RainScapes Program Manager (Program Manager II, Grade N25)

RainScapes Program Manager (Program Manager II, Grade N25)

Salary

$85,937.00 - $137,907.00 Annually

Location

2425 Reedie Dr Wheaton MD 20902 USA

Job Type

Permanent

Job Number

2026-00461

Department

Department of Environmental Protection

Division

DEP 80 Stewardship Programs

Opening Date

08/10/2026

Closing Date

8/24/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

FLSA

Exempt

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

About the Position

Please note: The salary range above represents this position's earning potential. The anticipated hiring range for this position will be $85,937 - $137,383 based on the candidate's qualifications and experience.

WHO WE ARE

The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is a nationally recognized and award-winning agency with the mission to enhance the quality of life in our community by protecting and improving Montgomery Countys air, water, and land in a sustainable, innovative, inclusive, and industry-leading way while fostering smart growth, a thriving, more sustainable economy, and healthy communities. DEP is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and values diverse perspectives, lived experiences, and cultures. DEP encourages BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color), immigrants, women, LGBTQIA+, individuals with disabilities, and veterans to apply.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Montgomery County DEP's Watershed Restoration Division (WRD) advances clean water, resilient communities, and sustainable landscapes. Within WRD, the Stewardship Programs Section leads the County's RainScapes Program-a green infrastructure initiative that reduces stormwater runoff from private properties, especially in dense urban areas lacking stormwater management. Our flagship RainScapes Rewards Rebate program incentivizes residents and organizations to install conservation landscaping, rain gardens, and other small scale stormwater practices. We also partner with schools and community organizations on demonstration projects, provide contractor trainings, publish public resources and newsletters, offer online and in-person educational programs, and continually work to ensure our program and materials are accessible to a diverse audience.

DEP is seeking a dynamic and highly skilled Program Manager II with professional experience in the design and installation of small-scale stormwater management or green infrastructure to lead the County's RainScapes program. In addition to technical skills, DEP seeks a thoughtful, collaborative leader who can guide a team, manage a dynamic public-facing program, and adapt to evolving community and regulatory needs. We welcome applicants who are strategic thinkers, strong communicators, relationship-builders, and enthusiastic about leading a program that blends technical review, public engagement, and long-term planning.

The ideal candidate brings strong technical knowledge of conservation landscaping and environmental site design; skill in program development, delivery, evaluation, and adaptive management; experience with budget and contract administration; strong communication and relationship-building skills; and a commitment to equitable access to cost share programs. Success in this role also calls for excellent problem solving, analytical, writing, and presentation skills; ability to thrive under deadlines; outstanding collaboration skills; proficiency with Microsoft applications; familiarity with ESRI GIS; and the ability to build partnerships across County agencies, schools, community groups, and the public.

What Youll Be Doing

The RainScapes Program Manager II will lead a team of planning and program specialists and oversee all aspects of the program-from strategy and outreach to technical reviews and reporting. Beyond reviewing projects and managing workflows, the Program Manager II shapes the long-term direction of the RainScapes program, leads a multidisciplinary team, builds partnerships across agencies and communities, and ensures the program continues to innovate and remain accessible to all residents.

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

• Program Strategy & Delivery- Set the program's strategic plan and annual goals; adaptively manage the program to respond to community needs, priorities, budget constraints, staffing changes, and evolving technology; oversee public outreach and education, school initiatives, and newsletters to engage residents; develop and offer training for project installation contractors; and track and analyze program metrics, and present program updates to leadership.
• Rewards Program Management- Review rebate applications based on approved criteria for design and installation of conservation landscaping, rain gardens, environmental site design, and other small scale practices; guide staff on technical requirements related to project design and implementation criteria; approve completed projects; oversee updates to program criteria to align with Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) permit requirements; and develop annual metrics for the County's MS4 Permit report.
• Fiscal & Contract Oversight- Manage the RainScapes budget, procurement, purchasing, contracts and task orders, and contractor invoices; and allocate resources to meet program, section, and division goals.
• Staff Supervision & Mentoring- Assign and review work and coordinate work plans for the team; develop annual performance expectations, perform progress reviews and appraisals; manage leave and overtime; ensure employee training requirements are met; foster a collaborative, growth-oriented team culture; and champion the development of staff through clear communication, coaching, and shared problem-solving.
• Technical Support & Partnerships- Serve as a subject matter expert for small scale stormwater management; provide technical and planning guidance to County agencies and community organizations; benchmark with neighboring jurisdictions' programs and continually update the program as needed; represent DEP on interagency and regional committees; analyze proposed laws and regulations that impact the program; and prepare and deliver public presentations.

Additional Information

Preference will be given to otherwise qualified applicants also possessing registration as a Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional (https://cblpro.org/) Level 1 or Level 2 (CBLP1) or (CBLP2).

This position requires possession and maintenance of a valid drivers license and the ability to drive a County vehicle to attend meetings, visit sites for field investigations, conduct surveys, transport equipment and outreach materials, and/or observe or inspect construction sites, and perform other work at locations throughout Montgomery County that may not be served by public transportation.

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.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience: Thorough five (5) years of professional experience in a program related to the design and installation of small-scale stormwater management or green infrastructure. Two (2) years of professional supervisory experience in a relevant field is required.

Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelors degree.

Equivalency: An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.

License: Possession and maintenance at all times of a valid Class "C" (or equivalent) driver's license from the applicants state of residence.

Medical Exam: Medical History Review - This position requires completion of a pre-employment Medical History Form to assess the candidate's ability to safely perform the essential duties of the role.

Financial Disclosure Statement: The selected candidate will be required to complete and submit a Financial Disclosure Statement upon hire and annually thereafter. All statements are publicly available.

Preferred Criteria, Interview Preferences

All Applicants will be reviewed by the Office of Human Resources (OHR) for minimum qualifications. Those applicants who meet minimum qualifications will be rated "Qualified," placed on the Eligible List, and may be considered for an interview.

Preference for interviews will be given to applicants with experience in the following.

• Experience in the management of programs that design and install small-scale, green infrastructure and local, mid-Atlantic native plant design for stormwater management practices.
• Experience with developing and establishing program goals that achieve watershed protection and restoration objectives, tracking progress toward those goals, analyzing program metrics to determine program efficacy, and reporting on program results.
• Experience with the administration of technical programs, including developing and managing budgets, developing and managing contracts, experience with the procurement process, and oversight of contract development and administration.
• Experience leading teams to achieve program goals with an eye toward quality control using SOPs, training, and adaptively managing as problems arise.
• Knowledge of equity issues that may pose barriers to one's participation in cost-share programs such as this one and a strong desire to remove such barriers.
• Experience in managing a diverse workforce, supervising professional staff, and managing human resources functions, including coordinating work programs, developing performance plans, conducting performance evaluations, recruiting, and hiring employees.
• Experience providing oral communication (such as giving presentations and/or speaking to the public or senior management), and written communications (such as reports, budget proposals) to convey information.

If selected for consideration for this position, you may be required to provide evidence that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities indicated on your resume.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The Office of Human Resources (OHR) reviews the minimum qualifications of all applicants, irrespective of whether the candidate has previously been found to have met the minimum requirements for the job or been temporarily promoted to the same position. This evaluation is based solely on the information contained in the application/resume submitted for this specific position.

Montgomery County Government(MCG) is an equal opportunity employer, committed to workforce diversity. Accordingly, as it relates to employment opportunities, the County will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, in accordance with the law. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should email OHR at Hiring@montgomerycountymd.gov. Individual determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made in accordance with all applicable laws.

MCG also provides hiring preference to certain categories of veterans and veterans/persons with a disability. For more information and to claim employment preference, refer to the Careers webpage on Hiring Preference.

All applicants will respond to a series of questions related to their education, relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities required to minimally perform the job. The applicants responses in conjunction with their resume and all other information provided in the employment application process will be evaluated to determine the minimum qualifications and preferred criteria or interview preference status. Based on the results, the highest qualified applicants will be placed on an Eligible List and may be considered for an interview. Employees meeting minimum qualifications who are the same grade will be placed on the Eligible List as a "Lateral Transfer" candidate and may be considered for an interview.

This will establish an Eligible List that may be used to fill both current and future vacancies.

If selected for consideration for this position, you may be required to provide evidence that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities indicated on your resume.

Montgomery County Ethics Law: Except as provided by law or regulation, the Countys "Public Employees" (which does not include employees of the Sheriffs office) are subject to the Countys ethics law including the requirements to obtain advanced approval of any outside employment and the prohibitions on certain outside employment. The outside employment requirements of the ethics law can be found at 19A-12 of the County Code. Additional information about outside employment can be obtained from the Ethics Commission website.

Leave Benefits

Our generous leave package starts with non-MLS permanent and term employees earning 15 days of sick leave and 15 days of annual leave in their first year, as well as up to three additional personal days each calendar year. Positions in MLS earn 35 days of paid time off each year. In addition, we offer all employees 10 paid holidays. Our leave policies adhere to the Family Medical Leave Act of 1993, and we provide six weeks of paid parental leave for new parents.

Retirement Benefits

All permanent and term positions are eligible for robust retirement plans. Public safety positions are eligible for a defined benefit pension plan in which they are vested after only five years. Employees in non-public safety positions can participate in retirement plans that contribute up to 12 percent of their annual salary. All employees can also participate in a supplemental retirement plan, the 457 Deferred Compensation Plan, to contribute even more to their retirement goals.

Tuition Assistance & Student Loan Forgiveness

Montgomery County employees are eligible to participate in the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Participants who meet all requirements may qualify for forgiveness on the remaining balance on their Direct Loans after making 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time in a qualifying public service position. To learn more about PSLF, please visit the Student Loan Repayment Benefits page. Our tuition assistance program allows you to receive up to $2,130 annually in tuition assistance to help you achieve a degree that supports your career path.

Free Mass Transit Benefit

County employees are entitled to use the RideOn Bus service for free with a valid County-employee ID. This benefit can be used any time of the day or evening, including weekends. We also offer a pre-tax flexible spending account to reduce the cost of other mass-transit options such as MARC trains and Metro.

Reduced Child and Health Care Costs

Working for Montgomery County also entitles permanent and term employees to participate in healthcare and childcare Flexible Spending Accounts. These plans allow eligible employees to save on a pretax basis for healthcare and dependent care costs incurred during the plan year.

Employee Wellbeing

We deeply care about your holistic wellness. Our award-winning wellness program, LiveWell, will support you in improving and maintaining your physical, mental, financial, social, and intellectual well-being.

Learn more about our wonderful benefits available to you once you join our team. Montgomery County Benefits

01

What is your highest level of completed education?

• N/A
• High School/GED
• Associates Degree
• Bachelors Degree
• Masters Degree
• Juris Doctor
• Doctorate

02

How many years of professional experience do you have in a program related to the design and installation of small-scale stormwater management or green infrastructure?

• No Experience or less than 1 year of experience.
• 1 Year Experience
• 2 Years Experience
• 3 Years Experience
• 4 Years Experience
• 5 Years Experience
• 6 Years Experience
• 7 Years Experience
• 8 Years Experience
• 9+ Years Experience

03

Do you possess and currently maintain a VALID drivers license from your state of residence?

• Yes
• No

04

Do you have at least two (2) years of professional supervisory experience in a relevant field?

• Yes
• No

05

Please describe your professional supervisory experience as referenced in the previous question. Please include from your resume where this experience was completed. If you do not have experience in this area, please indicate "N/A".

06

Describe your experience managing programs that design and install small-scale green infrastructure and incorporate local Mid-Atlantic native plant design for stormwater management practices. Please include from your resume where this experience was completed. If you do not have experience in this area, please indicate "N/A".

07

Describe your experience developing and establishing program goals that achieve watershed protection and restoration objectives, tracking progress toward those goals, analyzing program metrics to evaluate program effectiveness, and reporting on program results. Please include from your resume where this experience was completed. If you do not have experience in this area, please indicate "N/A".

08

Describe your experience administering technical programs, including developing and managing budgets, managing contracts, overseeing the procurement process, and administering contract development and implementation. Please include from your resume where this experience was completed. If you do not have experience in this area, please indicate "N/A".

09

Describe your experience managing a diverse workforce, supervising professional staff, and performing human resources functions, including coordinating work programs, developing performance plans, conducting performance evaluations, and recruiting and hiring employees.

10

Describe your experience communicating information orally, such as delivering presentations or speaking to the public or senior management, and in writing, such as preparing reports, budget proposals, or other technical documents.

11

Do you hold a current Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional (CBLP) Level 1 (CBLP1) or Level 2 (CBLP2) certification?

• Yes
• No

Required Question

Employer Montgomery County (MD)

Address 101 Monroe Street

7th Floor

Rockville, Maryland, 20850

Phone 240-777-5000

Website https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/ohr