Salary: $51,888.00 – $69,756.00 Annually
Location: Thurston County – Olympia, WA
Job Type: Full Time – Permanent
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Department: Dept. of Natural Resources
Job Number: 2023-4-7593-05131
Closing: 4/20/2023 11:59 PM Pacific

Want to join something GREAT and make a difference?
Are you interested in conducting environmental research and engaging with community members in ecosystem-based monitoring? The Aquatics Assessment and Monitoring Team (AAMT) seeks a scientist with a broad range of capabilities and strong commitment to improving the climate adaptive capacity for communities and their aquatic ecosystems. As the Community Climate Resilience Scientist you will be responsible for leading the operation and enhancement of an autonomous sensor network, maintaining and improving biological survey methods, designing and implementing hypothesis testing research, analyzing and communicating findings to policy developers and the public, and sustaining a program that engages diverse community partners in conducting place-based climate science research and monitoring. Your leadership skills will be applied in supervising staff and directing field crews in data collection while wading in water, snorkeling, sampling from boats, off piers and docks. Your practical problem solving skills will be needed to identify and correct for instrument error, improve sampling methods, safely conduct field research in challenging conditions, and coordinate among a diverse group of partners and volunteers.  You will apply your creativity in developing compelling on-line representations of place-based aquatic ecosystem monitoring and assessment data. Your verbal and writing skills will be essential to communicate research findings to agency management, scientific colleagues and external stakeholders.

Duties
Responsibilities:

  • Lead the deployment, operation, and maintenance of autonomous sensors of the Acidification and Nearshore Monitoring Network (ANeMoNe).
  • Identify and acquire field gear and scientific equipment needed to implement surveys and protocols.
  • Implement hypothesis testing research to understand habitat and species resiliency
  • Establish and install instrumentation at research plots and monitoring index sites for field experiments and long-term monitoring.
  • Manage and oversee the growth of the ANeMoNe volunteer community science partnerships into a robust crowd-sourcing community science program.
  • Train and coordinate volunteer participants in collection and use of data.
  • Lead in the development of training materials for staff and community scientists.
  • Seek out partnering opportunities with climate disaster vulnerable communities.
  • Work with partners on implementing and cultivating community engagement programs, such as the Youth Climate Resiliency Internship.
  • Synthesize gathered data and information into reports and presentations to support decision making, aquatic land leasing, and habitat stewardship.
  • Distill relevant findings with compelling data visualization to convey relevant facts and findings for communication materials
  • Host public workshops and meetings to present information and engage community members
  • Create interactive web visuals and maps.
  • Design and keep updated on-line, publicly accessible interactive data and information portal.
  • Liaise with DNR Aquatics web master and Communications team to maintain updated content on the DNR Aquatic Science webpage.
  • Maintain and develop positive and effective supervisory relationships with ANeMoNe team staff including responding appropriately to disciplinary situations, supporting staff in resolving conflicts, and handling routine personnel issues.
  • Onboard, train, develop annual work plans, review and approve leave requests and monitor performance of direct reports.
  • Complete necessary boat, boat trailering, generator, pump, all-terrain vehicle training, current first aid, CPR, and water safety certifications and ensure staff are current on all field safety and equipment operation training
  • Provide capable and safe operation of boats and equipment in support of field work.
  • Assist other AAMT project leads to complete necessary field data collection, instrument deployment and retrieval.
  • May be assigned variety of other field work, sample processing, analyses or administrative tasks as needed.

Qualifications
Required Qualifications: 

  • A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in environmental science or related discipline, PLUS 3 years of experience in aquatic ecosystem research involving field data collection, sample processing, application of statistical models in data analysis, data interpretation, and communicating findings OR an equivalent combination of education and/or experience.
  • Experience building partnerships, leading teams, developing training materials, facilitating training and overseeing work products of other staff and collaborators.
  • Experience with web or online communication platforms.
  • Excellent writing skills.
  • Proficiency with data analysis, and use of software for creation of compelling graphics, maps, presentations and reports.
  • Ability to effectively cope with change and make sound recommendations with limited information.
  • Ability to summarize complex scientific findings suitable for presenting to a range of audiences.
  • DNR Core Competencies: 
    • Personal Accountability 
    • Value Others 
    • Compassionate Communication 
    • Inspire Others 
    • Commitment to Excellence 

Special Requirements and Conditions of Employment:

  • Driving vehicles including pickup trucks loaded with gear and towing trailers is required to transport to and from field sites, sometimes in remote locations. Driving off road vehicles is sometimes necessary and operating boats is required.
  • Ability to obtain WA State Boater Education Card and complete DNR Boat and Boat Trailering courses and task books.
  • A valid driver’s license and have two years of driving experience. This position requires driving as an essential function. 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.
  • Work in inclement weather, on beach, wading in rivers and lakes, over water on docks and from watercraft. Also work in workshops and in office environment.
  • 15-30% time includes day travel and some overnight travel to marine, stream and lake field sites throughout the state, meetings and conferences.
  • Employees of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are required to complete their primary series of COVID-19 vaccines (be fully vaccinated against COVID-19) or be approved for a medical or religious accommodation as a condition of employment. Please note, any offer of employment is contingent and no start date will be approved until you have either verified your vaccine status or have an approved accommodation. “Fully vaccinated” means the following: An employee is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 two weeks after they have received the second dose in a two-dose series of a COVID-19 vaccine (e.g., Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Novavax) or a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine (e.g., Johnson & Johnson (J&J)/Janssen) authorized for emergency use, licensed, or otherwise approved by the FDA or listed for emergency use, or otherwise approved by the World Health Organization. 

Desired Qualifications: 

  • A Master’s degree in environmental science, oceanography, ecology, or related discipline, with preferred emphasis on aquatic ecosystems, plus 3 years of experience in aquatic ecosystem research involving field data collection, sample processing, application of statistical models in data analysis, data interpretation, and communicating findings.
  • Experience with set-up, calibration and servicing of underwater data collection instruments (e.g. hydroacoustic sonar, underwater video, temperature, light, and conductivity meters.
  • Experience with sample processing, and data analysis with hydrographic or benthic survey data.
  • Experience with accessing, extracting and analyzing data from local, state and national databases.
  • Experience working with and training volunteer community scientists
  • Experience delivering effective public presentations.
  • Experience applying science-based recommendations to support resource management decisions.
  • Experience in applying physical process models, habitat assessments, risk and vulnerability assessments, empirical and statistical models for data analysis and interpretation.
  • Experience leading teams including developing workplans with and overseeing work products of other staff and collaborators.
  • Experience operating, trailering, launching and loading boats and possess WA State boater education card.

Questions?  Please contact Cinde Donoghue at Cinde.donoghue@dnr.wa.gov, 360.790.1897 or e-mail us at DNRrecruiting@dnr.wa.gov

Application Requirements

  • To be considered you must apply online at www.careers.wa.gov. You must complete the entire online application to be considered for the position.
  • Attach a letter of interest describing how your experience and qualifications relate to the position profile and the position required, desired and special requirements.
  • Attach a resume describing your experience and qualifications.
  • Provide three to five professional references – you may attach a document, use the References text field in the online application, or include with resume.
  • Important: Do not attach any documents that include photos or private information (social security number, year of birth, etc.).
  • Complete all supplemental questions.

For more information and to apply: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/washington/jobs/4000078/natural-resource-scientist-2

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