Senior Program Manager, Compliance

Are you looking to make a meaningful impact on public health and the environment? Join the MWRA team! We deliver some of the nation's highest-quality drinking water to 3 million residents, restored Boston Harbor, and continue to invest in protecting vital public resources. Be part of a mission-driven organization where your work truly makes a difference in a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment.

Summary:

Directs and manages all aspects of TRAC compliance/enforcement program, including compliance/enforcement staff and data management staff. Serves as primary internal and regulatory contact for pretreatment program compliance issues and Pretreatment Information Management System (PIMS). Supervises professional, multi-disciplinary scientific and data management work including the review of chemical substance requests by industrial users. Supervises professional staff.

Posting Period: 7/6/2026 to 7/17/2026 Location: Chelsea, MA
Salary: $121,302.32 to $169,829.82 Annually $2,332.74 - $3,265.96 Weekly
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:00pm

Key Responsibilities

• Supervises staff and manages resources to develop and implement toxic reduction and control, compliance/enforcement and information technology policies.
• Conducts interviews and makes hiring recommendations, approves time sheets, reports disciplinary issues to manager as appropriate, prepares staff performance evaluations and budget preparations.
• Manages and supervises TRAC's data management group and Program Manager, Industrial Treatment Systems & Data. Defines, prioritizes, schedules and assigns projects. Forecasts and plans PIMS upgrades, enhancements, and requirements. Works with MIS to oversee PIMS consultants and ensures TRAC's information system needs are articulated and understood. Oversees development of and reviews Task Orders.
• Develops, recommends and maintains long-range strategic plan for compliance/enforcement programs and initiatives and supporting information system applications.
• Develops, recommends and implements policies and procedures related to compliance/enforcement program and the maintenance of departmental information systems. Oversees management of PIMS Task Orders.
• Reviews compliance and enforcement documents prepared by Project Manager, Compliance, Compliance Coordinators and other TRAC staff to help ensure that they meet programmatic and legal requirements and are consistent among the TRAC staff.
• Conducts meetings and negotiations on compliance and enforcement issues with MWRA-regulated entities. Negotiates compliance schedules and settlement agreements, including penalty assessments with regulated entities, municipal officials, attorneys, and government agencies; drafts settlement agreements. Recommends appropriate compliance and enforcement actions to senior management.
• Represents the interests of the enforcement program at meetings with other TRAC managers, industrial users, municipal officials, the Attorney General, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and others.
• Assists legal staff in the adjudicatory appeals process from appeals of enforcement documents. Meets with opposing counsel; testifies as witness if needed; provides technical assistance and advice to legal group.
• Provides technical support on compliance/enforcement and information systems issues to other sections of TRAC.
• Manages/oversees the application of federal regulations to identify and report on sewer users in significant noncompliance and to inform those sewer users of their status.
• Oversees the process of Permit Charges billing and collection.
• Reviews the discharge of new chemical substances into the sewer system by industries.
• Supervises professional, multi-discipline scientific and data management work of substantial difficulty and importance, requiring application of scientific principles and exercise of independent professional judgment, such as the Local Limits studies and the FES Odor and Corrosion Control Study.
• Participates in liaison, coordination, and educational activities within the MWRA and with other governmental agencies and the public. Speaks at Annual Significant Industrial Users (SIU) meetings and present overview of complex federal regulations to Significant Industrial Users.
• Manages the development and auditing of departmental data entry and validation procedures.
• Drafts reports, memoranda, and other documents.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Required Qualifications

• A Bachelor's degree in chemistry, biology, environmental sciences, a related engineering or science discipline, computer science or information systems science, legal studies or other related field. Advanced degree is preferred.
• Knowledge and understanding of environmental regulatory issues, policies, and practices related to industrial wastewater treatment and discharge or other regulatory compliance program, as acquired through at least 8 (eight) years of experience;
• Of which 4 (four) years should be in a supervisory or managerial capacity. This should include an understanding of industrial permits and enforcing environmental requirements.
• A Massachusetts Class D Driver's license (or equivalent) or driver's license from another state.
• Position may be eligible for telework up to 50% after an initial waiting period.

Knowledge and Abilities

• Knowledge of the use, development, maintenance and management of complex computer-based information systems as a tool for supporting compliance/enforcement program.
• Ability to negotiate and reach agreement in an enforcement setting and to work with attorneys.
• Ability to plan and implement programs.
• Demonstrated effectiveness working across organizational boundaries and with persons at all levels in an organization.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to manage staff, including to organize, direct, train, assign duties to, supervise, motivate, and evaluate staff.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.

Tools and Equipment Used
Office machines as normally associated with a professional office environment, including the use of telephones, personal computers, word processing and other software, email, videoconference applications, copiers, scanners and fax machines.

Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the essential functions the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, including office equipment, or controls and reach with hands and arms. The employee frequently is required to sit, and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand, and walk.
The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in an office environment.
The noise level in the work environment is a moderately quiet in office setting.

Supervision Received and Exercised
Reports to the Director of TRAC.
Supervises Program Manager, Industrial Treatment Systems & Data, Project Manager, and Compliance staff (Project Manager, Compliance and Compliance Coordinators)

Other Position Information
PCR: 2210055 Division: Operations Department: TRAC Union/Grade: MOSES (Unit 9)/Grade 30

Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, disability, sex or gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or veteran status.