Flood Risk Reduction Specialist (Planner III)

Flood Risk Reduction Specialist (Planner III)

Salary

$84,670.14 - $148,172.75 Annually

Location

FX. CTY. GOVERNMENT CENTER, 12000 GOVERNMENT CENTER PKWY., FAIRFAX (EJ32), VA

Job Type

FT Salary W BN

Job Number

26-01656

Department

DPWES Stormwater Management

Opening Date

10/24/2026

Closing Date

11/6/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

Pay Grade

S28

Posting Type

Open to General Public

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Job Announcement

Are you ready to join a team dedicated to making Fairfax County flood-resilient? Your expertise can protect lives and build a safer future for our community!

The Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES) seeks a Flood Risk Reduction Specialist (Planner III) to help protect our community from flooding. Use your technical skills and leadership to make a real impact.

Under the general supervision of the Watershed Modeling and Analysis Branch Chief, this position plans and coordinates flood risk reduction initiatives within the Stormwater Planning Division. The primary responsibilities include:

• Develop and implement strategies and prioritization framework to mitigate flood impacts, document and enhance existing efforts, and coordinate the design of capital construction projects.
• Engage in community outreach, maintain and update educational materials and webpages, support the identification and prioritization of flood mitigation projects, and collaborate with various stakeholders.
• Prepare grant applications and utilize GIS tools to support operations.
• Perform Hydrologic and Hydraulic (H&H) engineering analyses for flood mitigation and stormwater management projects.
• Prepare and review neighborhood flood mitigation project plans and construction documents to ensure regulatory and engineering compliance.
• Provide construction administration, solve design challenges, oversee consultants, coordinate with utilities, and assist with environmental permitting and construction monitoring.
• Manage consultant contracts for stormwater capital improvement projects, including scope development, contract negotiation, and performance monitoring.

Ideal Candidate must have:

• Effective communication: Selects the best method for each situation, communicates clearly and professionally, listens actively, and speaks confidently and concisely to individuals and groups.
• Partnering: Builds networks inside and outside the organization, collaborates across boundaries, and manages competing interests to foster partnerships.
• Aligning Vision and Values: Ensures work aligns with the County's vision and values, seeks clarification when needed, and models alignment for others.
• Teamwork: Collaborates across teams and departments, actively contributes to team goals, values all members' input, and recognizes teamwork as essential to the role.
• Conflict Management: Prevents destructive conflict, facilitates constructive resolution, and promotes open, positive outcomes in disagreements.

Fairfax County's award-winning Stormwater team works to reduce flood risk and protect local watersheds and the Chesapeake Bay with comprehensive watershed and infrastructure management to protect people, the environment, and property.

A job worth doing is worth doing together. Click here to find out more about DPWES.

DPWES is a diverse, nationally accredited and award-winning public works agency with approximately 1,000 employees providing solid waste, capital facility development, wastewater, stormwater, urban forestry, and land acquisition management services for the most populous county in Virginia. Join our team to help us protect the environment and serve the people of Fairfax County by creating and preserving a sustainable community that is an ideal place to live, work, and play for everyone. Fairfax County Government is committed to our employees, and offers comprehensive benefits, including a defined-benefit retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; paid leave; tuition reimbursement; and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. Through our LiveWell Program and the County Benefits Division, we endeavor to cultivate a culture of wellbeing that empowers, educates, and engages employees and retirees to make life-long choices that promote a holistic approach to their physical, mental, emotional, social, spiritual and financial wellness. Please review our awesome benefits:

• Benefits
• Retirement

Note: The appointee to this position is subject to emergency callback 24 hours a day/seven days a week (24/7) to respond to snow, flood, and other designated emergencies requiring division resources, on an as-needed basis.

This position works for the DPWES Stormwater Planning Division located at 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, Virginia 22035.

In 2027, all Stormwater Planning Division assignments will be permanently located at the new Water Resources and Infrastructure building, located at 6000 Freds Oak Road, Burke, VA 22015. Position may require traveling to multiple Fairfax County sites.

This position is funded through a five-year grant and is expected to be available for the full five-year term. After five years, employment in this role will be contingent upon the availability and continuation of grant funding or the creation of a new position and is not guaranteed beyond that period.

Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following:

(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to")

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university in a planning related field; plus four years of experience in a planning-related field.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:

• Valid drivers license.
• DEQ Stormwater Management Plan Reviewer certification - completion of first required training class within 12 months of hire and certification required within 12 months of date of completion of first required class.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background and driving record check to the satisfaction of the employer.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• 3 or more years of experience in flood mitigation, stormwater management, regulatory compliance.
• 3 or more years of experience in project and data management
• 1 or more year of experience managing grants and engineering contracts for the development of construction plans
• 3 or more years of experience in GIS and hydrologic and hydraulic (H&H) modeling
• 1 or more year of experience utilizing software tools for data management and data sharing
• 3 or more years of experience in delivering technical presentations to diverse groups and elected officials.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Ability and willingness to work in a variety of environments, including outdoor field settings and noisy conditions, and in adverse weather (e.g., hot and cold temperatures, flooding, storms, snow/ice), which may require occasional work outside normal business hours, and to do so safely while using appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and working around stormwater and other mechanical/electrical equipment. Ability to communicate effectively with the public, coworkers, and supervisors, both orally and in writing, in person and via telephone/electronic means. Ability to hike or field walk over rugged, uneven, slippery, and steep terrain, including in and along streams and stream valleys, to perform field investigations related to storm drainage, stormwater management, and stream channel projects. Ability to operate safely county vehicles to various locations throughout Fairfax County to attend meetings and provide coverage. Ability to perform office and field work, including: sitting, standing, walking, and using a computer for extended periods; operating keyboard-driven equipment; and reading/interpreting plans, maps, technical documents, and other written materials with sufficient visual acuity.

Physically and mentally able to use all applicable PPE in an outdoor environment, including hardhat, eye protection, hearing protection, safety footwear, long pants, and sleeved shirt. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodation.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:

Panel interview and may include exercise.

Fairfax County is home to a highly diverse population, with a significant number of residents speaking languages other than English at home (including Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and many others.) We encourage candidates who are bilingual in English and another language to apply for this opportunity.

Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. TTY 703-222-7314. DHREmployment@fairfaxcounty.gov EEO/AA/TTY.

#LI-NW1

Merit Positions

Fairfax County is proud to offer employees an attractive and comprehensive benefits program, including the following:

• Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage
• Group Term Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability
• LiveWell Program
• Flexible Spending Programs
• Paid Leave (annual, sick, parental, volunteer activity, and more!)
• Paid Holidays
• Contributory Retirement Plan
• Deferred Compensation
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employees Child Care Center
• Continuous Learning Opportunities

Please click here for a summary of our benefits.

NOTE: Fairfax County Government is a qualifying employer under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. For more information about the PSLF program: Public Service Loan Forgiveness | Federal Student Aid

For additional details please visit the Countys benefits webpage.

Non-Merit Positions

• Non-Merit Benefit Eligible: scheduled to work a minimum 1,040 hours and no more than a maximum of 1,560 hours in a calendar year.

• Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage

• Flexible Spending Program

• Deferred Compensation

• Temporary: scheduled to work a maximum of 900 hours in a calendar year.

• No benefits

01

What is the highest level of education that you have completed?

• Less than 12th grade
• High school diploma or GED
• Some college
• Associates degree
• Bachelors degree
• Masters degree
• Doctorate degree

02

If you answered "Some college" for the highest level of education completed, please indicate the number of quarter or semester hours you have completed towards a degree.

• Less than 45 quarter hours
• 45 to less than 90 quarter hours
• 90 to less than 135 quarter hours
• 135 to less than 180 quarter hours
• 180 or more quarter hours
• Less than 30 semester hours
• 30 to less than 60 semester hours
• 60 to less than 90 semester hours
• 90 to less than 120 semester hours
• 120 or more semester hours
• Not applicable

03

Please indicate all major(s) or minor(s) for your completed degree(s). Check all that apply.

• Engineering
• Architecture
• Urban and regional planning
• Environmental planning
• Land use planning
• Other (related field)
• Other (non-related field)
• Not applicable

04

If you answered "Other (related field)" or "Other (non-related field)" for the previous question, please list all of your majors and minors. If this question does not pertain to you, or you do not have a degree, enter "Not applicable".

05

How many years of full-time equivalent professional experience in a planning-related field do you possess?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five to less than six years
• Six to less than seven years
• Seven to less than eight years
• Eight years or more

06

Do you currently possess a valid drivers license?

• Yes
• No

07

Have you graduated from a college or university accredited by the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technologies?

• Yes
• No

08

How many years of full-time equivalent progressively responsible professional experience do you have in the appropriate engineering, architectural, or planning related field?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five to less than six years
• Six to less than seven years
• Seven to less than eight years
• Eight years or more

09

Which of the following licenses and/or certifications do you possess? Check all that apply.

• VA DEQ Stormwater Management Plan Reviewer certification
• Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM)
• None of the above

10

How many years of full-time equivalent experience do you have in applying your engineering expertise in areas such as flood mitigation, stormwater management, and regulatory compliance?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

11

How many years have you been responsible for managing projects and overseeing data management activities in your professional experience?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

12

How many years have you managed grants and engineering contracts specifically related to the development of construction plans?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

13

What is the total duration of your hands-on experience working with GIS technology and conducting hydrologic and hydraulic (H&H) modeling?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

14

How long have you worked with software platforms or tools designed for data management and data sharing?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

15

How many years of experience do you have delivering technical presentations to diverse groups and elected officials?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

Required Question

Employer Fairfax County

Address 12000 Government Center Pkwy. Suite 270

Fairfax, Virginia, 22035

Phone 703-324-3311

Website http://agency.governmentjobs.com/fairfaxcounty/default.cfm