implement recommendations in support of goals; present complex technical issues in lay terms