Senior Field Hydrologist

Summary

Are you passionate about protecting public safety, improving water quality, restoring aquatic resources, and safeguarding the health of our watershed? Come join our team!

Are you ready to use science to protect and restore our local waterways? The Science and Technical Support Section is seeking a Senior Field Hydrologist (Environmental Scientist III) to join the Watershed and Ecological Assessment Team (WEAT) in our effort to manage a series of critical monitoring sites that support long term hydrology monitoring and habitat restoration efforts.

Why is This A Great Opportunity:
As the Senior Field Hydrologist, your role will be to provide scientific and technical support for one of the county’s most important environmental monitoring programs. The field hydrology program supports salmon restoration projects, stormwater management, floodplain management, wastewater management, and even our efforts to coexist with beavers. The person in this position will be in the field installing and maintaining continuous flow, stage, and rain gages as well as in the office managing the data and coordinating with partners. This is a hands-on field position that also serves as an expert in field hydrology.

About the Role:
This role is an integral part of conducting field science to track one of the most important environmental indicators, hydrology, and provide data that is used across the county’s environmental programs. Operating within the Science and Technical Support Section of Water and Land Resources Division (WLRD), this role is focused on achieving the goals of the county’s Clean Water Healthy Habitat (CWHH) Strategic Plan.

You will help us accomplish the plan’s goals by tracking weather and hydrologic conditions in the field over time, assess impacts from human activities, and provide data for management actions. Your work will advance our CWHH Plan goals within a generation including, cleaner, controlled stormwater runoff; functional river floodplains; and better fish habitat. Join our team and help us achieve these goals!

About the Team:
The Science and Technical Support Section is a unique part of King County - where scientists get to build the scientific framework for policy and decision making. This section is a Seattle-based team of more than 40 technical staff producing credible and innovative, applied science and technical guidance for the benefit of people and the environment. We lead applied studies in environmental sciences, manage monitoring programs, deliver technical services to clients and collaborators, and inform evidence-based policies and regulations.

WLRD’s mission is to protect, restore, and manage King County's water and land using the best available science, innovation, and collaborating with partners and the community. These, and many more programs, make WLRD an exciting and fulfilling place to work. For
more information about the division, see www.kingcounty.gov/depts/dnrp/wlr.aspx
.
Commitment to Equity, Racial and Social Justice:
King County, named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is a diverse and vibrant community that represents cultures from around the world. Our True North is to create a welcoming community where everyone can thrive. We prioritize equity, racial and social justice, making it a foundational and daily expectation for all employees. As a Senior Engineer, you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment at http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity .

Apply now for a rewarding career at the Water and Land Resources Division of King County Department of Natural Resources & Parks (DNRP). Join our talented workforce in protecting and restoring the natural environment and promoting more resilient, sustainable, and equitable communities. Enjoy training, comprehensive benefits , and growth opportunities.

Job Duties

Key Program Areas Include:

• Install, maintain, and troubleshoot water flow gages, water level gages, rain gages, temperature gages and turbidity instruments in streams, rivers, and stormwater projects or facilities. Assist in managing equipment inventory.
• Collect and download flow, water level, water temperature, groundwater level, and rain gage data. Conduct quality control/quality assurance review of field and telemetered gage data. Maintain and troubleshoot hydrologic databases.
• Calculate flow, rain and temperature data. Analyze for long-term trends and define correlations between hydrology metrics and land use, habitat, and biological metrics. Prepare maps, graphs and charts showing monitoring results including discharge rating curves.
• Write and prepare technical reports on flow, rain, and temperature conditions in King County streams and rivers.
• Coordinate field hydrology efforts with clients within King County agencies, other jurisdictions, state and federal agencies, and Tribes. Present results (orally or via written reports) to clients, colleagues, and managers.
  

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

Qualifications You Bring:

• Knowledge of hydrology and stream water quality equivalent to that obtained in the earning of a bachelor’s degree in hydrology, environmental science, or the equivalent.
• Experience installing continuous stream and river gages and weather stations, downloading and processing data logger output, and calibrating and maintaining field equipment. Experience with a variety of data loggers and sensors used to collect hydrologic and meteorologic data, including those from Campbell Scientific, Onset, YSI and associated software.
• Knowledge of applying rating curves and rating shifts to produce continuous flow data.
• Expertise in Excel and proficiency using other graphical and statistical software such as R, Surfer, Matlab, SigmaPlot, Primer, or SPSS, to conduct statistical analyses of water quantity and quality data sets, including both parametric and nonparametric statistical testing for differences and trends, preparation of data tables, generation and preparation of summary statistics, and preparation of charts, graphs, and maps that present results of environmental monitoring.
• Project management experience, including defining, monitoring, and controlling project scope, schedule, budget, and purchasing monitoring equipment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of municipal stormwater National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit requirements.
• Knowledge of stormwater management principles and techniques and ability to read stormwater facility as built plans.
  
• Experience preparing technical reports presenting water quantity data, data analyses, and interpretation.
  
• Experience using ArcGIS or similar map-based software, querying and data management in SQL databases (SQL Server, Microsoft Access), collaborating in GitHub, and graphing in Python or R.
  

Key Competencies:

• Strategic Mindset - Seeing ahead to future possibilities and translating them into breakthrough strategies.
• Tech Savvy - Anticipating and adopting innovations in business-building digital and technology applications.
• Manages Ambiguity - Operating effectively, even when things are not certain or the way forward is not clear.
• Manages Complexity - Making sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.
• Collaborates - Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Communicates Effectively - Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.

Supplemental Information

Working Conditions:

• Remote and Onsite Work Details: Employees in this role work remotely from a home location and in the field, with onsite reporting requirements typically 0-4 days/week depending on the season. The frequency of onsite work is determined by business needs and may be adjusted accordingly. Onsite reporting locations may be at various King County worksites including the collaboration space at King Street Center (201 S. Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104). This work arrangement promotes work-life-balance and reduces carbon footprint under the department’s vision of Green Where We Work .

• Remote Work Location Requirement: Employees must reside in Washington State and be within a reasonable distance to King County worksites to meet onsite reporting requirements.
  
  
• Work Schedule: This full-time position works a 40-hour work week. This position is covered under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and is overtime eligible.

• Union Representation: This position is represented by PROTEC Local 17A.
  
  
• Physical Requirements:
  This position requires the ability to conduct physical site inspections and evaluations, including in times of inclement weather conditions. There is often a need to walk on uneven terrain, for extended periods of time. Field conditions include brushy, forested environments, river, stream and wetland corridors, and slippery, uneven surfaces and adverse outdoor weather conditions. Work tasks also may include in-water situations involving wading and the use of rafts. Ability to work long hours outside conducting field work and occasionally in inclement weather is necessary.
  

Application and Selection Process:
We welcome applications from all qualified applicants, but first consideration will be given to all current King County PROTEC Local 17A bargaining unit employees eligible for a lateral transfer. We value diversity, diverse perspectives and life experience and encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.

Application materials will be screened for clarity, completeness including online application , cover letter and resume, and responsiveness to the list of qualifications, skills, and abilities. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in one or more panel interviews. The final candidate will be required to successfully pass a pre-employment physical. Applications without the following required materials may not be considered for this position.

• King County application
• Resume
• Cover Letter detailing your background and what you can bring to this position.

Note: Additional documents won't be considered during minimum qualification screening.

Who to Contact: For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact William R. Herbert at wherbert@kingcounty.gov.

Discover More About the Division: Visit our website .

Discover More About DNRP : Visit our website , explore an interactive map of our recent accomplishments and check us out at Facebook , X (formerly Twitter) , LinkedIn , TikTok , Instagram , YouTube and Keeping King County Green News .

Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.

Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Guided by our "True North" , we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply

If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.

King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage: King County pays 100% of the premiums for eligible employees and family members
• Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
• Retirement: King County employees are eligible to participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
• Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
• 12paid holidays each year plus twopersonal holidays
• Generous vacation and paid sick leave
• Paid parental,family and medical, and volunteer leaves
• Flexible Spending Account
• Wellness programs
• Onsite activity centers
• Employee Giving Program
• Employee assistance programs
• Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
• Training and career development programs

For additional information about employee benefits, visit our Benefits, Payroll, and Retirement Page .

This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails.

NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position.Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.

For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.

Closing Date/Time: 10/6/2024 11:59 PM Pacific

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