Water Resources Scientist

City of New York; New York (NY); On-site; USD 88,000 - 101,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of New York is seeking an experienced environmental professional to lead planning, design reviews, and restoration projects across parks and natural spaces. You will work with multiple city agencies to advance stormwater, coastal resiliency, and stream restoration initiatives in New York City.

A strong background in hydrology, GIS, and nature-based solutions is essential. Responsibilities include coordinating watershed planning, analyzing data, developing funding applications, and

Qualifications

• Master's degree in physical, biological or environmental science or public health.
• Doctorate with specialization and 1 year supervisory/administrative/research experience.
• Master's degree with 3 years of full-time research experience.
• Equivalent education/experience with master's and two years experience; two years as City Research Scientist Level I can be substituted.

Responsibilities

• Provide guidance for stormwater management, coastal adaptation, stream and wetland restoration and nature-based solution projects focused on the protection and management of natural areas and climate adaptation of parkland across New York City.
• Coordinate and conduct integrated watershed and resiliency planning in partnership with other city agencies.
• Coordinate and conduct technical design reviews and support construction oversight for Capital and interagency projects.
• Identify project opportunities for stream and wetland restoration, coastal adaptation and stormwater management.
• Support project planning and development, including developing applications for funding, scopes of work and cost estimates.
• Build and maintain relationships within the agency, other city agencies, consultants and non-profit partners in an interdisciplinary and governmental context to align goals and drive projects forward.
• Communicate clearly and effectively with teams across different departments.
• Support senior staff in evaluating restoration and nature-based projects to improve outcomes.
• Manage projects to ensure they meet ecological, coastal resiliency and stormwater management goals and are completed on time and within budget.
• Assist in the design of stormwater management practices, shoreline stabilization and stream and wetland restoration projects, utilizing nature-based solutions.
• Use and review outputs from software, such as HEC-RAS, HydroCAD, Delft3D, and ArcHydro to conduct hydrologic and hydraulic modelling to assist with designs, and ArcGIS, Microsoft Excel and R to map, visualize and analyze data.
• Supervise staff in data collection, monitoring, modeling and design review.
• Prepare maps, figures and final reports to submit to the public, funders, internal staff and regulatory agencies.

Skills

Strong writing

Interpersonal skills

GIS

Data analysis

Project coordination

Education

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

Doctorate with specialization in physical, biological, environmental or social science and 1 year supervisory/administrative/research experience

Master's degree with 3 years of full-time research experience

Equivalent education/experience; master's + 2 years experience; 2 years as City Research Scientist Level I substitutable

Tools

AutoCAD

Civil3D

ArcHydro

HEC-RAS

HydroCAD

Job description

The Division of Environment and Planning aims to protect, restore, and expand New York City Parks including green spaces and natural areas to maximize their benefits for environmental and community health and resilience. The Natural Resources Group’s mission is to protect, restore, expand, and manage New York City’s over 12,000 acres of natural spaces and green infrastructure across the city, including forests, grasslands and wetlands. Our core values are: Champion Urban Nature, Apply Science and Embrace Innovation, Be Respectful and Inclusive and Advance an Ecological Legacy.

Major Responsibilities

• Under supervision from senior staff in the Division of Environment & Planning, with latitude for independent initiative and judgment, provide guidance for stormwater management, coastal adaptation, stream and wetland restoration and nature-based solution projects focused on the protection and management of natural areas and climate adaptation of parkland across New York City.
• Coordinate and conduct integrated watershed and resiliency planning in partnership with other city agencies.
• Coordinate and conduct technical design reviews and support construction oversight for Capital and interagency projects.
• Identify project opportunities for stream and wetland restoration, coastal adaptation and stormwater management.
• Support project planning and development, including developing applications for funding, scopes of work and cost estimates.
• Build and maintain relationships within the agency, other city agencies, consultants and non-profit partners in an interdisciplinary and governmental context to align goals and drive projects forward.
• Communicate clearly and effectively with teams across different departments.
• Support senior staff in evaluating restoration and nature-based projects to improve outcomes.
• Manage projects to ensure they meet ecological, coastal resiliency and stormwater management goals and are completed on time and within budget.
• Assist in the design of stormwater management practices, shoreline stabilization and stream and wetland restoration projects, utilizing nature-based solutions.
• Use and review outputs from software, such as HEC-RAS, HydroCAD, Delft3D, and ArcHydro to conduct hydrologic and hydraulic modelling to assist with designs, and ArcGIS, Microsoft Excel and R to map, visualize and analyze data.
• Supervise staff in data collection, monitoring, modeling and design review.
• Prepare maps, figures and final reports to submit to the public, funders, internal staff and regulatory agencies.

Work Location

The Grove, Rego Park, Queens

Fees

Hired candidates will be subject to a processing fee between $40.00 to $101.00 based on the salary range of title. Hired candidates who are not currently employed by the City will be subject to a $104.50 background check fee.

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

Residency in New York City, Nassau, Orange, Rockland, Suffolk, Putnam, or Westchester counties required for employees with over two years of city service. New York City residency required within 90 days of hire for all other candidates.

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.

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; or
• 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; or
• 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.

Probationary Period

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

Preferred Skills

• Master’s degree in water resources or ecological engineering, geomorphology, coastal engineering or a related field. 2. Excellent writing, organizational and interpersonal skills including the ability to work in a team. 3. Experience in design of stormwater management practices, coastal resiliency measures and/or stream restoration. 4. Experience with AutoCAD, Civil3D, ArcHydro, HEC-RAS and/or HydroCAD. 5. Knowledge of wetland hydrology, coastal hydrodynamics and sediment transport, ecological restoration and stormwater management practices. 6. Knowledge of erosion control and stormwater pollution prevention techniques. 7. Strong GIS, spatial and statistical analysis and modeling skills. 8. Experience reviewing construction plans and specifications. 9. Valid New York State Driver License.

, $87,743.00 – $100,904.00