Groundwater Scientist

Summary

Come join our team as we protect clean water and restore healthy habitat for the benefit of people, salmon, and orca. Your work will help King County make good decisions about leading applied research, managing environmental monitoring programs, delivering technical services, and informing evidence-based policies and regulations. As part of a three (3) year Special Duty/Term Limited Temp (TLT) assignment, you as a Groundwater Scientist (WQP/PPM II), will be instrumental in understanding and protection of groundwater resources. You will be responsible for monitoring groundwater levels, collecting water quality samples, entering data, and supporting the analysis and presentation of scientific findings. You will work closely with our licensed hydrogeologist to ensure projects move forward on time, on budget, and produce high quality data and analyses.
About the Role:
This position offers significant time outside in various parts of King County collecting ground water samples: a quarter of the position will be in the field, spread throughout the year. In a collaborative environment, you will be instrumental in understanding and protection of groundwater resources. You will be responsible for monitoring groundwater levels, collecting water quality samples, entering data, and supporting the analysis and presentation of scientific findings. With our licensed hydrogeologist, you will work closely to ensure projects move forward on time, on budget, and produce high quality data and analyses. This position offers significant time outside in various parts of King County collecting ground water samples: a quarter of the position will be in the field, spread throughout the year.

About the Team:
The Science and Technical Support Section (STSS) of Department of Natural Resources & Parks (DNRP) is a Seattle-based team building the scientific foundation for King County to protect clean water and restore healthy habitat for the benefit of people, salmon, and orca. We lead applied research, manage environmental monitoring programs, deliver technical services, and inform evidence-based policies and regulations.

With more than 40 technical staff producing credible and innovative, applied science and technical guidance to benefit people and the environment, we build the scientific frameworks informing evidence-based policies and management decisions. We lead environmental investigations, manage monitoring programs, and support clients and partners with technical services. We collaborate with many County sections, local jurisdictions, universities, and state agencies.

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 Water Quality Planner II (WQ PPM II), your work as a Groundwater Scientist 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 Land & Resources Division with King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks. 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

What You Will Be Doing:

• Field Data Collection -collecting water level data and water quality samples from various groundwater wells around King County and deliver them to the King County Environmental Lab for analysis;
• Enter data into databases, ensuring data quality for analysis;
• Collaborate with senior scientists to tell the story of groundwater and help explain how recycled water what influences groundwater resources;
• Support the presentation of data to various technical and non-technical audiences;
• Collaborate with staff hydrogeologist to develop and ensure delivery of project deliverables and data.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

Qualifications You Bring:

• Education and Experience: Bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies, Geology, or Hydrology, or at least two years of experience in groundwater science and management.
• Technical Skills: Proficient in data entry, database management, and analysis of long-term time series data. Experienced in water quality sampling, water level data collection in field settings, statistical analysis using R or Python, and GIS applications such as ArcGIS.
• Professional Attributes: Strong ability to work independently, take initiative, and make sound judgment calls to ensure personal and team safety.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Education and Experience: 2-3 years of field work experience
• Technical Skills: using groundwater monitoring software; i.e. Levelogger, Hoboware, Diver Office, Hobo Connect
• Professional Attributes: Experience in creating and delivering presentations to technical and non-technical audiences.
  
  

Key Competencies:

• Action Oriented - Taking on new opportunities and touch challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm
• Collaborates - Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Plans and Aligns - planning and prioritizing work to meet commitments aligned with organizational goals.
• Nimble Learning - actively learning through experimentation when tackling new problems, using both successes and failures as learning fodder
• Self- Development - Actively seeking new ways to grow and be challenged using both formal and informal development channels

Supplemental Information

Working Conditions:

• Work Location: This is a hybrid position. It will be partly remote with onsite work requirements as informed by business needs. This position reports onsite on the first day of employment for orientation and a minimum of 1-3 days per month onsite at King Street Center, potentially more as directed by supervisor. Employees must reside in Washington State and be within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to meet workplace reporting requirements.
• Primary onsite location: is King Street Center (201 S. Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104). This location offers excellent accessibility through multiple mass transit options ensuring convenient and sustainable commuting. This work arrangement promotes work-life-balance and reduces carbon footprint under the department’s vision of Green Where We Work
• Work Schedule: This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and it is not eligible for overtime. This full-time position works a 40 -hour work week.
• Union Membership: This position is represented by Teamsters Local 117.
• Physical Requirements: This position requires the ability to conduct occasional physical site inspections and evaluations. There is an intermittent need to walk on uneven terrain, for limited periods of time. Field locations include existing stormwater facilities and roads, forested environments, including ravines, and possibly agricultural lands, and may expose the employee to inclement weather, slippery, uneven surfaces and other dynamic conditions typically found in rural and undeveloped portions of King County.
  
  

Application and Selection Process: 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.

Applications without the following required materials may be considered for this position:

• King County application (REQUIRED)
• Resume (REQUIRED)
• Cover Letter (REQUIRED)

For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact:William R. Herbert, Human Resource Analyst
wherbert@kingcounty.gov
(206) 477-5494

Commitment to Equity and Social Justice:
As the only jurisdiction in the world named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nation's history, King County is a vibrant international community with residents that represent countries from around the world. It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the traditions of many cultures.

We have a deep commitment to equity and social justice and advancing practices, strategies, and policies that promote fairness, justice, and opportunity for all - in our workplaces and our communities. With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda to advance regional change and ensure that residents from vulnerable communities are incorporated into our emergency planning and public outreach efforts. To learn more, please visit http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity .

WHY WORK FOR KING COUNTY? King County was named "Best-in-State Employer" in the Forbes magazine 2019, ranking 16 on the list of best employers in Washington State - visit: Awards given to King County to see more! King County's Investing in YOU initiative is building a workplace where ALL employees can thrive so we can become the nation's Best Run Government. Enjoy a balanced life with benefits that support you! http://kingcounty.gov/audience/employees/careers/why-work-here.aspx Forbes recently 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:

• Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage options: King County provides eligible employees with options, so they can decide what’s best for themselves and their eligible dependents
• 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: eligible King County employees may 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: 1/26/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

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• King County Water and Land Resources Division

• 206-477-4800

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