Water Quality Program Specialist*

Madison, City of (WI); Madison (WI); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Madison Water Utility is seeking a Program Specialist-Water Quality to coordinate water quality programs, respond to customer concerns, and support well-related initiatives. You will work with the Water Resources section with limited supervision, following policies and developing procedures to meet program goals.

This role supports water sampling, cross connection control, and public education efforts, with opportunities to engage with diverse communities and provide clear

Qualifications

• Three years of technical or administrative experience in water, natural resources, or related field with emphasis on customer service.
• Or two years of technical office/field work supporting engineering activities with emphasis on customer service.
• Or vocational training in civil engineering technology/environmental studies/geography/geology may substitute for experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, water resources, or related field may substitute for the experience requirement.

Responsibilities

• Respond to water quality complaints or questions and coordinate with other areas of the water utility.
• Maintain records of customer correspondence and prepare periodic reports.
• Update water quality information on the website, including private well permitting and wellhead protection pages.
• Provide support for water sampling/compliance monitoring and cross connection control programs.
• Update and maintain electronic database of residential cross connection surveys.

Skills

Customer service

Data entry

Record keeping

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, water resources, or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

GIS software

Database management

Job description

The City of Madison Water Utility is looking for qualified applicants for our Program Specialist-Water Quality vacancy. This position conducts responsible program coordination, project collaboration, and specialized work in the Water Utility’s Water Resources section. The work involves receiving and following up on customer water quality concerns, coordinating the Utility’s Private Well Program, and assisting with Wellhead Protection Program reviews, outreach, and educational activities. This position also provides support for other water resource priorities including water quality monitoring and cross connection control. Good customer service skills are essential to assist customers in understanding and resolving water quality issues and to communicate clearly the requirements of the Private Well Program and Wellhead Protection Program. With limited supervision from the program supervisor and section manager, the position requires the exercise of judgment and discretion in the independent interpretation of policies and development of procedures. This position reports to the Water Quality Program Supervisor.

Employees may be eligible for loan forgiveness through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Black, Indigenous, people of color, women, trans, nonbinary, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. We value the unique blend of lived experiences and diverse perspectives that comes from non-traditional education pathways and the variety of transferrable skills each candidate brings to the table. We value diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Even if every item on the job posting doesn’t match your experience perfectly, we encourage you to apply and share how your skills and experience can best serve our community.

General Water Resources Program Administration

• Respond to customer complaints and/or questions about water quality, coordinating with other areas of the water utility when action or information is needed.
• Maintain records of customer correspondence.
• Prepare periodic reports.
• Maintain, organize, and update water quality information for the water utility website. Review and provide updates to website program pages for private well permitting and abandonment, wellhead protection, and cross connection control.
• Provide technical and administrative support for water sampling/compliance monitoring and cross connection control programs.
• Update and maintain electronic database of residential cross connection control surveys.

Private Well Program Coordination (Permitting and Abandonment)

• Receive and process well operation permit applications.
• Coordinate with inspectors for well inspection, well sampling, and abandonments.
• Prepare periodic reports on well permitting and abandonment activities.
• Determine applicability of private well permitting and water service connection requirements for locations served by a private well.
• Receive and evaluate completeness of requests for delayed connections.
• Prepare official notices for compliance.
• Communicate program objectives to well owners and contractors.
• Process reimbursement applications for the abandonment of private wells and connection to municipal water.
• Coordinate surveys for unabandoned private wells, for applicable properties.
• Maintain records of correspondence and compliance.

Wellhead Protection Program Coordination

• Assist with the review of proposed land uses, or changes in use, for parcels located within Wellhead Protection Zones/Districts. Gather necessary information from project representatives and property owners and maintain records of correspondence, development plans, and active reviews.
• Assist with updating contaminated source inventories for municipal wells utilizing government records, electronic databases, reconnaissance surveys and personal accounts; Develop and maintain an electronic database to document the contaminant source inventory results; Coordinate updates to wellhead protection plan maps and tables that include new surveillance information.
• Assist with the development and implementation of a public education and awareness program for wellhead protection activities; Provide copies of wellhead protection plans to neighboring municipalities; Prepare and distribute informational brochures to elected officials, City committee members, residents and property owners with existing or potential contaminant sources in the WHPA, local schools and the general public; attend neighborhood and public meetings and lead discussions.

Perform other job-related assignments as assigned.

• Three (3) years of technical or administrative experience in a water or natural resources management related field, utility operations, regulatory compliance, or similar areas, with an emphasis on customer service.

OR

• Two (2) years of experience performing technical office and/or field work in support of engineering activities, with an emphasis on customer service.

OR

• Vocational school or college training in the area of civil engineering technology, environmental studies, geography, geology, or a closely related area may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for the experience.

OR

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, water resources, or a related field may be substituted for the experience requirement.

The City of Madison strives to provide exceptional customer service to all its residents and visitors. Therefore successful candidates will have demonstrated ability to effectively work with multicultural communities.

For the complete list of the knowledge, skills, and abilities, please reference the Engineering Aide 1 classification specification.

Possession of a valid driver's license.

Physical Requirements

Employee can expect to work at a desk and computer for extended periods of time entering data and producing reports and/or planning documents. Limited field reconnaissance work may be expected. Employee may be expected to periodically attend meetings outside the normal work schedule, including evenings and/or weekends. Employees must be able to lift/carry objects weighing up to 20 pounds on a periodic basis.
*Payroll title for this position is Engineering Aide 1.