Junior Environmental Scientist

Onterris•Little Rock, AR

About The Position

The Junior Environmental Scientist joins an emergency response team to conduct environmental sampling and data collection. The role involves researching and investigating sources of pollutants or hazards that may affect the environment or public health. The scientist collects, synthesizes, studies, reports, and acts on data from measurements or observations of air, food, soil, water, and other sources, applying scientific methods to risk assessments and industrial hygiene applications to meet client expectations. The position requires maintaining a response bag with company-issued personal protective equipment (PPE) and appropriate work clothing. It includes an on-call rotation for emergency response, immediate availability for frequent and extended travel, and travel on short notice when additional response staffing is needed. On-call duties may extend to satellite offices. The role also requires completing specified training and obtaining DISA and TWIC clearances within stated timeframes after hire. When not deployed on emergency response, the employee works in an office environment. Field assignments may involve outdoor work in extreme weather, physically demanding PPE and respirator use, potentially hazardous settings, extended hours, and travel by land, sea, or air.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Environmental Engineering, Environmental, Health and Safety, Industrial Hygiene, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Toxicology, or another related science; 1 to 3 years of related experience may be substituted for a degree.
Advanced computer skills in a Windows-based platform.
Ability to learn software and complete administrative duties, including timesheets and expense reports.
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
Ability to respond promptly to communications from a supervisor.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships within a matrix reporting structure.
Ability to understand and follow written and verbal directions.
Strong verbal and written communication skills in English.
Ability to complete HAZWOPER certification and obtain and maintain DISA clearance and TWIC clearance.
Current driver’s license and ability to obtain a passport.
Completion of job-specific OSHA training and ability to comply with job-specific OSHA requirements, including wearing a respirator.
Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills, with careful attention to detail.
High degree of personal initiative and responsibility for assigned work.
Ability to work overtime and on weekends.
Ability to meet physical requirements including sitting, standing, walking, lifting up to 50 pounds several times a day, overhead lifting of over 20 pounds, bending, stooping, climbing ladders, and crawling.
Ability to read from a computer screen, sampling device, or paper copy, and to manage a large volume of work and multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.
Ability to drive noncommercial vehicles.
Ability to wear half-face and full-face air-purifying respirators, supplied-air respirators including SCBA and hose-supplied respirators, and partially or totally encapsulating PPE, with required medical clearance.
Ability to work in settings with potential physical and chemical hazards and to tolerate outdoor conditions, uneven ground, standing water, ditches, dusty conditions, moving transportation and remediation equipment, and physical stress from PPE use.

Responsibilities

Respond to emergency response assignments and travel immediately when requested by clients.
Maintain, calibrate, and mobilize equipment appropriate for emergency response.
Gather and analyze samples from sources of potential contamination.
Conduct monitoring and sampling according to prescribed methods.
Compile, review, and summarize scientific and technical data and literature.
Complete 40-hour HAZWOPER training within the first three weeks of hire.
Obtain DISA and TWIC clearances within three months of hire.
Complete designated safety requirements within the first month of hire.
Maintain a response bag with company-issued PPE and appropriate work clothing.
Perform other duties as assigned.