Program Operations Supervisor

Universities of Wisconsin • Madison, WI

2d • $70,000

About The Position

This position serves as the Program Operations Supervisor for the National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP) within the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene, with responsibility for overseeing the quality of laboratory analytical data and the quality of field operations. The NADP is a nationwide network dedicated to monitoring the chemistry of precipitation and atmospheric deposition across the United States. Established in 1978, the program collects and analyzes weekly precipitation samples from hundreds of monitoring sites to examine trends in concentrations and deposition of sulfur, nitrogen, mercury, ammonia, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The data generated by NADP supports critical research into acid rain, nutrient cycling, ecosystem health, and the effectiveness of air quality regulations. The program operates through a collaborative partnership among federal and state agencies, universities, tribes, and other organizations, and its long-term datasets are widely used by scientists, policymakers, and land managers to assess environmental trends and inform decisions related to air and water quality protection. This position is responsible for oversight of program office activities related to site support, sampling equipment, field data acquisition, and data deliverables to the NADP website. This role supervises staff within the field operations team. This position oversees the NADP’s 1-800 support number, available to operators between 7:00 and 17:00 CT on weekdays. This position requires in-depth knowledge of the operation and troubleshooting of: • Aerochem and NCON precipitation collectors for the NADP National Trends Network (NTN) and Mercury Deposition Network (MDN); • NADP supported precipitation gauges, including the OTT Pluvio2, OTT Pluvio 2S, OTT Pluvio Classic, and ETI NOAH IV models; Is responsible for the full lifecycle management of Remote Monitoring Modules (RMM) in both Version 1 and Version 2, including operation, troubleshooting, and build/setup. • Data download methods and telemetry, including support of a range of dataloggers — specifically the CR1000, CR800, CR1000X, and CR300-WIFI — and the associated datalogger software suite, including Device Configuration Utility, PC400W, CRBasic, LoggerNet, and LoggerLink; • Data telemetry methods, including Bluetooth adapters (Parani SD1000, and WiFly), Campbell Scientific data transfer devices (SC115). Additionally, this position sets up, configures, and tests Android devices used for field data downloads; • Power and solar setups; • Protocol questions. This position monitors and triages all network and equipment email inboxes and is responsible for coordination for starting and closing sites, triaging and resolving site issues in a timely manner. The ability to provide clear explanations to site personnel regarding data availability, QR codes, monthly reports, sample receipt reports, and precipitation data is essential. This position develops and delivers virtual training sessions for NADP Networks (NTN, MDN, AMoN, MLN, Hg Passive, and precipitation gauge operations) as required. This role is responsible for developing and maintaining all field Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), as well as SOPs for in-house developed Google Sheets tools, including the Site Support Hub (SSH), and Network Equipment and Order Tracking and Inventory. This position also creates outreach and training videos to support site personnel across the network. Familiarity with Google Workspace tools and the ability to develop and maintain spreadsheet-based tracking systems is expected. The ability to manage multiple priorities, work independently, and exercise sound judgment in a fast-paced support environment is critical to success in this role.

Requirements

• A minimum of four years of environmental pollutant monitoring experience is required, including expertise in operating and troubleshooting of environmental sampling and monitoring equipment, quality assurance and control of environmental data, and working with small and large teams of scientists and technicians in environmental programs.
• A bachelor's degree in atmospheric science, environmental science, hydrology, or a related field is required.
• An official (or copy of an official) transcript showing conferred degree will be required as a condition of employment.
• For degrees earned outside of the United States, proof of qualification equivalency is required and must be performed by a nationally recognized organization such as the National Association Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. (NACES) (http://www.naces.org) or the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (http://www.aice-eval.org).
• Course by course review is required for candidates demonstrating ability to meet CLIA qualifications.
• The candidate is responsible for all expenses related to acquiring and providing proof of qualifications.

Nice To Haves

• The ideal candidate has demonstrated experience with Campbell Scientific datalogger programming, configuration, and datalogger utility software along with familiarity of precipitation measurement instrumentation (e.g., OTT Pluvio2, OTT Pluvio 2S, OTT Pluvio Classic, ETI NOAHIV) and telemetry systems.
• Experience supporting remote field sites and troubleshooting equipment issues with minimal supervision is essential.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills are necessary, as this role involves regular interaction with site operators, program staff, and external partners.
• The candidate must be comfortable developing and delivering technical training materials and SOPs for a variety of audiences.

Responsibilities

• Ensures compliance with established policies and procedures - 15%
• Develops, directs, schedules, and secures resources for operational assignments and special projects in technical areas of laboratory testing - 20%
• Participates in professional meetings and conferences - 5%
• Develops, directs, and evaluates laboratory studies, methods, and protocols to ensure quality control, quality assurance, and maintain Standard Operation Procedures (SOP) - 25%
• Identifies new and applicable techniques and procedures - 10%
• Exercises supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees - 25%

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees