Data Manager

NYC Department of Environmental Protection (NYC DEP); New York (NY); On-site; USD 98,159 - 128,995; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility

Diverse workforce commitment

Job summary

The NYC Department of Environmental Protection (NYC DEP) is seeking a City Research Scientist responsible for managing data related to ambient water quality monitoring programs. This role involves overseeing data collection, quality assurance, and collaboration with external partners.

The ideal candidate holds a master's degree in environmental science and has expertise in applied statistics, programming in Python or R, and familiarity with SQL databases. Supervisory responsibilities are included.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in a relevant field required.
• Experience in applied statistics and environmental monitoring preferred.
• Proficiency in Python or R for analysis and visualization.

Responsibilities

• Lead data management activities for water quality monitoring programs.
• Oversee QA/QC for datasets.
• Manage dissemination of data to stakeholders.

Skills

Applied statistics

Environmental monitoring

Python or R proficiency

Familiarity with SQL databases

Spatial analysis tools

Education

Master's degree in physical, biological, environmental sciences, or public health

Tools

ArcGIS

QGIS

SQL Server

PostgreSQL/PostGIS

Job description

City Research Scientist - 21744

The NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) enriches the environment and protects public health for all New Yorkers by providing 1.1 billion gallons of high quality drinking water, managing wastewater and stormwater, and reducing air, noise, and hazardous materials pollution. DEP is the largest combined municipal water and wastewater utility in the country, with nearly 6,000 employees. DEP's water supply system is comprised of 19 reservoirs and 3 controlled lakes throughout the system’s 2,000 square mile watershed that extends 125 miles north and west of the City.

The Bureau of Wastewater Treatment (BWT) is responsible for the operation and maintenance of all facilities related to the treatment of sewage within the five boroughs of the City. This includes 14 wastewater treatment plants, sludge dewatering facilities, collections facilities (pumping stations, combined sewer overflow retention facilities, regulators, tide gates, etc.), wastewater laboratories and harbor vessels.

The Marine Sciences Section (MSS) is responsible for performing the NY Harbor Survey Program, an ambient water quality monitoring effort performed year‑round within New York Harbor. MSS is also responsible for other ambient water quality surveys including but not limited to the Sentinel Monitoring Program, Bacterial Assessment Study, and the Newtown Creek Aeration Study, with stations being sampled by boat or vehicle. MSS is responsible for generating an annual report and administering several water quality related contracts.

The candidate will be responsible for leading all data management activities for the Harbor Survey and other ambient water quality monitoring programs. This includes overseeing the collection of field and laboratory data, ensuring rigorous quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) of ambient water quality datasets, and maintaining and enhancing database systems used for long‑term data storage. The candidate will also manage the dissemination of data to internal and external stakeholders, including BWT, other DEP bureaus, the NYC Office of Information Technology (OIT), and the public. Additional duties include identifying and implementing improvements to field operations such as updating instrumentation, reviewing scientific literature, and preparing technical papers and reports for internal and external publication, including but not limited to the Harbor Survey and BMP Floatables Reports.

The candidate will also coordinate marine science and ambient water quality research efforts with external agencies and institutions. Current and emerging projects include analysis of satellite imagery for water quality monitoring and evaluating sensor and instrument performance for new equipment, such as the flow through system used in collaboration with DEP contractors.

In addition to technical responsibilities, the candidate will serve in a supervisory role. This includes overseeing investigations in marine sciences and ambient water quality studies and supervising staff across field, laboratory, and office settings, including Water Ecology Scientists (Levels I, II, and III) and interns. The candidate will be responsible for reviewing employee deliverables, conducting performance evaluations, and ensuring adherence to established standard operating procedures and manuals. The candidate will also be expected to serve as acting Section Chief during periods when the Chief is unavailable, ensuring continuity of operations and leadership within the program.

Probationary Period: Appointments to this position are subject to a minimum probationary period of one year.

Salary: $98,159.00 - $128,995.00

Residency Requirement: New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County.

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.

Minimum Qualifications

• For Assignment Level I (only physical, biological and environmental sciences and public health) A master's degree from an accredited college or university with a specialization in an appropriate field of physical, biological or environmental science or in public health.
• A doctorate degree from an accredited college or university with specialization in an appropriate field of physical, biological, environmental or social science and one year of full‑time experience in a responsible supervisory, administrative or research capacity in the appropriate field of specialization.
• A master's degree from an accredited college or university with specialization in an appropriate field of physical, biological, environmental or social science and three years of responsible full‑time research experience in the appropriate field of specialization.
• Education and/or experience which is equivalent to “1” or “2” above. However, all candidates must have at least a master's degree in an appropriate field of specialization and at least two years of experience described in “2” above. Two years as a City Research Scientist Level I can be substituted for the experience required in “1” and “2” above.

Preferred Skills

• A degree in environmental sciences, marine sciences, or a related field, with additional experience in computer science.
• Experience with applied statistics, quantitative methods, and experimental design.
• Familiarity with field and laboratory processes and methods used in environmental monitoring.
• Experience working with relational databases such as SQL Server and PostgreSQL/PostGIS, including data warehousing and structured metadata.
• Proficiency in Python or R for data cleaning, QA/QC automation, analysis, and visualization.
• Proficiency with ArcGIS, QGIS, or similar tools for spatial analysis and map production.
• Familiarity with EPA, USGS, or state‑level QA/QC protocols for environmental datasets.
• Ability to produce graphs, dashboards, and reports using tools such as R Shiny, Tableau, Python libraries, ArcGIS Online, or other business intelligence platforms.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Prospective employee may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.