Science Associate

IEc•Cambridge, MA

3d•$70,000 - $90,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Industrial Economics, Incorporated (IEc) provides consulting services to natural resource managers, regulators, attorneys, and other clients involved in public policy development and implementation. Its staff applies expertise in science, policy, economics, engineering, and data analysis and management to environmental and natural resource policy and management issues. The Science Associate is a scientist supporting natural resource damage and oil spill assessments, environmental impact analyses, remedial investigations, applied natural resource management, and restoration planning. The role includes ecological, biological, groundwater, and surface water assessments; characterizing contaminant sources and pathways; evaluating the spatial and temporal extent of contamination; and identifying and evaluating restoration options. Associates may lead data management and quality assurance for large environmental chemistry datasets from multiple media and providers, documenting methods to ensure work is reproducible and defensible over multi-year cases. The position also involves reviewing remedial and technical documents as primary sources of site data; drafting technical and milestone deliverables; and working with databases, coding environments, and spatial analysis software. Associates work on project teams, carry out independent work, and commonly direct and review the work of junior staff. The position is based in IEc’s Cambridge, Massachusetts office and requires office attendance at least three days per week, with optional hybrid work on the remaining days. The stated start date is immediate.

Requirements

Master’s degree or PhD (or international equivalent) in ecology, biology, toxicology, geology, chemistry, hydrogeology, hydrology, or a similar field.
Demonstrated experience with data analysis in a scripting or database environment, such as Python or R.
At least one additional quantitative skill, such as GIS, geostatistics, relational database design, or another proficiency related to science.

Responsibilities

Gather, manage, and evaluate large environmental datasets.
Design and implement quantitative analyses using a variety of scientific methods.
Synthesize existing information and conduct GIS spatial analyses.
Apply statistical methods, interpret results, and communicate findings.
Write reports and present findings.
Assist clients with natural resource damage assessments, impact analyses, field and literature-based research, and restoration project planning and monitoring.
Recommend modifications to approaches or methodologies to achieve project objectives.
Support ecological, biological, groundwater, and surface water assessments, including contaminant source and pathway characterization, evaluation of contamination extent, and identification and evaluation of restoration options.
Potentially lead data management and quality assurance for large environmental chemistry datasets, documenting methods so work is reproducible and defensible.
Review remedial and technical documents as primary sources of site data.
Draft technical and milestone deliverables, including study plans, data gaps analyses, and assessment and restoration planning documents.
Work in database and coding environments and use spatial analysis software.
Complete independent work as part of project teams and commonly direct and review junior staff work.

Benefits

Competitive salary of $70,000 to $90,000, commensurate with experience.
Annual performance bonus averaging 10% of annual salary.
Quality medical and dental insurance with contributions to a Health Savings Account.
Generous contributions to retirement savings.
Employee Assistance Program.
Flexible vacation and holiday time.
Financial support for relevant professional development opportunities.
Sick time and short- and long-term disability.
Paid family and medical leave.
Commuter benefits.
Recreational and social opportunities.