King County values diverse perspectives, life experiences and differences.  The Water and Land Resources Division encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, and veterans.  We are committed to being equitable and fair in providing equal access to opportunities for all.

FORMS AND MATERIALS REQUIRED:

• A King County Application Form
• Resume and Cover Letter
• Answers to the Supplemental Questions

Position Purpose:
King County Water and Land Resources Division maintains an ongoing, long-term lakes and streams monitoring program that tracks physical, chemical, and biological conditions over time and assesses impacts from human activities. The person in this position will be part of the Lakes and Streams Monitoring Program team within the WLRD Science Section. The position will provide advanced technical support in the maintenance, analysis, and interpretation of freshwater quality datasets. The County’s waters face various water quality issues due to fecal pollution, eutrophication and harmful algal blooms, and toxics. The position will work in a collaborative and adaptive environment with fellow limnologists, marine biologists, ecotoxicologists, fish ecologists, hydrologists, stormwater engineers, and policy makers to effect impactful decisions. More information about this program is available here: https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/dnrp/wlr/sections-programs/science-section.aspx.

The person in this position will lead efforts to provide technical support within and outside WLRD by evaluating a wide variety of physical and chemical freshwater data to describe conditions and impacts, seasonal and annual variability and trends, and compliance with water quality regulations. The person in this position will conduct quality assurance and quality control review of continuous and discrete physical and chemical water data, trouble-shoot any identified data quality issues with field and laboratory staff, conduct statistical analyses of the data, manage data contracts with other organizations, prepare data reports and sampling and analysis plans. The person in this position will make presentations to both technical and non-technical audiences. The person in this position will also participate in regional Pollution Identification and Control monitoring programs, such as the PIC Alliance, and is expected to take a leadership role in providing technical expertise on water quality issues, such as nutrients and fecal pollution.

JOB DUTIES:

• Conduct quality control/quality assurance review of physical and chemical freshwater datasets collected as part of ongoing, long-term monitoring programs.
• Troubleshoot data quality issues with field and laboratory staff and assist in developing methods and protocols that ensure data quality and reliability.
• Design project strategies, schedules, and work plans – taking a lead role in working with field and laboratory staff at the King County Environmental Laboratory.
• Analyze, interpret, and present physical and chemical freshwater data for spatial and temporal differences and trends, correlations between parameters and other factors, and comparisons to water quality criteria to a variety of audiences.
• Develop and author technical memoranda, sampling and analysis plans, and reports for physical and chemical water data.
• Enter physical and chemical water data into data management systems and assist with identifying and guiding improvements to the data management systems.
• Lead and manage moderately complex projects, ranging from scientific investigations to contracts with partner jurisdictions.
• Serve as a technical lead in regional freshwater monitoring program work groups and provide expertise on water quality issues such as fecal pollution, nutrient pollution, or climate change.

EXPERIENCE, QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS:
EXPERIENCE, QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS:

• Education or experience equivalent to a Bachelors’ degree in limnology, or closely related discipline.
• A minimum of two years of experience assessing physical and chemical freshwater data, including quality control of continuous and discrete long-term datasets, and review of any available quality assurance/quality control samples.
• A minimum of two years of experience conducting statistical analyses with freshwater data and using graphical and statistical software beyond Excel such as R, Ocean Data View, Python, Matlab, SigmaPlot, Primer, etc.
• Experience synthesizing technical information and writing reports and memos for technical audiences, the public, and a variety of regional partners.
• Experience managing scientific projects, overseeing scope, schedule, budget, and workflows.
• Knowledge of sampling protocols for sample collection in deep and shallow lakes and/or river and streams for laboratory analyses.
• Knowledge of watershed related freshwater quality concerns such as fecal pollution, nutrient pollution, or climate change.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:
Physical Requirements

• Ability to carry 20 pounds over uneven ground to sampling sites along the shoreline.
• Ability to collect field samples from a boat.

Desirable Qualifications

• Knowledge of state and federal water quality standards and criteria.
• Knowledge of National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit program.
• Knowledge of GIS.

Working Conditions
Work will generally be performed in an office environment with minimal exposure to safety and health hazards. Occasional field work is required in or near lakes and streams, or on boats and canoes.

Necessary Special Requirements

• A valid Washington State Driver’s License.

UNION MEMBERSHIP: Positions in this classification are represented by Teamsters Professional and Technical, Local 117.

CONTACT:  For questions about this recruitment, contact:
Michelle Kobuki, Human Resources
michelle.kobuki@kingcounty.gov
206-477-4740.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE                                             ______________________________
The supplemental questionnaire must be completed and submitted with the application. These 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 two pages.