Hydrogeologist, Sr.

Job Summary

Are you looking for career opportunities that provide top-notch benefits including paid vacation and sick leave, parental leave, outstanding health, vision, and dental insurance, a free health clinic for you and your dependents, a generous retirement plan, and much more? Then bring your talents to Travis County!

Duties and Responsibilities

• Oversees inspections and the evaluation of data for compliance with laws, regulations and specifications. Oversees and monitors studies on quantities, distribution, disposition, and development of underground and surface water. Develops or uses hydrogeologic models for application.
• Prepares and presents technical evaluations, plans and reports on programs and complex issues. Prepares engineering research and administrative materials associated with groundwater availability, and develops correspondence, records, memorandums and reports, technical criteria, regulations, and guidance documents, attends meetings and training sessions, responds to inquiries and concerns from private and public entities, County officials, and County departments.
• Provides technical review of plans, specifications, and estimates for various infrastructure with an emphasis on ensuring the adequacy of structural best management practices (BMPs) to reduce erosion and sedimentation associated with construction activities. The scope of technical reviews includes development proposals by permit applicants for plats and County development permits, CIP facility, CIP and maintenance roadway projects, and County facility construction projects.
• Analyzes and interprets environmental data to determine existing conditions, long-term trends, compliance with quality assurance requirements and permitting standards, and environmental impact. Provides technical review and oversight over proposed plans and specifications for permanent BMPs that treat and store urban stormwater from roads, drainage, subdivision, and commercial development, to ensure projects sufficiently provide water quality protection in compliance with federal, state, and local (including Travis County Code, Highland Lakes Watershed Ordinance, and municipal) requirements.
• Provides technical review and evaluation of groundwater availability information during the subdivision and permitting review and approval process. Evaluates technical data, analyzes findings, and develops recommendations for programs and projects. Responsible for management of groundwater and geo-scientific data, including organizing data sets into databases, ensuring proper storage and retrieval of data, development of reports, and making data readily accessible to internal and external parties.
• Evaluates and analyzes water samples as part of field investigations and/or to validate data from automatic monitors.
• Researches and evaluates public water supply issues including flood and drought risks, water quality, wastewater, and impacts on wetland habitats. Interprets and researches laws and policies and delivers responses to the public and governmental agencies.
• Oversees project work and provides technical guidance, training, and consultation to staff.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements

OR,

Any combination of education and experience that has been achieved and is equivalent to the stated education and experience and required knowledge, skills, and abilities sufficient to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of this job.

Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements:

Knowledge of:

• Principles, procedures, practices, programs, systems, methods and techniques of hydrogeology.
• Federal, State, Local and County applicable laws, rules, regulations, permits, licenses, practices, standards, policies and procedures.
• Advanced mathematical and statistical methods as used in hydrogeology and planning.
• Practical application of hydrology, water quality and water management techniques.
• Project management methodologies, practices and techniques.
• Supervisory principles, practices and techniques.
• Recent developments and current research regarding hydrogeology.
• Methods, practices, and techniques of inspections, compliance and enforcement.
• Computer equipment to include word processing, presentations, spreadsheets, databases, maps, records, graphics, project scheduling and management, and other related hydrogeological data applications.
• Business letter writing, grammar and punctuation, and report preparation.

Skill in:

• Scientific data management, collection and assessment of hydrogeological data and report generation.
• Applying modeling and statistical procedures in the development of conceptual and numerical groundwater and other models.
• Applying principles and practices as used in hydrogeology.
• Use of computers and related software and other standard tools of the profession.
• Drill supervision and well installation, preparation of lithological logs, aquifer testing, environmental sampling,
• Problem-solving and technical decision-making for developing effective solutions.
• Both verbal and written communication, including presentations and communicating technical issues in non-technical language.

Ability to:

• Plan, prioritize, coordinate, and oversee projects.
• Conduct inspections.
• Apply hydrogeological concepts.
• Plan, assign, and/or supervise the work of others.
• Exercise sound judgment and make decisions.
• Manage time well, perform multiple tasks and organize diverse activities.
• Perform technical research, calculations, and computations, and prepare plans and reports.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with County employees and officials, developers, engineers, contractors, representatives of outside agencies, and the general public.

Work Environment & Other Information

Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.