Watershed Modeler

Koniag Government Services•Annapolis, MD

1d•Remote

About The Position

Koniag IT Systems LLC, a Koniag Government Services company, is seeking a Watershed Modeler to support KITS and our government customer in Annapolis, MD. We offer competitive compensation and an extraordinary benefits package including health, dental and vision insurance, 401K with company matching, flexible spending accounts, paid holidays, three weeks paid time off, and more. The Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) is a unique, regional partnership that has led and directed the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay and its’ tributaries since 1983. CBP signatories include the states of Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Delaware, New York and West Virginia; the District of Columbia; the Chesapeake Bay Commission, a tristate legislative body; and the Environmental Protection Agency, representing federal government. Koniag IT Systems, LLC, a subsidiary of Koniag Government Services, provides Information Technology support and services for the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Science and Partnership Missions along with Strategic Planning in support of the Chesapeake Center for Collaborative Computing (C4). This includes planning, developing, and maintaining a portfolio of science-based applications; management of large data repositories; GIS; network and infrastructure; project management, Agile methodology software development; and decision support systems. The place of performance for this position is Annapolis, MD. This is an offsite position, however collaboration with CBPO staff will require quarterly site visits to the EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Program Office in Annapolis. The Watershed Models will lead efforts to incorporate the best available scientific knowledge on nutrient and sediment sources, transport, and fate into the Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) partnership’s Watershed Models. This position applies statistical and process-based modeling, research, and large-scale data analysis to improve the technical foundation, performance, and interpretation of CBP modeling tools and work directly with CBP technical and management work groups to develop modeling products that support science-based decision making.

Requirements

Candidates should have a PhD and professional experience in environmental science or environmental engineering.
The successful candidate must demonstrate expertise in process-based and statistical models of watershed nutrient and sediment loading; experience applying Bayesian methods in prediction, estimation, and scenario applications; and familiarity with machine learning methods.
Required skills include the ability to manipulate, analyze, interpret, and display data for use by broad audiences; programming ability across multiple platforms and languages including R Statistical Computing Language; and excellent written and verbal communication skills with demonstrated effectiveness communicating to Chesapeake Bay Program audiences.
Demonstrated expertise in nutrient and sediment sources and transport in watershed systems
Strong background with statistical modeling including Bayesian methods and machine learning
Knowledge of CBP Phase 6 and Phase 7 models including the Dynamic WS Model and CalCAST proficiency in scientific programming and data analysis in R Statistical Computing Language
Demonstrated ability to independently design, execute, and interpret scientific investigations including development and application of statistical or processes-based models to address complex environmental challenges experience with GIS, geospatial analysis, and remote sensing data products
Excellent written and oral communication skills
Proven ability to collaborate across disciplines and organizational boundaries in multi-stakeholder programs
Experience with hydrologic, meteorology, and water quality monitoring and data products
PhD in environmental science, ecology, environmental engineering, or geography
Must speak fluent English

Nice To Haves

Experience contributing to large-scale regulatory or management models
Strong understanding and awareness of the CBPO mission, organizational structure, and procedures for advancing modeling platforms
Experience working with high-performance computing environments
Experience in overseeing scientific and management modeling projects

Responsibilities

Conduct statistical and process-based modeling to quantify nutrient and sediment loading, transport, and attenuation across the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Lead efforts to integrate state-of-the science understanding of nutrient and sediment sources and transport into the CBP Watershed Model.
Design, develop, and evaluate enhancements to model structure, inputs, and assumptions.
Integrate multiple agricultural data sources for crop yields and acreage, fertilizer application, and livestock/poultry populations to improve estimates of agricultural nutrients and sediment inputs.
Perform calibration, validation, and uncertainty analysis of the CBP Watershed Model via a Bayesian framework (CalCAST).
Evaluate watershed model performance relative to monitored observations of streamflow, nutrient, and sediment loads across spatial and temporal scales.
Apply statistical performance metrics to assess model fidelity and diagnose systematic errors.
Apply advanced analytical methods including Bayesian approaches and machine learning to evaluate drivers of water quality change and advance modeling approaches.
Conduct nutrient mass balance analyses to support model interpretation and management actions.
Work directly with CBP technical and management work groups to identify modeling needs, develop technical products, and refine model applications.
Collaborate with scientists, engineers, managers, and policymakers across the CBP partnership.
Produce technical documentation, reports, and presentations communicating methods, assumptions, and results to CBP audiences.
Author peer-reviewed journal articles to communicate results and methods to scientific and practitioner audience.