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:

The Toxicology and Contaminant Assessment Unit of the Science Section conducts monitoring to assess chemical contaminants in fish tissue, as well as stream invertebrate monitoring to assess stream health. In addition, a large part of the Unit’s work is focused on providing technical support to other sections and divisions within Department of Natural Resources and Parks (DNRP) to address a wide variety of contaminant-related topics associated with evaluating potential effects of chemical contaminants on human health and the environment. Much of the work is done to facilitate evidence-based decisions to inform stormwater and wastewater management actions, as well as a variety of other environmental management issues that face King County. This position will manage a wide variety of projects and programs and provide advanced technical support to internal clients including development of novel study designs to collect and evaluate environmental chemistry, toxicity, and biological data from waters (marine, freshwater, groundwater, wastewater, etc.), sediments and tissues. This position may independently perform all technical duties for smaller projects, and/or develop and manage a team of scientists to complete larger projects or programs. In addition, the person in this position may serve as a project team member on other Science Section projects, as employees in the Science Section often collaborate in interdisciplinary teams to address water quality problems. The person in this position will work with fellow scientists, external partners, project stakeholders, and County policy makers to ensure management decisions are informed by science. More information about this program is available here: https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/dnrp/wlr/sections-programs/science-section.aspx.

The primary focus for this position will be to lead and manage efforts to provide technical support within and outside Water and Land Resources Division (WLRD) by collecting and/or evaluating water, sediment, and tissue chemistry data for effects on aquatic life and human health. King County is committed to reducing inequities of contaminant exposure to communities of color and Native Americans. The person in this position will play a lead role in developing strategies that help address these inequities.Job Duties

• Develop and manage project teams that may include scientists, contractors and stormwater/wastewater program staff to design and implement projects that address contaminant-related issues including understanding contaminant sources and pathways, ecological effects, and efficacy of treatment or other contaminant reduction strategies. Assist in managing staff that support these projects.
• Collect, analyze and interpret toxicity and analytical chemistry data (water, effluent, sediment, biosolids, tissue) to evaluate:
  • the relative magnitude of contamination, as well as exceedance of State/Federal standards,
  • potential for adverse effects to marine or freshwater fish and other aquatic life and/or
  • the efficacy of treatment technologies for improving water quality.
• Manage King County’s long-term monitoring program for chemical contaminants in marine fish and invertebrate tissue. Plan and coordinate annual monitoring activities with King County Environmental Lab and state agencies, data analysis and reporting. Assist in managing junior staff that support the monitoring program.
• Participate on project teams and manage both small and large applied science projects that inform policy and management decisions, at times addressing new and/or unfamiliar issues.
• Lead strategic planning of projects and tissue monitoring programs to align with King County goals and where needed, intersect with grant funding opportunities.
• Independently develop science project scopes to answer client questions and solve problems within the timeline and resources available.
• Prepare sampling and analysis plans (SAPs) for a wide variety of projects and oversee or conduct SAP implementation.
• Develop and manage contracts and agreements with consultants or other public agencies to complete projects as needed.
• Prepare technical memoranda and reports describing project objectives, methods and findings for technical audiences, as well as summary information for County management and/or general consumption. Provide editorial and technical review of documents/text prepared by team members.
• Establish collaborative relationships with internal clients of WLRD and other County agencies, as well as with regional scientists, government agencies, tribal representatives, non-profit organizations and other County partners.
• Clearly and concisely communicate and formally present findings of studies and monitoring programs to managers and decision makers.
• Promote and foster an equitable and socially just workplace by applying King County’s Equity and Social Justice Strategic Plan and incorporating these principles into unit project goals and deliverables.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

• Education or experience equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree in ecotoxicology, or a combination of education and experience in biology, environmental chemistry, ecology, environmental science or closely related discipline.
• A minimum of five years of experience evaluating the prevalence and ecological effects of exposure to chemical contaminants in multiple media on fish and/or aquatic life.
• Work experience reflecting an understanding of contaminant sources and pathways, ecological effects, and efficacy of treatment or other contaminant reduction strategies
• Working knowledge of PCB, PBDE or other organic chemical contaminant prevalence in the environment and their associated public health or aquatic life impacts.
• Experience synthesizing a wide breadth of technical information and preparing reports and memos for a variety of audiences including scientists, natural resource managers, and the public.
• The ability to quickly learn and assimilate new information, recruit or consult other experts and design scientific studies to address questions on topics with which you may not have direct education or experience.
• Work experience in public speaking, presenting at scientific conferences, and/or presenting technical information to managers, executives, or non-technical audiences.
• A minimum of three years of experience conducting statistical analyses of chemistry data for tests of significant differences, analysis of variance, and correlations.
• Experience working for or collaborating with representatives of two or more of the following: state and local governments, tribes, colleges/universities, or private companies.
• Experience managing scientific projects and developing and managing scope, schedule, budget, and workflows.
• Working knowledge of methods for collecting surface water, sediment, and fish samples.
• Experience using and applying Washington state surface water quality standards for protection of aquatic life and Washington state Sediment Management Standards.
• Working experience with quality assurance review of analytical chemistry data and interpreting quality control sample results.

Supplemental Information
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Ability to carry 25 lbs of sampling gear and supplies or samples with or without reasonable accommodation.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in ecotoxicology, biology, environmental chemistry, ecology, environmental science or closely related discipline.
• Experience addressing contaminant issues associated with wastewater media (effluent, biosolids, reclaimed water) including data interpretation and ecological effects of exposure.
• Experience addressing issues associated with the effectiveness of stormwater treatment, as well as impacts of stormwater associated contaminants on aquatic life. Work experience or education in stormwater or wastewater engineering or management.
• Experience conducting and interpreting multivariate statistical analyses.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully manage time and shifting priorities while fulfilling several different roles and responsibilities.
• Experience navigating organizational structure to achieve results.
• Working experience using relational databases (Access, to manage large (>2000 records and >20 analytes) chemistry datasets.
• Experience in ecological risk assessment or fish toxicology.
• Experience in developing cleanup goals, effects levels, or water quality standards.
• Working knowledge of GIS to create basic maps of sampling locations and results.
• Knowledge of local fish and aquatic (freshwater or marine) species ecology.
• Experience working with multicultural communities or ethnically diverse teams or populations.

WORK LOCATION: Work will generally be performed in a home office environment with minimal exposure to safety and health hazards. A King County laptop will be provided. Occasional but rare field work may be required in or near Puget Sound, lakes and streams, and may occur from boats.

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.

For questions about this recruitment, please contact:
Deena Prasad, Senior Human Resources Analyst
deprasad@kingcounty.gov
206-263-0101