Aquatic Resources Division – Olympia
Recruitment #2020-01-7105
This is a full-time permanent represented position.
EXCITING OPPORTUNITY UPDATED & EXTENDED!
Want to conduct science that will help Washington State be a steward for its aquatic resources? Come join the Aquatics Assessment and Monitoring Team (AAMT) as our Aquatics Resilience Scientist. There you will provide scientific leadership to the Aquatic Resources Division at the Department of Natural Resources.
The Aquatic Resilience Scientist will be responsible for helping DNR management understand how DNR’s aquatic assets and responsibilities can become more resilient to impending environmental disruptions. You will advise DNR Aquatics staff on how to ensure DNR lands are managed to be resilient to changing ocean and freshwater conditions. The successful candidate will have expertise in conducting novel research, completing literature reviews, experience developing and writing vulnerability and risk assessments, creating guidance and recommendations to inform proactive policy and management decisions that will help to make DNR aquatic lands and affiliated species more resilient, and facilitating research to help fill in necessary data and information gaps.
This position will also serve as a lead scientist for DNR’s Acidification Nearshore Monitoring Network (ANEMONE) including: leading and coordinating teams, managing all data produced by the AAMT team including developing and cataloging protocols to quality control data streams, making QA/QC’d data generated by AAMT publically available on the Aquatic’s website, analyzing data, and creating environmental assessment products and affiliated reports using AAMT and external data streams.
What will we trust you with?
- Providing expert consultative scientific services regarding environmental and species vulnerability and risk assessments for the Aquatics Resources Division.
- Developing, facilitating, and assisting in research projects that will produce information suitable to inform DNR’s long-term management and policy goals.
- Gathering and evaluating data, formulating and justifying conclusions and making recommendations regarding management opportunities to make DNR Aquatic lands and affiliated resources more resilient to impending changes related to climate change and other stressors.
- Partnering with external collaborators to conduct data analyses and research that can inform and be integrated into DNR management decisions.
- Serve as a lead scientist for the Acidification Nearshore Monitoring Network (ANEMONE) array.
- Creating comprehensive data management plans, including QA/QC protocols, for ANEMONE and AAMT data streams.
- Train and manage teams to assist in maintenance of field equipment, downloading data, and calibrating instruments.
- Conduct data analyses that synthesize ANEMONE, other AAMT data, and incorporate additional external data sources to inform management and policy decisions.
- Participate or serve in a leadership role on relevant external technical workgroups to develop partnerships and identify novel ways internal and external data can be utilized to inform pressing environmental questions.
- Using your ingenuity to help create creative solutions to complex problems.
- Managing and working independently on multiple projects while simultaneously participating as a member of a dynamic team.
The right candidate has:
- A minimum of a master’s degree and 5 years of experience in environmental science, oceanography, ecology, or related discipline, with preferred emphasis on ecological data collection and analysis in aquatic systems.
- Experience leading teams including developing work plans and overseeing work products of other staff.
- Ability to confidently work independently on projects while also being a valuable team player.
- Effectively cope with change and make sound recommendations with limited information.
- Uses ingenuity in dealing with ambiguous situations.
- Applied experience with instrumentation used in subaqueous data collection.
- Knowledge of sample processing, database development and data analysis with hydrographic or benthic survey data.
- Experience in applying physical processes, habitat assessment, empirical or statistical models for data analysis and interpretation.
- Experience with managing large complex data sets and developing semi-automated Q.A/QC protocols
- Demonstrated experience in applying and interpreting multivariate statistics in the monitoring and assessment of aquatic habitats.
- Demonstrated experience using field GPS to collect, download, and analyze spatial data.
- Knowledge of constructing and using spatial natural resource geodatabases for analysis.
- Proficiency with data analysis, drawing, plotting, presentation and report creating software.
- Ability to access, extract and analyze data from local, state and national databases.
- Familiarity with expected impacts from climate change on freshwater and marine systems.
- Ability to develop, conduct, and report environmental vulnerability and risk assessments suitable to inform management objectives
- Ability to apply science-based recommendations to support land management decisions.
- Evidence of ability to summarize complex scientific findings suitable for informing management decisions.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and complete assignments on time.
- Demonstrated experience with project management and technical guidance of staff through all phases of scientific inquiry, including developing and maintaining project timelines.
- Demonstrated ability to gather and analyze data and convey complex scientific information in written and oral presentations to individuals with a broad range of technical abilities.
- Experience with research proposal development, review, and procurement of grant funding.
- Experience with purchasing services and equipment.
- Experience delivering effective public presentations.
- Excellent writing skills.
- Must have a valid driver’s license and have two years of driving experience. This position requires driving as an essential function. Employees who drive for state business, whether in a state or privately-owned vehicle, are required to possess a valid license as defined in policy PO02-006 and abide by all other driver responsibility requirements. Finalists and/or interview candidates will be asked to provide a driving record from all states in which they have held a license during the past three years.
- Experience with set-up, calibration and servicing of underwater data collection instruments (e.g. hydroacoustic sonar, underwater video, temperature, light, and conductivity meters.
- Working knowledge of nearshore ecosystem processes including carbonate chemistry
- Proficient with a programming language or platform suitable for analyzing environmental data
- Experience with operating motor boats.
One of the world’s most scenic places, Washington State offers breathtaking discoveries for people who love natural beauty and outdoor recreation, from the Pacific Coast shores to the rugged Cascade Mountains to the rolling hills of the Palouse. Your office will be located in Olympia on the state capital campus and minutes from downtown and the South Puget Sound. The Aquatic Resources Division manages 2.6 million acres of state-owned aquatic lands. Aquatic lands refers to submerged areas in rivers, lakes and most of the subtidal areas of Puget Sound and the outer coast. You will spend portions of your time out in the field working on the tide flats of Washington supporting the ANEMONE array and out on boats to conduct your and your colleague’s research and monitoring work.
At DNR, we value public service, innovation and creative problem solving, safety and well-being, and leadership and teamwork. At DNR you’ll support the vision of a sustainable future by using your skills to protect and manage the state’s natural resources for both current and future generations. As a DNR employee, you’ll work with the public’s interest in mind as we manage more than 5 million acres of state-owned forest, range, commercial, agricultural and aquatic lands. But managing lands is only half of our story. We house the Washington Geological Survey, a dynamic program that is the primary source of geological products and services in support of decision making in Washington. We also protect other public resources such as fish, wildlife, water, and provide public access to outdoor recreation. Two of our largest and most important state-wide resource protection responsibilities are fire prevention and suppression, and overseeing forest practices.
We are nearly 1,500 employees strong and dedicated to making DNR a great place to work. Our mission is to serve Washington’s lands and communities; build strong and healthy rural communities; enhance forest health and wildfire management; strengthen the health and resilience of our lands and waters; and increase public engagement and commitment to our public lands and resources. In partnership with citizens and governments, we provide innovative leadership and expertise to ensure environmental protection, public safety, perpetual funding for schools and communities, and a rich quality of life. At DNR we approach our work through the lens of making Washington a better place environmentally, economically and socially for current and future generations.
What makes DNR a great place to work?
- Transitioning to a modern work environment
- Mobile work
- Infants at work program
- Commitment to organizational health and wellness
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council
- Leadership that empowers and supports employees
- Work/life balance
- Leadership development opportunities
- Educational aid and career development stipends
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness Eligibility
- Opportunities to participate in wildland fire suppression assignments
- Opportunities to stretch your professional skills
- A comprehensive benefit package that includes employer contributions toward health insurance, paid holidays, retirement plans, sick leave and vacation days. Visit http://careers.wa.gov/benefits.html for more information.
Application Process
To be considered you must apply online at www.careers.wa.gov (Click on the APPLY button above). You must complete the entire online application to be considered for the position.
- You must attach the following:
- A letter of interest describing how your experience and qualifications relate to the position profile, required and desired position qualifications, and special position requirements.
- A resume including the names of three to five professional references
Carefully review your application materials before submitting. If you fail to submit the required documents or complete the entire online application, you may no longer be considered for the position by the supervisor.
Application Status – once you submit your online application, you can check your status by logging into your account. Finalists for the position will be contacted by the hiring manager directly. Recruitment may be extended depending on the quantity and quality of the application pool. For a copy of the position description please email us at DNRrecruiting@dnr.wa.gov
Questions? Please contact Cinde Donoghue at 360-902-1718, cinde.donoghue@dnr.wa.gov or e-mail us at DNRrecruiting@dnr.wa.gov.
Washington State Department of Natural Resources is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities in a fair and impartial manner for all persons without regard to age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, creed, color, national origin, religion, pregnancy/parental status, genetic information, military status, political affiliation, criminal history or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability or the use of a trained service animal by a person with a disability. Persons with a disability who need assistance during the screening process or those needing this announcement in an alternative format may contact DNR Recruiting staff (360) 902-1350 or (360) 902-1139. DNR may be contacted using the Washington State Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) by dialing 711.