Invites Applications for the Position of:
Environmental Scientist III (Geologist) 

Apply online at http://www.kingcounty.gov/jobs

King County is committed to equity and diversity in the workplace. In addition, the county is committed to recruiting and maintaining a quality workforce that shares our guiding principles: collaborative, service-oriented, results-focused, accountable, innovative, professional and fair and just.

OPENING DATE/TIME: 05/09/17 12:00 AM (GMT -8:00)

CLOSING DATE/TIME: 05/24/17 11:59 PM (GMT -8:00)

SALARY: $39.58 – $50.18 Hourly

LOCATION: King Street Center – 201 S Jackson St, Seattle

JOB TYPE: Career Service, Full Time, 40 hrs/week

DIVISION: Department of Natural Resources & Parks – Water and Land Resources Division

JOB NUMBER: 2017MK06883

SUMMARY:

King County and The Water and Land Resources (WLR) Division (WLRD) values diverse perspectives and life experiences and encourage people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, and veterans.

WHO MAY APPLY: This recruitment is open to the public and will be used to fill 2 vacancies.

Contact:  michelle.kobuki@kingcounty.gov or 206-477-4740 for questions related to this recruitment.

FORMS AND MATERIALS REQUIRED: Applicants must submit
(1) a King County application form
(2) letter of interest detailing your background and describing how your education and experience meets the qualifications and has prepared you to perform the essential functions of the job
(3) resume
(4) answers to the supplemental questions

WORK LOCATION: King Street Center – 201 South Jackson Street, Suite 600, Seattle, WA 98104

WORK SCHEDULE: This full time Career Service position works a 40 hour work week, Monday through Friday with some evening and weekend work as required. This position is overtime eligible.

Job Description:   This position will be part of the Technical Services Unit in the River and Floodplain Management Section within the Water and Land Resources Division.  This position primarily will serve as a key team member to lead geomorphic studies and analyses to characterize fluvial processes that will be used to identify flood-related hazards and to inform the design development of capital projects along major rivers in King County.  This position may also participate in project design processes and take part in construction oversight of flood protection facility (levee or revetment) rehabilitation and repair projects.   In collaboration with other professionals (river engineers, scientists and planners), all of the work in this position will support implementation of projects and programs identified in the 2006 King County Flood Hazard Management Plan as directed by King County Flood Control Zone District. Information on the District can be found at: http://www.kingcountyfloodcontrol.org/default.aspx  and the adopted 2006 King County Flood Hazard management Plan and its 2013 Progress Report at King County’s website: http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/waterandland/flooding/documents/flood-hazard-management-plan.aspx

JOB DUTIES:

  • Serve as lead team member providing geomorphic and geotechnical expertise for studies to interpret, characterize and map probable future channel migration hazard areas based on historical migration rates and patterns and field conditions.
  • Develop and oversee scientific and technical consultant contracts involving geologic, geomorphic, engineering geology, geotechnical, surveying, mapping, or other investigations of riverine or floodplain processes or flood protection facility conditions.
  • Serve as key project team member using knowledge of erosional processes, fluvial geomorphic conditions and principles of engineering geology for the planning and design development for new and damaged flood protection facilities (levees and revetments).
  • Assess damages to flood protection facilities in post-flood condition.  Based on geomorphic and geotechnical conditions, evaluate the urgency of repair needs, the consequences of potential facility failures or the effects of large wood accumulations.  Participate in the development of emergency repair strategies and assist in directing emergency repair measures.
  • Oversee construction activities related to the implementation of flood protection projects.
  • Effectively participate with other professional staff and multidisciplinary teams to identify problems and implement solutions related to river and floodplain management.
  • Interpret soils investigations, engineering geology or geotechnical analyses and scientific reports by others on the stability of flood protection facilities.  Identify the appropriate type of soils and subsurface sampling, tests and analytical methods to support design investigations and to evaluate the stability of a flood protection facility.
  • Collect data, monitor sediment deposition and evaluate its effect on flood hazards by characterizing past and current sediment movement and deposition, estimating future depositional rates and evaluating channel hydraulics.  Evaluate sediment management alternatives such as gravel removal and levee setbacks for flood reduction effectiveness.
  •  Write comprehensive reports, technical memorandum, mapping and presentations for various technical and non-technical audiences to effectively summarize information and communicate findings.
  • Develop assessment methods, protocols or sampling plans. Organize and oversee field investigations, assessments, river reach analyses, data collection and field sampling by others to characterize geomorphic processes and flood protection facility stability.
  • Participate in flood facility inspections, flood warning and patrols, and flood-related emergency response programs and activities.

EXPERIENCE, QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS:

  • Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s degree in Earth Science, Geology or Engineering Geology, or satisfaction of the educational requirements for a Washington State Geologist License as specified by WAC 308-15-040(2).
  • Washington State Engineering Geology License or the ability to obtain licensing within 6 months of King County employment date.
  • At least five years of work experience associated with fluvial geomorphology and engineering geology in the riverine environment, with an emphasis on evaluation and design input on structural and non-structural measures for addressing risks related to riverine flood and/or erosion hazards.
  • Demonstrated knowledge and experience in the principles and practices of fluvial geomorphology, including methods to characterize channel form and processes such as channel migration, channel erosion, sediment movement and deposition and fluvial response to large wood.
  • Demonstrated knowledge and experience in the principles and practices of engineering geology including soil mechanics, field and laboratory investigation techniques, slope stability analyses, seepage analyses and design and construction of river bank stabilization and flood protection measures.
  • Knowledge and understanding of the King County Flood Hazard Management Plan and the River and Floodplain Management program, guiding principles and policies; and familiarity with county, state and federal flood hazard codes and regulations.
  • Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both in writing and verbally, on technical and policy issues related to floodplain management with varied levels of staff, consultants, business and professional groups, elected officials and the public.
  • Ability to work productively in a multi-disciplinary project team, and to work effectively and cooperatively across all levels of stakeholders.
  • Demonstrated experience in preparing analytical studies, design reports and presentations to technical and non-technical audiences.
  • Ability to use Microsoft Office software, ArcGIS and GPS equipment.
  • Demonstrated knowledge and experience in the use of common slope stability computer software applications and experience in the field identification and evaluation of unstable slopes.
  • Demonstrated ability and knowledge of managing consultant contracts and project management techniques, including preparation of scopes of work, schedules and budgets, and managing projects through to completion.
  • Broad knowledge of related scientific, engineering and technical disciplines relevant to the riverine environment and river and floodplain management.
  • Demonstrated knowledge and experience in construction methods, in conducting geologic or engineering geology fieldwork and assessments under emergency conditions, particularly in adverse weather and/or uneven terrain.
  • Ability to effectively plan, organize and prioritize work on a daily basis, and specifically, the ability to work on multiple tasks accurately and quickly in a high-pressure short-deadline work environment.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION: 

DESIRABLE QUALFICATIONS:

  • Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Masters of Science degree in Earth Science, Geology, Engineering Geology, Geomorphology or its equivalent.
  • Washington State Professional Engineer License
  • Demonstrated knowledge and experience related to the design and construction of bioengineering stabilization measures in the riverine environment, aquatic habitat restoration projects, or both.
  • Demonstrated experience in assessment of natural log jams and their effect on fluvial conditions; demonstrated experience in the design or construction of engineered log jams or of large wood components in flood protection facilities or aquatic habitat restoration projects.
  • Demonstrated ability and experience in sediment transport modeling, with knowledge of sediment transport principles.
  • Washington State CESCL certification
  • Experience and knowledge using hydraulic computer models, such as HEC-RAS.

NECESSARY REQUIREMENTS:

  • A valid Washington State Driver’s License and the ability to travel throughout King County in a timely manner.
  • Ability to complete Swiftwater Rescue Training within 6 months of employment.
  • A final offer of employment will be contingent upon successfully passing a pre-employment physical examination.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: Work is performed in office and field environments. Participation in flood warning and emergency response programs and activities may involve work in excess of 12 hours per day and during all hours of the day including evenings, weekends and holidays.  Heavy workloads, deadline pressure and interruptions due to changing priorities are not uncommon.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: This position requires the ability to conduct physical site inspections and evaluation, including times of inclement weather conditions.  There is often a need to walk on uneven terrain for extended periods of time.  Field conditions include brushy, forested environments; river, stream and wetland corridors; and slippery, uneven surfaces and dynamic conditions in the outdoors.  Work tasks may likely include in-water situations involving wading and the use of rafts.

Environmental Scientist III (Geologist) SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE               
The following questions must be completed and submitted with the application. The following questions address important elements of this position, and the information you provide will help to determine your eligibility for further consideration.  Please limit your response to no more than 2 pages total.

Note: Online applications are preferred. However, if you cannot apply online, go to www.kingcounty.gov/jobs for other options. 

If you need an accommodation in the recruitment process or an alternate format of this announcement, please inquire directly with the contact listed on the job announcement or the department’s Human Resources Service Delivery Manager.

 

Environmental Scientist III (Geologist) Supplemental Questionnaire
* 1. Describe your experience as key member of a multi-disciplinary team that prepared analyses and the design for a levee or revetment project for flood protection and aquatic habitat purposes. Give examples of how your experience and understanding of geomorphic or engineering geology principles was used in project design.
* 2. Describe your experience in assessing the condition of and analyzing the stability of flood protection facilities (levees or revetments). Give examples of protocols or criteria that you used for general site assessment of the facility’s condition and give examples of specific analytical techniques that you used to a evaluate facility’s stability.
* 3. Describe your experience serving as the lead staff in scoping, conducting and completing a scientific or technical investigation involving fluvial processes, channel migration, or sediment movement and deposition for a river flood risk reduction or aquatic restoration project or program. Describe the role(s) of other staff involved in the work including your direction and review of work tasks and products.