Field Scientist

DEPT OF ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION; New York (NY); On-site; USD 70,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

55a Program

Job summary

The NYC Department of Environmental Protection seeks a Scientist (Water Ecology) III in Queens, NY to monitor drinking water quality across the distribution system, collect samples, perform field analyses, and maintain online water quality instrumentation. Under supervision, you will respond to emergencies, calibrate meters, and work shifts including nights and weekends.

A master's or equivalent degree is required, along with strong data handling and communication skills to support public health

Qualifications

• Master's degree or higher in environmental/chemical sciences or related field.
• Bachelor's degree with 24 credits in related areas and 1 year relevant experience.
• Associate degree with 24 credits in related areas and 3 years relevant experience.

Responsibilities

• Collect drinking water quality samples from stations, hydrants, wells, and taps.
• Test field analyses (pH, residual chlorine, orthophosphate, temperature, turbidity, conductance).
• Calibrate, maintain, and troubleshoot field meters and water quality monitoring instrumentation.
• Assist in water quality emergency remediation and field investigations as needed.
• Respond to emergency calls outside of normal hours.

Skills

Driver's license

MS Office

WISKI

Water quality instrumentation

Data capture devices

Mechanical ability

Field sampling

Written communication

Time management

Interpersonal skills

Education

Master's degree in environmental or chemical engineering, limnology, environmental science, marine science, geology, biology, earth science, chemistry, physics, or health science

Bachelor's degree with 24 credits in related areas + 1 year related experience

Associate degree with 24 credits in related areas + 3 years related experience

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

WISKI

Job description

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 Water Supply seeks to hire a Scientist (Water Ecology) III for a position in Distribution Water Quality Operations’ Field Operations Unit located in Queens, New York. Under direction, of the Field Supervisors, the Scientist (Water Ecology) III, will monitor the drinking water quality in the City’s distribution system by collecting samples, performing chemical field analyses for compliance, and verification, and maintenance of online Water Quality (WQ) instrumentation in accordance with NYS and federal regulations. Specific duties include:

• Being responsible for the collection of drinking water quality compliance samples from sampling stations, hydrants, wells, and internal tap locations. Additionally, testing of field analyses including pH, residual chlorine, orthophosphate, temperature, turbidity, and specific conductance shall be performed. Calibration, maintenance, and troubleshooting of assigned field meters is required.
• Maintaining, verifying and calibrating water quality monitoring instrumentation, such as, but not limited to, continuous water quality analyzers, probes, sensors, handheld water quality meters and data capture devices and barcode scanners.
• Assisting in water quality emergency remediation and field investigations as needed.
• Responding to emergency calls related to water quality instrumentation (chlorine, pH, etc) outside of normal working hours.

(This is a brief description of what you might do in this position and does not include all the duties of this position.)

Some of the physical activities performed by Scientists (Water Ecology) and environmental conditions experienced are: lift and carry packages weighing approximately 20 pounds for a distance of 30 feet; perform duties in confined work areas; wear protective garments such as gloves, lab coats, goggles, and life vests; handle and manipulate laboratory equipment and instruments/tools such as glass test tubes, slides, beakers and other glassware, scalpels, scissors, etc.; adjust settings on machines, which requires fine finger and hand coordination and control; and collect samples at sites in all weather conditions.

Special Working Conditions: Scientists (Water Ecology) may be required to work shifts including nights, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.

Preferred Skills:

• A valid NYS driver’s license for the duration of their employment
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite including Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint
• Familiarity with WISKI
• Familiarity with online water quality instrumentation
• Familiarity with personal data capture devices
• Mechanical ability in maintenance and troubleshooting equipment
• Experience in collecting routine and special samples for water quality compliance/special investigation
• Experience in performing field analytical verifications of continuous water quality monitoring instrumentation
• Ability to write legibly on field dispatch cards and be able to record and transfer the results of analyses/investigations onto spreadsheets/handheld barcode scanners
• Ability to ensure data entries in notebooks and files of computer output are complete and legible.
• Strong written and communication skills
• Drive throughout the five boroughs for six hours a day.
• Interpersonal skills
• Time management
• Knowledge of WQ parameters
• Knowledge of online WQ instrumentation

Hours and Shift:

35 Hours per week. Rotating five (5) day work week schedule, including weekends and holidays. May require emergency response at all hours of the day or night.

Work Location:

96-05 Horace Harding Expressway
Flushing, NY 11368

SCIENTIST (WATER ECOLOGY) - 21538

Minimum Qualifications

1. A masters degree from an accredited college or university in one of the following areas of study: environmental or chemical engineering, limnology, environmental science, marine science, geology, biology, earth science, chemistry, physics, or health science; or

2. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with 24 semester credits in one or a combination of the areas of study described in "1" above, at least 12 of which must have been in one of these areas of study; and at least one year of satisfactory full time experience, which may not have been part of graduate or undergraduate course work, working in the field of water quality planning, management or research or performing environmental laboratory analyses, and/or environmental field sampling of water; or

3. An associate degree from an accredited college or university including or supplemented by 24 semester credits in one or a combination of the areas of study described in "1" above, at least 12 of which must have been in one of these areas of study; and at least three years of satisfactory full time experience as described in "2" above.

Additional Requirements

To be assigned to Assignment Levels II or III, all candidates must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university as described in "2" above and must have one additional year of the experience described in "2" above for a total of two years of experience.

Special Note
A master's degree from an accredited college in one of the areas described in "1" above may be substituted for up to two years of the required experience.

55a Program

This position is also open to qualified persons with a disability who are eligible for the 55-a Program. Please indicate at the top of your resume and cover letter that you would like to be considered for the position through the 55-a Program.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.

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. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.

Additional Information

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.