Environmental Scientist

Noblis•Washington, DC

About The Position

This is an upcoming future opportunity based in Bethesda, Maryland, and is part of a proposal effort contingent upon contract award. The Environmental Scientist (UNDS) provides scientific research, biological analysis, and technical support to the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, for execution of the Uniform National Discharge Standards program. The position applies biological science expertise to support Navy compliance with 40 CFR Part 1700 and related state, federal, and international wastewater-management policies affecting Navy vessels and operations. The role uses biological sampling, toxicity testing, bioassay methods, EPA-approved methods under 40 CFR Part 136, and Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater to characterize discharges, analyze water quality, and assess regulatory impacts. The scientist coordinates with EPA, state regulatory agencies, Navy program offices, laboratories, field teams, and Fleet units. The role also supports requirements development, policy compliance, scientific reporting, training, program documentation, and technical meetings. Rigorous QA/QC, chain-of-custody practices, laboratory equipment calibration, and LIMS data management are required to ensure scientifically defensible results. Noblis describes its work as addressing challenging federal missions through scientific, engineering, and management expertise in a culture of objectivity and collaboration. The company highlights meaningful work, employee well-being, professional growth, and work-life programs. Remote or hybrid status may change based on company or government requirements. The advertised compensation range is USD $86,800 to $135,625 per year for full-time status.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Biology from an accredited college or university.
At least approximately five years of experience in work related to Uniform National Discharge Standards (UNDS) and their impact on Navy operations and vessels.
Expert knowledge of the UNDS regulatory framework under 40 CFR Part 1700 and Clean Water Act authority under 33 U.S.C. § 1322 governing Armed Forces vessel discharges.
Strong foundation in biology, including microbiology, aquatic biology, or marine biology, applied to water-quality analysis, discharge characterization, biological sampling, and assessment of environmental impacts.
Proficiency in water and wastewater sampling and use of EPA-approved test methods under 40 CFR Part 136 and Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater.
Experience with biological sampling, toxicity testing, and bioassay methods, including whole effluent toxicity testing, to characterize vessel discharges and assess impacts on receiving waters.
Demonstrated experience implementing laboratory and field QA/QC protocols; proficiency with LIMS, chain-of-custody documentation, and laboratory equipment calibration and maintenance.
Proficiency in scientific data analysis, statistical validation, and interpretation of laboratory results, including quantitative methods for compliance reporting and discharge-characterization studies.
Familiarity with the Clean Water Act, NEPA, and MARPOL 73/78 Annex IV, and the ability to assess regulatory impacts on Navy biological testing programs.
Knowledge of OPNAV-M 5090.1 and relevant Navy environmental policy documents governing shipboard environmental compliance and biological monitoring.
Strong scientific writing skills, including preparation of sampling plans, laboratory reports, technical assessments, and regulatory analyses.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), LIMS, scientific databases, and data-analysis tools.
Ability to communicate complex biological and technical findings to diverse stakeholders.
Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.

Nice To Haves

Ten years of experience in work related to UNDS support.
Prior experience supporting Navy or DoD UNDS program execution, particularly biological sampling or discharge-characterization studies.
Familiarity with MARPOL 73/78 Annex IV and International Maritime Organization environmental requirements applicable to Navy vessels.
Experience with EPA-approved testing procedures under 40 CFR Part 136, including biological and chemical test methods.
Knowledge of shipboard environmental systems, including Marine Sanitation Devices, oily water separators, and ballast water treatment systems, and their biological monitoring requirements.
Experience with WET testing, biological monitoring, and bioassay protocol development for effluent characterization.
Prior Navy Fleet support and shipboard biological sampling or pier-side discharge-characterization experience.
Experience preparing and delivering CDRLs in a DoD contract environment.
Knowledge of APHA Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater and their application to vessel discharge analysis.
Experience coordinating with state environmental agencies on discharge permitting, biological assessments, and compliance activities.
Familiarity with NEPA requirements and ecological risk-assessment methods.

Responsibilities

Review state, federal, and international policies and regulations affecting shipboard wastewater discharge management, and summarize findings in actionable scientific reports.
Assess the effects of proposed or enacted regulatory changes on Navy UNDS compliance obligations; monitor EPA rulemaking, Congressional legislation, and international conventions such as MARPOL Annex IV.
Characterize Navy-vessel discharges through biological sampling, chemical analysis, and physical measurements in accordance with 40 CFR Part 1700.
Conduct biological sampling, toxicity testing, bioassays, and water-quality analyses using EPA-approved methods under 40 CFR Part 136 and Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater.
Collect and analyze water-quality data from vessel discharge streams; maintain chain-of-custody documentation and QA/QC protocols.
Coordinate laboratory and field sampling and analytical services; use LIMS to manage data and support discharge-characterization reports and data summaries, including CDRL A002.
Support development of Navy regulations, policies, guidelines, standards, and SOPs; draft and review policy documents and scientifically grounded regulatory responses.
Coordinate with NAVSEA, EPA, Navy program offices, state agencies, and other stakeholders on regulatory requirements and responses; help prepare Navy comments on environmental rulemakings.
Conduct outreach and training for Navy personnel on UNDS requirements, discharge standards, compliance procedures, biological sampling, and water quality; develop and deliver materials in classroom, shipboard, and informational formats.
Maintain regulatory, policy, sampling, outreach, laboratory, and program documentation; track decisions and action items; prepare status reports and action logs; keep QA/QC records current.
Plan, coordinate, attend, and support program reviews, conferences, symposia, technical meetings, and stakeholder forums; prepare agendas, presentations, minutes, and follow-up action tracking.
Perform laboratory and shipboard or pier-side water and wastewater testing using calibrated equipment and instrumentation; conduct biological, chemical, and physical analyses, including WET testing and bioassay studies.
Conduct studies of shipboard environmental systems and shore-side discharge operations; perform legislative, rulemaking, and international treaty reviews relevant to biological water-quality standards.
Analyze regulatory documents and assess their relevance to Navy programs and UNDS compliance; draft standards and regulations and prepare scientific presentations and briefing materials.
Analyze and interpret scientific data and laboratory results, perform statistical validation and projections, and support compliance reporting, trend analysis, and QA/QC reviews.
Prepare data summaries, charts, and visualizations for program reports and briefings.
Write, review, edit, comment on, and revise scientific and technical documents, including laboratory reports, sampling plans, technical assessments, and SOPs.
Review and develop drawings and incorporate revisions into existing documents.
Arrange, organize, schedule, and facilitate meetings, program reviews, symposia, and other events; track action items to completion.
Design and develop informational posters, brochures, specification sheets, and scientific outreach materials.