About Us

Four Peaks Environmental Science & Data Solutions, LLC (Four Peaks) is a growing environmental science and engineering firm serving public and private entities nationwide. We help clients solve challenges in the aquatic environment requiring expertise in aquatic research, water resource management, data science, and regulatory compliance. Our work environment is fast-paced and dynamic with opportunities for career growth. Our mission is to provide data-driven, cost-effective solutions, while providing the highest level of customer service to our clients. People are who we are and collaboration, trust, and personal and professional growth are core values that the Four Peaks team shares.

The Opportunity

Four Peaks has an opening for a wetland and aquatic scientist with fluvial geomorphology and hydrology experience to support their growing wetland, riparian, and aquatic habitat practices. The position will be based out of Wenatchee or North Bonneville, Washington. The wetland and aquatic scientist will support environmental data collection and analyses around wetlands, floodplain physical habitat, hydrologic monitoring, and fish and aquatic ecology, and environmental compliance tasks on projects throughout the Pacific Northwest and U.S. This role will initially support field data collection for the National Wetland Condition Assessment for Oregon and Idaho (2021). In subsequent years, the successful applicant will have diverse opportunities to work on analysis and GIS, reporting, and fieldwork that support Four Peaks’ many wetland, floodplain, and aquatic habitat monitoring and restoration projects. The successful applicant will serve as a lead for up to two seasonal technicians and will work closely with scientists of all levels and rapidly grow into an increasingly responsible position within the firm.

We expect to fill this vacancy as a staff-level scientist who operates under the direction of project managers and principal scientists, but exhibits a high degree of independence and self-direction. We will prioritize candidates with sound technical skills, experience in diverse aquatic and floodplain monitoring and restoration projects, and an enthusiasm for taking on new challenges. Initially, this position will be primarily field based (80%) with a modest office component (20%) that reflects seasonal, companywide project needs.

Summary of Duties

  • Successfully implement field campaigns as a part of the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Wetland Condition Assessment for Idaho, Oregon, and northern California in 2021
  • Lead and perform botany, soils, hydrology, water quality, and wetland and riparian habitat monitoring and evaluations
  • Perform wetland delineations using standardized sampling techniques including U.S. Army Corps of Engineers wetland delineation methods and Washington State Department of Ecology wetland rating methods
  • Plans field campaigns, including staffing, equipment, access, logistics, landowner coordination, vehicles, and accommodations
  • Provides field data quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) on field loggers and paper forms and secondary QA/QC in office setting
  • Perform GIS and remote sensing tasks associated with multiple field-based projects, including desktop geomorphic assessments and hydrologic analyses using USGS stream gages
  • Works with a peer colleague and Senior Scientist to coordinate field season logistics across multiple field projects
  • Mentors and manages junior technicians
  • Serves as a liaison between senior staff and junior field staff

Required Qualifications

  • B.S./B.A. degree or higher in a natural science related to natural resources, ecology, environmental science, fisheries, or a related field and 3 years of experience
    or
  • M.S. degree and 1 year of post-graduate experience, preferably in a field environment
  • Experience performing U.S. Army Corps of Engineers wetland delineations under guidance from the Arid West and Western Mountains, Valleys, and Coasts regional supplements
  • Experience with botanical or forestry surveys and plant identification using dichotomous keys
  • Familiarity with the regional flora of at least one of Idaho, Oregon, or northern California
  • Experience performing soil classification and using Munsell color charts for identification of hydric soil types in the field
  • Knowledge of Pacific Northwest wetland types and stream ecology of the Pacific Northwest ecoregion
  • Experience with ESRI ArcGIS, including basic spatial analyses and cartography
  • Experience managing field projects and coordinating field staff
  • Strong verbal and written communication and problem-solving skills
  • Proficiency in communicating via email, phone, and online tools like Slack, Trello, and Skype
  • High level of motivation and willingness to take on a wide range of tasks
  • Safe driving record, ability to trailer a boat or ATV, and ability to operate watercraft in lake and river environments

Desired Experience

  • Knowledge of the watersheds, rivers and fish, and forests and trees of the Pacific Northwest and northern Rocky Mountain ecoregions
  • Background in fluvial geomorphology and hydrology, including both field (discharge and topographic measurements) and desktop methods (hydrologic models, DEM creation and differencing)
  • Past experience creating digital topography, performing raster analyses, installing, programming, and downloading environmental data loggers, performing statistical analysis (R or Python software preferred)
  • Knowledge of the principles of QA/QC using data visualization and statistical software (R or Python preferred)
  • Wilderness First Responder or Wilderness First Aid certifications and willingness to maintain/renew
  • Training in the principles of swiftwater safety
  • Experience diplomatically working with landowners and clients to negotiate site access and field campaign timing

Summary of Employee Benefits

  • Performance-based incentive compensation
  • Annual profit-based bonus reflecting companywide performance
  • Employer sponsored health insurance
  • 401k program with employer match
  • 8 paid holidays and a generous paid time off program
  • Cell phone allowance
  • Opportunities for professional development including society membership, conference attendance, and professional certifications

Fine Print

If you are interested in joining our dynamic, growing team please consider applying today by submitting your resume and one-page cover letter. We will accept applications until November 9, 2020, or until the position is filled. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so early applications are encouraged.

Four Peaks is committed to ensuring a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community. Through this commitment we hope to positively impact our local, regional, national, and global communities—those same communities in which we operate. We live our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion at Four Peaks as core values through how we hire, promote, and develop our team. We are determined to pursue these values to build a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive day-to-day workplace and company culture.

Apply here: https://fourpeaks.bamboohr.com/jobs/view.php?id=11#new_tab