TITLE: Staff Attorney (Program Manager)
LOCATION: NEIWPCC, Wannalancit Mills, 650 Suffolk Street, Suite 410, Lowell, MA 01854
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: NEIWPCC is a regional commission that helps the states of the
Northeast preserve and advance water quality. We engage and convene water quality professionals and
other interested parties from New England and New York to collaborate on water, wastewater, and
environmental science challenges across the regions, ecosystems, and areas of expertise.
NEIWPCC is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, and
inclusion. We actively seek to increase the diversity of our workforce and are interested in candidates
whose experiences, skills and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality. We
strongly encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply. NEIWPCC is interested in qualified
candidates who can contribute, through their work and service, to the diversity and excellence of the
office.
JOB SUMMARY: NEIWPCC’s focus is on water resources, but also can cover a range of related
environmental issues. The incumbent acts as legal adviser to the Executive Committee and
Commissioners, NEIWPCC staff, and the public on program issues; provides staff support and serves as
a clearinghouse for information.
The position requires expertise in contracts, insurance coverage, construction law, and environmental
law. The position requires the ability to provide expert and independent legal advice, both oral and written
on a wide range of legal matters.
Duties are performed in the Lowell, MA office with occasional national and regional travel.
PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:

• Naturally prone to action with a focus toward continuous improvement and is committed to

• Ability to build collaborative relationships across NEIWPCC and among partners.
• Approachable and diplomatic in all interactions.
• Able to manage change and articulate the “value case” for it.
• A team player who is inclusive and willing to help others.
• Dependable and capable of fostering trust.
• Accepts responsibility and is accountable for results.
• Ability to write concisely to express thoughts clearly and to develop ideas in logical sequence.
• Ability to exercise discretion in handling confidential information.
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to prioritize key deliverables.

DUTIES: This work is legally intensive and requires review and execution of contracts, handling of issues
related to insurance requirements, knowledge of (or ability to learn about) construction and employment
laws and regulations. Willingness to learn basics (high-level) of wastewater treatment processes and
operations is needed.
Staff Attorney: Provide legal advice to the Executive Director and staff on a broad range of complex
issues and protect the legal interests of NEIWPCC while working to advance NEIWPCC’s initiatives and
policies in cooperation with its state partners.

• Coordinate the legal activities of NEIWPCC with the Executive Director and Senior Staff.
• Supervise the activities of the NEIWPCC contract administration/legal staff.
• Review draft contracts to which NEIWPCC may be a party. Assist other staff with contract

• Review and update contracts section of SOP as needed; inform staff of any changes to

• Participate on NEIWPCC's data security team to assist with compliance of Massachusetts law as

Program Manager:
NYC DEP
Oversee NYC DEP Capital Replacement Program and anticipated NYC DEP East of Hudson Contract.
Responsibilities include:

• Supervise NEIWPCC staff in NYC DEP office.
• Review bid documents and related contracts for construction projects.
• Coordinate review and approval of invoices with NYC DEP.
• Gather information from contractors.
• Report on contract deliverables.
• Prepare annual budget and quarterly reconciliation packages.
• Serve as a representative of NEIWPCC in meetings, conferences, advisory committees, and

other events, as assigned.
Other Programmatic Work

• Create training materials and/or teaching courses related to the clean water act and legal/ethical

• Provide legal expertise, as requested, on projects throughout NEIWPCC's programs, including

• May organize workgroup meetings of appropriate state and federal staff. Arrange for meetings,

• Participate in water and wastewater related legal networks areas and engages in professional

• Assist senior staff on a variety of policy topics and projects including research on legislative

• Provide legal review of all comment letters representing northeast state viewpoints on rules and

Workplans/Budgets/Contracts/Grants:

• Develop work plans, budgets, and contract/grant amendments.
• Track specific budget elements and contracts, including administrative and programmatic

individual funding awards and contracts to ensure successful execution of contractual obligations
and appropriate use of funds.

Outreach: Maintain appropriate webpages on NEIWPCC website to ensure they are up-to-date and
accurate. Provide background materials or author articles for various NEIWPCC, or other, publications.
Present work products and programs to stakeholders and the public.
Other duties as assigned.
The satisfactory performance of the above duties and responsibilities requires the incumbent to have a
thorough understanding of NEIWPCC’s programs, organization, and policies, to exercise initiative and
resourcefulness in complicated situations, and to be able to work effectively with state and federal
contacts at both staff and top management levels, and with varied professional backgrounds. The ability
to organize workload, and perform tasks in an accurate, conclusive, and timely manner is required.

SUPERVISORY CONTROLS: Incumbent operates with substantial independence of action and
delegation of professional decisions within his or her area of activity. Incumbent consults with Director of
Wastewater and Onsite Programs and other staff on certain matters of policy. The Director of Wastewater
and Onsite Programs evaluates job performance.
The incumbent will rely on their ability, expertise, and commitment to excellence. They will also help build
NEIWPCC’s culture which focuses on honesty, ethical behavior, personal integrity, respect for others,
transparency, hard work, and collaborative teamwork.
Incumbents of positions at this level exercise direct supervision (i.e., not through an intermediate level
supervisor) over, assign work to, and review the performance of 1-10 professional personnel: and indirect
supervision (i.e., through an intermediate level supervisor) over 6-30 professional and/or technical
personnel.
REQUIREMENTS:

• Knowledge and understanding of environmental law.
• Knowledge and understanding of contract law and construction law.
• Knowledge of negotiation techniques and strategies.
• Ability to conduct complex legal research and legal writing.
• Ability to address complicated legal issues.
• A valid driver's license and access to own transportation.
• Attendance at the employee orientation and the annual All-Staff Meeting is mandatory.
• This is an in-office position, requiring the incumbent to report to the office or work location for

scheduled hours. A partial telework schedule may be permitted after a six-month performance
review, depending on work duties and office requirements. Telework schedules are authorized by
the Executive Director.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: Incumbent must have a Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law
school, admission to the Massachusetts Bar and be in good standing. Admission to the New York Bar is a
plus. Consideration also given to incumbents able to pass the Massachusetts Bar and be in good
standing within 6-months of hire date. Exceptional candidates with less experience and the
dedication/willingness to learn are encouraged to apply.
At least five years of full-time or equivalent part-time professional experience in the practice of
environmental law, construction law, and/or contracts law, of which at least three years must have been in
a professional capacity, and of which at least one year must have been in a supervisory, managerial, or
administrative capacity.
SALARY: Salary is dependent on qualifications and experience.
BENEFITS: Generous benefits package provided, which includes: vacation, personal and sick leave, paid
holidays as determined by office location; health, dental, disability and life insurance; retirement plan.