Experienced Water Resources Scientist

Geosyntec Consultants•Chesterfield, MO

6d•Onsite

About The Position

Geosyntec is seeking an experienced Water Resources Scientist to join its Water and Natural Resources practice, serving offices in St. Louis, Farmington, or Jefferson City, Missouri, or Overland Park, Kansas. The role supports Clean Water Act and NPDES compliance, water quality monitoring, and aquatic resource assessments for public- and private-sector clients. Work includes municipal and industrial wastewater permitting, surface water sampling, continuous and long-term monitoring programs, aquatic biological assessments, and hydrologic surveys. The scientist will collaborate with engineers and scientists to interpret environmental data, prepare technical reports, and develop practical water resources solutions, with opportunities to coordinate field programs and lead project tasks. Geosyntec is an international engineering and consulting firm serving private- and public-sector clients on environmental, natural resource, and civil infrastructure challenges. The company describes itself as a technically recognized environmental engineering design firm and offers competitive pay, benefits, and well-being programs to support employees and their families. The position involves regular fieldwork and overnight travel, with seasonal travel of up to 50%. Fieldwork may take place outdoors year-round and on or near waterways, subject to project safety requirements. The employee may drive personal, company, and rental vehicles to project sites, offices, and other business locations, and must be able to obtain a Missouri State Highway Patrol Boater’s License or equivalent to operate company vessels.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in ecology, environmental sciences, water resources, biology, limnology, or a closely related discipline.
At least 5 years of related water resources, environmental science, water quality monitoring, or regulatory compliance experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Experience supporting Clean Water Act and NPDES compliance, including permit applications or renewals, permit reviews, discharge data evaluation, and regulatory reporting for municipal or industrial facilities.
Hands-on experience with surface water sampling and water quality monitoring instrumentation, including equipment installation or maintenance and review of continuous and discrete monitoring data.
Strong environmental data management, data validation, technical writing, task coordination, and communication skills, including the ability to explain technical findings clearly to clients and project teams.
Experience preparing technical reports, permit-support documents, monitoring summaries, and regulatory compliance deliverables.
Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet consulting project deadlines, and travel to project sites; willingness to support year-round outdoor fieldwork and work on or near waterways in accordance with project safety requirements.
Valid U.S. driver’s license and a satisfactory driving record for business travel.
Health and safety training, medical monitoring, and client-driven drug and background testing may be required.
Regular fieldwork and overnight travel, including up to 50% seasonal travel.
Ability to obtain a Missouri State Highway Patrol Boater’s License or equivalent to operate company vessels.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in environmental sciences, aquatic ecology, water resources, or a closely related discipline.
7 or more years of related experience.
Familiarity with Missouri or other Midwest state water quality regulations, wastewater permitting, nutrient assessment programs, effluent limits, and discharge monitoring requirements.
Experience with macroinvertebrate sampling, stream habitat assessments, fish surveys, biological community metrics, or cyanobacteria and cyanotoxin investigations.
Experience coordinating field activities or project tasks, including sampling logistics, schedules, data quality reviews, deliverables, and junior staff support.
Experience with bathymetric surveying, acoustic Doppler instruments, streamflow measurements, boat-based sampling, and sediment sampling.

Responsibilities

Prepare and review municipal and industrial NPDES permit applications, renewals, and modifications; evaluate permit conditions, regulatory changes, effluent limits, and discharge data; and prepare discharge monitoring reports and supporting technical evaluations.
Conduct and coordinate surface water, wastewater, sediment, and biological sampling; document field conditions and maintain complete sampling records.
Install, operate, and maintain continuous water quality monitoring instrumentation; review and validate continuous and discrete datasets, including indicators such as nutrients, turbidity, and conductivity.
Support aquatic biological assessments through macroinvertebrate sampling, stream habitat assessments, fish collection, and analysis of biological community metrics; contribute to nutrient and cyanobacteria investigations as applicable.
Conduct bathymetric surveys and streamflow measurements using acoustic Doppler and related surveying instruments to characterize lake and river conditions and support infrastructure, outfall, and water resources evaluations.
Analyze environmental data and prepare monitoring plans, technical memoranda, regulatory compliance reports, and wastewater management alternatives evaluations.
Coordinate with laboratories, clients, regulatory agencies, and interdisciplinary project teams.
Serve as a task lead on selected assignments, supporting scopes, schedules, budgets, field logistics, data quality reviews, junior staff guidance, and proposal preparation under project managers’ direction.
Follow project health and safety requirements.
Drive personal, company, and rental vehicles to client or company project or office sites and other business locations as needed.
Obtain a Missouri State Highway Patrol Boater’s License or equivalent to operate company vessels.