Watershed Health Monitoring Environmental Specialist 1 (2 Positions)

Description

• A healthy life/work balance by offering flexible schedules and telework options for most positions.
• An Infants at Work Program that is based on the long-term health values of infant-parent bonding and breastfeeding newborns.
• Continuous growth and development opportunities.
• Opportunities to serve your community and make an impact through meaningful work.

Our commitment to DEIR
Diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect (DEIR)are core values central to Ecology’s work. We strive to be a workplace where we are esteemed for sharing our authentic identities, while advancing our individual professional goals and collaborating to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment for current and future generations.

Duties

What makes this role unique?

• Conduct site reconnaissance and preparation for field sampling.
• Collaborate with field leads to support the day-to-day data collection activities in the field.
• Serve as a field assistant on a 4-member crew conducting Watershed Health protocols including physical stream surveys, measuring various chemical parameters, and collecting biological samples.
• Assist with habitat surveys, benthic macroinvertebrate sampling, fish assemblage, and water sampling.
• Efficiently collect water quality samples following standard operating procedures.
• Conduct initial review of field-recorded raw data for completeness and quality, assist in quality assurance reviews of environmental data, and propose improvements to data collection methods.
• Assist with field work preparation every week before the scheduled sampling.
• Organize and maintain all field equipment, including the calibration of Hach and/or YSI multi-probes (devices used for environmental monitoring and water quality analysis).
• Attend and stay current on required trainings, especially safety trainings.
• Hike in remote areas with rugged terrain and a heavy pack.
• Assist with boat operation duties.

The positions will start June 1, 2024, and end no later than October 15, 2024. The end date is flexible and depends on how the field season goes. These positions will be based in Lacey, WA. Travel and lodging will be reimbursed by the Department of Ecology. The field work schedule will consist of 10-hour shifts, working for eight consecutive days followed by six days off.

Qualifications

• 30 hours worked per week for 20 months: (30/40) x 20 months = 15 months full-time equivalent
• 20 hours worked per week for 12 months: (20/40) x 12 months = 6 months full-time equivalent

• Experience: in environmental analysis or control, or environmental planning.
• Education: involving major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning, or other allied field.

• Must obtain and maintain a valid driver’s license.

• Coursework in environmental science, fisheries biology, chemistry, forestry, or related field.
• Experience collecting water samples, operating aquatic sampling equipment, measuring streamflow, and stream habitat assessment.
• Some experience with data analysis and data management.
• Good communication and writing skills, and the ability to read documents for accurate comprehension and action.
• Knowledge of freshwater community ecology and statistical sampling design, freshwater biological taxonomy and life history, freshwater chemistry, and freshwater habitat assessment skills.
• Access programming, statistical sampling design, and database management.
• Certification for First Aid/CPR.
• Ability to swim.
• Experience operating boats and related equipment.
• Navigation skills and experience using paper maps.
• A Master's degree with a major study in stream/aquatic ecology, limnology, biological sciences, chemistry, or a closely related field.

Physical Requirements

• Work in rugged and sometimes remote field locations for consecutive days under adverse weather conditions, including overnight stays and/or weekend work.
• Traverse uneven and sometimes slippery terrain to access stream study sites.
• Ability to maneuver sampling equipment in a small boat.
• Safely navigate from parking area to office structures and outdoor sites.
• Work with a computer in a cubicle for long periods of time within an office environment.
• Read documents for accurate comprehension and action.
• Travel long distances statewide, including driving, in a car, van, or pickup truck, requiring extended periods of sitting.
• Navigate streambanks, streambeds, and flowing water to complete all measurements needed to sample a stream site.
• Lift and carry objects weighing up to 50 lbs.
• Ability to safely handle and transport non-motorized boats (rafts).

• Ability to operate a motor vehicle.

Supplemental Information

• Please call: (360) 407-6186 or email: careers@ecy.wa.gov and we will be happy to assist.
• If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you can reach the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.
• If you need assistance applying for this job, please e-mail careers@ecy.wa.gov Please do not send an email to this address to follow-up on the status of your application. You can view the latest status of your application on your profile's main page.
• If you are reading this announcement in print format, please enter the following URL to your search engine to apply: https://ecology.wa.gov/About-us/Get-to-know-us/Jobs-at-Ecology.

• A cover letter describing why you are interested in this position.
• A resume outlining your experience and education (if applicable) as it relates to the minimum qualifications of this position.
• A list of three professional references.

• Please be sure to remove private information such as your social security number, date of birth, etc.
• Do not attach documents that are password-protected, as these documents may not be reviewed and may cause errors within your application when downloaded.

If you have specific questions about the position, please email Scott Collyard at: Scott.Collyard@ecy.wa.gov Please do not contact Scott to inquire about the status of your application.
To request the full position description: email careers@ecy.wa.gov

Why work for Ecology?

As an agency, our mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington's environment for current and future generations. We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, effective resource management, teamwork, professionalism, and accountability.
Joining Ecology means becoming a part of a team committed to protecting and restoring Washington State's environment. A career in public service allows you to help solve some of the most challenging problems facing our state, while keeping your health and financial security a priority. We combine one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation with a strong commitment to life/work balance.
To learn more about The Department of Ecology, please visit our website at www.ecology.wa.gov and follow, like or visit us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or our blog.

Note: This recruitment may be used to fill other positions of the same job classification across the agency. Once all the position(s) from the recruitment announcement are filled, the recruitment may only be used to fill additional open positions for the next sixty (60) days.