Environmental Scientist II - Field Hydrologist

King County, WA; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative government agency is seeking a Field Hydrologist to support vital environmental monitoring programs. This dynamic role involves hands-on fieldwork and data management, contributing to salmon restoration, stormwater management, and floodplain management. You will track hydrology, analyze data, and collaborate with various stakeholders to achieve the county's Clean Water Healthy Habitat goals. Join a dedicated team that values diversity and inclusion, and make a significant impact on the environment while enjoying a flexible work arrangement that includes both remote and onsite responsibilities. If you're passionate about environmental science and data-driven solutions, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Benefits

Flexible work schedule

Union representation

Work-life balance

Diversity and inclusion initiatives

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in hydrology or environmental science is required.
• Experience with data loggers and hydrologic data collection is essential.

Responsibilities

• Install and maintain water flow and level gages in various environments.
• Collect and analyze hydrologic data to support environmental projects.

Skills

Hydrology

Data Analysis

Project Management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Hydrology or Environmental Science

Tools

Excel

Aquarius

R

ArcGIS

SQL

Campbell Scientific equipment

Onset data loggers

Job description

About the Role:
As a Field Hydrologist (Environmental Scientist II), your role is to provide scientific and technical support for one of the county’s most important environmental monitoring programs. The field hydrology program supports salmon restoration projects, stormwater management, floodplain management, wastewater management, and even our efforts to coexist with beavers. The person in this position will be in the field installing and maintaining continuous flow, stage, and rain gages as well as in the office managing the data and coordinating with clients. This is a hands-on field position that also reviews data quality and analyzes hydrologic patterns.

This position performs work remotely and onsite.

About the Team:

This position conducts field science to track hydrology—one of the most important indicators of environmental change—and provide data that is used across the county’s environmental programs. Operating within the Science and Technical Support Section of Water and Land Resources Division (WLRD), this role is focused on achieving the goals of the county’s Clean Water Healthy Habitat (CWHH) Strategic Plan. You will help us accomplish the plan’s goals by tracking weather and hydrologic conditions in the field over time, assessing influences of human activities, and providing data for management actions. Your work will advance our CWHH Plan goals within a generation including, cleaner, controlled stormwater runoff; functional river floodplains; and better fish habitat. Join our team and help us achieve these goals!

The Science and Technical Support Section is a unique part of King County – where scientists help to build the scientific framework for policy and decision-making. The Section is a Seattle-based team of more than 40 technical staff producing credible and innovative, applied science and technical guidance for the benefit of people and the environment. We lead applied studies in environmental sciences, manage monitoring programs, deliver technical services to clients and collaborators, and inform evidence-based policies and regulations.

What You Will Be Doing:

• Install, maintain, and troubleshoot water flow gages, water level gages, rain gages, temperature gages and turbidity instruments in streams, rivers, and stormwater projects or facilities. Assist in managing equipment inventory.
• Collect and download flow, water level, water temperature, groundwater level, and rain gage data in the field. Conduct quality control/quality assurance review of field and telemetered gage data. Process data into a hydrologic database.
• Calculate flow, rain, and temperature data. Assist team in looking for long-term trends and define correlations between hydrology metrics and land use, habitat, and biological metrics. Assist in preparing maps, graphs and charts showing monitoring results including discharge rating curves.
• Assist in writing and preparing technical reports on flow, rain, and temperature conditions in King County streams and rivers.
• Coordinate field hydrology efforts with clients within King County agencies, other jurisdictions, and Tribes. Present results (orally or via written reports) to clients, colleagues, and managers.

Qualifications You Bring:

• Knowledge of hydrology and stream water quality equivalent to that obtained in the earning of a bachelor’s degree in hydrology, environmental science, or the equivalent.
• Experience installing continuous stream and river gages and weather stations, downloading and processing data logger output, and calibrating and maintaining field equipment. Experience with a variety of data loggers and sensors used to collect hydrologic and meteorologic data, including those from Campbell Scientific, Onset, YSI and associated software.
• Understanding of discharge rating curves.
• Experience using Excel and other graphical, statistical, and or hydrologic software such as Aquarius, R, Surfer, Matlab, SigmaPlot, Primer, or SPSS, to conduct statistical analyses of water quantity and quality data sets, prepare data tables, generate summary statistics, and prepare of charts, graphs, and maps that present results of environmental monitoring.
• Project team experience, including assisting with controlling project scope, schedule, budget, and purchasing monitoring equipment.

Competencies You Bring:

• Resourcefulness - Securing and deploying resources effectively and efficiently.
• Tech Savvy - Anticipating and adopting innovations in business-building digital and technology applications.
• Drives Results - Consistently achieving results, even under tough circumstances.
• Collaborates - Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Communicates Effectively - Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.

It Would Be Great if You Also Bring:

• Knowledge of stormwater management principles and techniques and ability to read stormwater facility as-built plans.
• Experience preparing technical reports that present water quantity data, data analyses, and interpretation.
• Experience using ArcGIS or similar map-based software, querying and data management in SQL databases (SQL Server, Microsoft Access), collaborating in GitHub, and graphing in Python or R.

Working Conditions:
Remote and Onsite Work Details:
Employees in this role work remotely from a home location, with weekly field work at county work sites and onsite reporting requirements typically 1-2 days per week. The frequency of onsite work is determined by business needs and may be adjusted accordingly. Onsite reporting locations may be at various King County worksites including the collaboration space at King Street Center (201 S. Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104). This work arrangement promotes work-life-balance and reduces carbon footprint.

Remote Work Location Requirement: Employees must reside in Washington State and be within a reasonable distance to King County worksites to meet onsite reporting requirements.

Work Schedule:This full-time position works a 40-hour work week. This position is covered under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and is overtime eligible.

Union Representation:This position is represented by the PROTEC Local 17A union.

Application and Selection Process:

We welcome applications from all qualified applicants. We value diversity, diverse perspectives and life experience and encourage people of all backgrounds to apply. Application materials will be screened for clarity, completeness and alignment with the experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skills essential for this role to determine which candidates may be invited to participate in one or more panel interviews.

To apply, submit a:

• Complete Application
• Resume
• Cover Letter

Note: Additional documents won't be considered during minimum qualification screening.

Who to Contact: For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact Sr. Human Resources Analyst Calvin Rivers at 206-263-1968 or [e-mail].

Discover More About DNRP: Visit our website, explore an interactive map of our recent accomplishments and check us out at Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Keeping King County Green News. Sign up for Job Alerts to be notified of additional career opportunities with King County. Select the Natural Resources category for DNRP opportunities and explore other categories of interest. Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.

Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference?Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply

If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.