Salary
$34.80 – $44.25 Hourly
Location
Tacoma, WA
Job Type
Career Service – Full Time
Department
Planning and Public Works (PW)
Job Number
20-00339
Closing
10/25/2020 12:00 AM Pacific
Description
Why It’s a Great Opportunity:
This is a project lead position supporting Pierce County’s freshwater monitoring program with the opportunity to design and implement strategies for water quality improvements. We are looking for someone to use their project management and leadership skills to help expand our well-established descriptive monitoring program to include a diagnostic approach for improving stream water quality. You will have access to state-of-the-art tools and programs to accomplish your work.
Pierce County’s Surface Water Management Division is committed to further developing a science-based, data-driven program. Be a part of a team that enjoys working together in the field, applying established scientific methods to understand the health of streams, staying abreast of new technologies, and solving problems. We work as part of a supportive and collaborative group of people including professional scientists, planners, and engineers who strive to measure, assess, and enhance stream water quality for fish, wildlife, and the public.
Why It’s a Great Department:
The Planning and Public Works Department has an excellent reputation for being an employer that is committed to providing top-notch service to its customers. Our goal is to be the best Public Agency, and your role as a Water Quality Specialist 3 can help us get there. We offer a competitive salary and benefits package as well as the opportunity to be a part of an organization that cares about its customers and employees.
Position Summary
How to Be Successful in the Role:
You will exhibit excellent leadership, collaboration, and communications skills as this position will be part of a team of Water Quality professionals. You will need to bring your expertise in designing stream water quality monitoring and assessment programs, including performing higher level data analysis. Strong experience with project management, advanced data analysis, data interpretation, and scientific report writing is important. You will also need experience with data management programs such as Kisters WiSKI to manage and analyze large datasets This position works both in an office environment and in the field. The successful candidate will have significant experience with measuring water quality parameters, with continuous stream gage stations, conducting instantaneous flow measurements, conducting time-of-travel studies, and installing, calibrating, maintaining, and trouble-shooting associated equipment (for example, ADCPs, ADVs, and multi-parameter sondes). Familiarity with municipal NPDES permit requirements and TMDLs will be very helpful. We want someone who enjoys a variety of challenging and important responsibilities.
Your Future in the Role:
This position will work with a range of disciplines doing multi-faceted work. There is variety in the projects worked on – each has its own unique set of solutions to develop. There is opportunity to include monitoring for toxics and chemicals of emerging concern into our program as well. The work environment is very collaborative and team members are very helpful and eager to teach and learn. The work we do can directly benefit our community and improve the livability of our County.
CORE DAILY RESPONSIBILITIES:
· Manage water quality monitoring projects including providing leadership to the team, assigning work, and ensuring tasks are completed correctly and timely.
· Lead all aspects of one or more stream water quality monitoring projects or programs including programming instruments and conducting field sampling.
· Perform higher-level data analysis to identify stream impairment and to calculate long term trends.
· Collect data to support TMDL and water quality improvement projects.
· Further develop the team’s instrumentation and continuous monitoring capacity.
· Support basin plans for NPDES permit requirements.
· Support and advise the section, division, and department in data collection needs.
Qualifications
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS TO APPLY:
Four years of college or post-high school technical training and three or more years of progressively responsible related experience. Additional education or experience may substitute equally for the recruiting requirements. Satisfactory physical condition, as evidenced by a County-approved physical examination, may be required prior to appointment to the position.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS AND/OR QUALIFICATIONS:
A valid Washington State driver’s license may be required when travel is required of the position.