POSITION SUMMARY

The Chesapeake Bay Commission is seeking a highly motivated, creative individual to serve as its Maryland Director. The Maryland Director is responsible for representing the Chesapeake Bay Commission, and more specifically, the members of the Maryland Delegation, on all Chesapeake Bay-related matters. The position is directly responsible to the Executive Director and shall assist and coordinate on science, policy and legislative matters. This position is a full-time employee of the Commission and shall be considered an employee of a participating governmental unit in the state of Maryland for the purposes of pension benefits under Division II of the State Personnel and Pensions Article and for the purposes of health insurance and other employee benefits.

About the Chesapeake Bay Commission,
The Commission is a tri-state legislative authority dedicated to the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay. The Commission works interactively with the General Assemblies of Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and the U.S. Congress to develop sound policies and law related to the Chesapeake Bay. The Commission provides information and advice on Chesapeake Bay issues to the members of the three General Assemblies.

The Commission is one of the signatories to the Chesapeake Bay Agreement, along with the governors of each watershed state, the mayor of the District of Columbia, and the administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The agreement serves as the framework for the multi‑jurisdictional Chesapeake Bay Program. As a signatory, the Commission serves as a leader of the Chesapeake Bay Program and is fully involved in all Bay Program policy and implementation decisions.

The Commission maintains a staff of five full-time employees. The Executive Director, Administrative Officer and Maryland Director are based in the headquarters office in Annapolis, Maryland. The Pennsylvania Director and the Virginia Director each maintain offices housed within the General Assemblies of the Harrisburg and Richmond capitol complexes. All employees are responsible for both regional and state-specific work, as assigned by the Commission members and its Executive Director.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

The Maryland Director will develop policy recommendations and provide staff support to state legislators, agency representatives and citizens serving as Commission members. Specifically, this individual will: directly staff the Maryland Delegation to the Commission, support implementation of Delegation initiatives, and identify and research policy opportunities for Commission action; maintain contact with and monitor activities of the Maryland General Assembly, Maryland regulatory agencies, public interest groups, industry representatives and civic associations; assist with Commission-sponsored legislation and funding proposals and testify on legislation of interest or concern to the Commission; and assist with all details of Commission operations, including researching and analyzing environmental issues, planning for and presenting information at quarterly meetings and regularly briefing members on staff activities.

The Maryland Director will also be directly responsible for: co-authoring and editing the Annual Report and other Commission publications; representing the Commission on Chesapeake Bay Program activities and serving on various Bay Program Goal Implementation Teams and Ad-Hoc Workgroups; and working cooperatively with state and federal agency partners on a variety of regional initiatives.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS

The Maryland Director is a senior position requiring possession of a minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in environmental policy, natural resources management, or a related field, and five or more years of full-time professional experience in environmental policy and legislative or regulatory matters. The Maryland Director must have experience managing project development and implementation independently, and have strong organizational skills, demonstrated personal initiative, the ability to prioritize tasks and an aptitude for working with a broad range of issues and diversity of stakeholders. Proficient writing and public speaking skills and a familiarity with the Maryland General Assembly, Maryland natural resource agencies and/or the U.S Congress is desirable. A Master’s degree or J.D. is preferable, and may be substituted for experience.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applicants must submit salary requirements, a one-page case statement summarizing both interest and qualifications for the position, a resume and a writing sample. If selected for an interview, three references will be required. Further information can be sought by calling 410-263-3420 or e-mailing jdonnelly@chesbay.us.

Application Deadline:
December 16th, 2016