Scientist Water Ecologist

City of New York•Valhalla, NY

3d•$76,554 - $109,218•Onsite

About The Position

The NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) enriches the environment and protects public health for all New Yorkers by providing 1.1 billion gallons of high-quality drinking water, managing wastewater and stormwater, and reducing air, noise, and hazardous materials pollution. DEP is the largest combined municipal water and wastewater utility in the country, with nearly 6,000 employees. DEP's water supply system is comprised of 19 reservoirs and 3 controlled lakes throughout the system’s 2,000 square mile watershed that extends 125 miles north and west of the City. The Bureau of Water Supply seeks to hire a Scientist (Water Ecology) III for a position within the Water Quality, Drinking Water Operations Directorate, for a position located in Valhalla, New York. The function of this position is monitoring water quality in the City’s water supply system. Major responsibilities are to operate a network of monitoring stations in the watershed and to ensure water quality instrumentation operates continuously, with accuracy and precision, following a quality assurance program for preventative maintenance, corrective maintenance, system updates, record keeping, and data management. A major responsibility for this position will be to oversee operation of the group’s biomonitoring program. Additionally, the candidate will be responsible for purchasing and maintenance of supplies and equipment, maintaining and preparing field data and records, perform Quality assurance, Quality control (QAQC) tests and assist others in same, and contribute to the production of operational, compliance and special investigation reports. Under of the Section Chief, with wide latitude for independent initiative and judgment. Candidate may be required to train personnel to analyze water quality samples and to operate instrumentation. Specific duties include: - Service, calibrates, and maintains laboratory instrumentation, field instrumentation, biomonitoring systems, and telemetry. - Performs sample collection and field analyses in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures SOP’s - Installs and upgrades monitoring equipment, instrumentation, and biomonitoring systems at water supply facilities. - Diagnose and repair monitoring station equipment, instrumentation, and associated telemetry systems. - Coordinates the group’s procurement activities. - Oversees quality control procedures, maintains accurate records, and reports on QC data. - Responds to Water Quality Emergencies. Respond to water quality alarms, special investigations, etc., outside of normal working hours to collect water samples, troubleshoot instrumentation, and assist in field investigations. - Adhere to Agency & Bureau Policies and Procedures. - Conduct water quality sampling and electronic data collections using a variety of techniques to sample flowing water, reservoirs, and reservoir entry and exit points throughout the watershed. - Modify upgrade water quality monitoring instrumentation, equipment to optimize ongoing needs and goals. - Promptly performs data logger downloads on schedule and/or as needed. - Routinely and systematically records and archives data records in paper and electronic format. - Adhere to the Data Integrity Policy and Procedures Manual. - Participate in meetings concerning analytical problems, quality assurance, methods development, efficiency goals, performance metrics and reporting, and other projects as assigned assisting in data entry, quality control, and statistical analysis. - Perform various administrative functions such as procurement, equipment inventory, and report preparation to support program initiatives. (This is a brief description of what you might do in this position and does not include all the duties of this position.)

Requirements

A masters degree from an accredited college or university in one of the following areas of study: environmental or chemical engineering, limnology, environmental science, marine science, geology, earth science, chemistry, physics, or health science.
A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with 24 semester credits in one or a combination of the areas of study described in "1" above, at least 12 of which must have been in one of these areas of study; and at least one year of satisfactory full time experience, which may not have been part of graduate or undergraduate course work, working in the field of water quality planning, management or research or performing environmental laboratory analyses, and/or environmental field sampling of water.
An associate degree from an accredited college or university including or supplemented by 24 semester credits in one or a combination of the areas of study described in "1" above, at least 12 of which must have been in one of these areas of study; and at least three years of satisfactory full time experience as described in "2" above.
To be assigned to Assignment Levels II or III, all candidates must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university as described in "2" above and must have one additional year of the experience described in "2" above for a total of two years of experience.
Candidates must live outside the five (5) boroughs or be permanent in the civil service title listed in order to be considered for appointment.

Nice To Haves

A Motor Vehicle Driver License valid in the State of New York. This license must be maintained for the duration of employment.
Ability to travel to meetings, work facilities, and field locations, utilizing a New York City vehicle.
MS Office software including Outlook, Explorer, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and SharePoint.
Environmental testing methods for water quality, sampling equipment, and sensors.
Mathematics for instrument calibration, quality control statistics, and conversion calculations.
Principles underlying the theory and use of scientific instruments, chemistry and physics.
Experience using basic hand and power tools.
Methods, practices, and equipment used in maintaining, repairing, testing, and adjusting water quality instrumentation and appurtenances.
Principles of preventative maintenance and documentation.
Effective written and oral communication skills.
Demonstrated knowledge and experience of water quality instrumentation and sample analysis.
Knowledge of continuous monitoring, water quality instrumentation.
Familiar with field sampling and data collection techniques.
Establish mechanical aptitude and intuition.
Effective time management to prioritize and complete tasks.
Committed to honesty, integrity, and transparency in all work areas.
Ability to think logically, focus on objectives, and prioritize multiple goals.
Read and follow standard operating procedures.
Work with hand tools and test instruments.
Work while standing on a ladder.
Work outside under all weather conditions.
Distinguish colors used in electric wiring color-coding.
Anticipate material and equipment needs.
Establish and maintain effective cooperative relationships in the workplace.

Responsibilities

Operate a network of monitoring stations in the watershed.
Ensure water quality instrumentation operates continuously, with accuracy and precision, following a quality assurance program for preventative maintenance, corrective maintenance, system updates, record keeping, and data management.
Oversee operation of the group’s biomonitoring program.
Responsible for purchasing and maintenance of supplies and equipment.
Maintain and prepare field data and records.
Perform Quality assurance, Quality control (QAQC) tests and assist others in same.
Contribute to the production of operational, compliance and special investigation reports.
Service, calibrates, and maintains laboratory instrumentation, field instrumentation, biomonitoring systems, and telemetry.
Performs sample collection and field analyses in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures SOP’s.
Installs and upgrades monitoring equipment, instrumentation, and biomonitoring systems at water supply facilities.
Diagnose and repair monitoring station equipment, instrumentation, and associated telemetry systems.
Coordinates the group’s procurement activities.
Oversees quality control procedures, maintains accurate records, and reports on QC data.
Responds to Water Quality Emergencies. Respond to water quality alarms, special investigations, etc., outside of normal working hours to collect water samples, troubleshoot instrumentation, and assist in field investigations.
Adhere to Agency & Bureau Policies and Procedures.
Conduct water quality sampling and electronic data collections using a variety of techniques to sample flowing water, reservoirs, and reservoir entry and exit points throughout the watershed.
Modify upgrade water quality monitoring instrumentation, equipment to optimize ongoing needs and goals.
Promptly performs data logger downloads on schedule and/or as needed.
Routinely and systematically records and archives data records in paper and electronic format.
Adhere to the Data Integrity Policy and Procedures Manual.
Participate in meetings concerning analytical problems, quality assurance, methods development, efficiency goals, performance metrics and reporting, and other projects as assigned assisting in data entry, quality control, and statistical analysis.
Perform various administrative functions such as procurement, equipment inventory, and report preparation to support program initiatives.