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 indvidual 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.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:  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.

Experience:  Nine (9) years of experience in environmental analysis, to include the development of plans, specifications, estimates and design

OR

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.

Selective Qualification: 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.