Scientist (Water Ecology)

DEPT OF ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION; New York (NY); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is hiring a Scientist (Water Ecology) to participate in year-round sampling aboard Harbor Survey Cruises and field surveys for the Remote Monitoring Program. The role involves processing samples, calibrating instruments, maintaining equipment, and contributing to annual reports with graphics and data analysis.

Qualified candidates hold a Master’s or a Bachelor’s with extensive related coursework plus experience in water quality, environmental

Qualifications

• Master's degree in environmental/chemical engineering, limnology, environmental science, marine science, biology, earth science, chemistry, physics or health science.
• Bachelor's degree with 24 semester credits in related areas, at least 12 in those areas, and at least 1 year full-time related experience.
• Associate degree with 24 credits in related areas and at least 3 years of related experience.

Responsibilities

• Participate in year-round sampling during Harbor Survey Cruises and field surveys.
• On board processing of samples following SOPs; assist with instrument calibration and repair.
• Schedule and perform routine maintenance on instruments and stations.
• Prepare graphics, maps, and text for the annual report; assist with QA/QC for report production.

Skills

ArcGIS

Data QA/QC

Excel

Power BI

Laboratory data handling

Field equipment calibration

Education

Master's degree in environmental/chemical engineering or related field

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

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

Job description

***IMPORTANT NOTE: Candidate(s) selected for the Scientist (Water Ecology) position through this posting will be hired on a provisional basis. To be considered for permanent employment in this role, provisional employees will need to take and pass the next civil service examination for Scientist (Water Ecology) and obtain a list number issued by the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services. Please be aware that employees who do not take and pass the exam may not be able to continue in the provisional position.***

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.

Under supervision, with some latitude for the exercise of independent initiative and judgment, the selected candidate will be responsible for participating in year round sampling in all weather conditions during Harbor Survey Cruises and field surveys for the Remote Monitoring Program; assisting in the production of annual reports and assisting with the development and review of additional sampling programs. Duties will include: On board processing of samples following strict SOPs; assist in the calibration and repair of instruments; schedule and perform routine maintenance on instruments and stations; assist the field supervisor with placement of monitoring locations; prepare graphics, maps, and/or text for Annual report; perform data analysis as requested; proofread and perform QA/QC for report production; develop new sampling initiatives as required; assists with memos/reports and other documents related to additional sampling; and lift and carry coolers weighing up to 50 pounds.

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.

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.

Preferred Skills

• Experience in a laboratory setting handling hazardous chemicals
• Experience with daily/weekly QAQC of data, with high attention to detail
• Experience in ArcGIS
• Ability to work year round in all weather conditions on a moving vessel for more than 12 hours any given day
• Proficiency with data recording software (Microsoft Excel, online database applications, Power BI)
• Experience calibrating or repairing field equipment
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Excellent analytical/ research skills and with ability for concise reporting
• Experience in generating annual reports encompassing results on an annually, monthly, or weekly basis (as needed)
• Ability to perform statistical analysis of data on a regional and harbor wide scale

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.