Section Chief, Stormwater Inspection & Maintenance Program (Manager III, Grade M3)

As Section Chief, you will be the strategic leader driving Montgomery County’s stormwater inspection and maintenance programs. You’ll set the vision, establish priorities, and ensure the County meets its legal, environmental, and MS4 obligations with excellence. You’ll lead complex countywide operations—directing triennial inspections, overseeing major maintenance and engineering contracts, and guiding compliance efforts for privately owned stormwater systems. You’ll make high-impact decisions that shape program direction, resource allocation, and long-term infrastructure performance.

You’ll also be the chief integrator and problem-solver: coordinating across agencies, advising senior leadership, and using data and asset-management tools to strengthen program accountability, transparency, and results. Most importantly, you’ll lead and inspire a multidisciplinary team—cultivating collaboration, developing staff talent, and building a workplace that delivers strong environmental outcomes for every community in the county.

Key duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Leading the County’s stormwater and ESD maintenance programs.
  Guide the maintenance of Montgomery County’s growing stormwater BMP infrastructure. You’ll set priorities based on triennial inspections, manage multiple high-value maintenance contracts, ensure contractors deliver quality work, and drive performance through modern asset-management systems. Your leadership will directly contribute to cleaner waterways and stronger climate resilience across the County.

• Driving the triennial inspection program for stormwater BMPs.
  Oversee one of the County’s largest environmental compliance efforts. You will ensure all BMPs meet inspection requirements, manage complex engineering and technical contracts (including high-hazard dam inspections), maintain rigorous standards for safety, quality, and on-schedule delivery, and ensure accurate reporting for MS4 compliance.

• Leading compliance and enforcement for privately owned stormwater BMPs.
  Protect the integrity of the County’s stormwater BMP network by steering a fair, effective compliance and enforcement program. You’ll oversee notices of violation, citations, and court actions when needed, and refine processes using data to improve efficiency and equity—while supporting responsible property stewardship.

• Expanding and managing the single-family residential ESD inspection program.
  Shape a growing program that engages residents directly in stormwater stewardship. You’ll coordinate inspections with homeowners, lead community outreach and education, — public understanding and participation.

• Overseeing the County’s stream restoration inspection and maintenance program.
  Ensure the long-term performance of the County’s restored streams by directing a rigorous inspection cycle, prioritizing maintenance needs, and ensuring contractors meet all environmental and engineering expectations.

• Providing executive-level leadership in budgeting, procurement, and policy.
  Guide the strategic use of approximately $11 million across three operating budgets. You’ll lead procurement efforts—RFPs, IFBs, engineering task orders, negotiations—while shaping policy, programs, and interagency agreements that advance the County’s environmental goals.

• Building and inspiring the SWIM team.
  Lead a talented group of professional and technical staff. You’ll set clear directions, coach and develop employees, coordinate work programs, recruit new team members, and cultivate a collaborative, supportive, high-impact workplace where people are motivated to excel.

Additional Information

This position requires possession of a valid driver's license and the ability to drive a County vehicle to attend meetings, visit sites for field investigations, meet with residents, attend meetings with state officials, and perform other work at locations throughout Montgomery County.

Occasional evening or weekend work outside of normal business hours may be required. 

As a manager/supervisor of unionized employees, this position has a responsibility for fostering a positive labor relations environment based on mutual trust, respect, and cooperation.

To ensure a positive workplace and to comply with federal, state, and County laws, the incumbent is responsible for completing mandatory trainings within the first three to six months or within the specified timeframe.

Why Join Us? Montgomery County is committed to sustainability, innovation, and improving the quality of life for its residents. As a Section Chief in the Watershed Restoration Division, you will have the opportunity to make a significant impact on water quality and environmental protection efforts at a local, regional, and even state level. The position offers a dynamic work environment, a supportive team, and opportunities for professional growth.

• Extensive experience and technical knowledge in the inspection, maintenance, and operation of stormwater management facilities and best management practices (BMPs), including environmental site design (ESD), low impact development (LID), green infrastructure, and stream restoration projects. 

• Proven experience in managing complex technical programs with a focus on optimizing system performance, ensuring regulatory compliance, and improving operational efficiency, including leading multidisciplinary teams and contractors, coordinating preventive and corrective maintenance activities, and implementing data-driven strategies to enhance asset reliability and program outcomes. 

• Strong background managing a diverse workforce, supervising professional staff, and overseeing key human resources functions, including coordinating work programs, developing performance plans, conducting evaluations, and leading recruitment and hiring processes to build high-performing teams aligned with organizational goals.

• Demonstrated experience in administering technical programs, including the development and management of budgets, oversight of procurement processes, and leadership in contract development and administration.

• Extensive experience delivering clear and effective oral communications, including presentations and public speaking engagements with diverse audiences such as homeowners' associations, property managers, and organizational leadership, as well as skilled in preparing a wide range of written materials, including technical reports, memos, letters, and proposals to convey complex information in an accessible manner. 

• Proven experience in designing and implementing environmental programs that integrate principles of racial equity and social justice to promote inclusive and sustainable outcomes.

• Proven experience in developing strategic plans and establishing program evaluation criteria to guide and assess the performance of complex technical programs, aligning program goals with organizational priorities, and using data-driven methodologies to measure effectiveness and inform continuous improvement.