Local recruitment: Research Scientist 1 - Water Pollution

New York Department of Environmental Conservation

Albany, NY, USA 🇺🇸

Minimum Qualifications Qualifications include a bachelor’s degree and two years of professional experience in a field relevant to water pollution control including Environmental Science or other related Natural Sciences, OR a master’s degree and one year of such experience in a field relevant to water pollution control including Environmental Science or other related Natural Sciences.

Duties Description Program Overview
The Bureau of Water Resource Management (BWRM) works to protect, manage, and conserve New York State’s groundwater and surface water supply sources, develop management strategies to enhance and protect these waters, and protect both the groundwater and surface water quality of New York’s major watersheds. BWRM’s watershed programs, permit programs and nonpoint source program support development of clean water plans and permits to help improve water quality, identify potential funding, and conduct research to protect and restore water quality in relation to climate change, source sectors, and other emerging environmental issues.

BWRM, in Watershed Section A, requires a RS1 to support the Lake Champlain and clean water planning program. The RS1 will analyze water quality data, review, and interpret scientific literature and technical information to inform guidance and provide recommendations to support the development of Clean Water Plans, nonpoint source program and watershed programs. The RS1 will assist with development and communication of technical and training materials to support to other professional staff; and contribute to the DOW research program.

Duties/Responsibilities:
Research and Data Analysis
• Compile and analyze data to help set Lake Champlain program priorities and identify appropriate best management practices to achieve water quality goals to determine the reductions that will be achieved through program implementation, and to support the TMDL development.
• Conduct research, data analysis and interpretation of environmental data to assist in development and targeted implementation of non-point source best management practices (BMPs) with consideration of climate change. Analyze data in applicable watershed models to evaluate BMP effectiveness, model credits, cost benefit, and relevance to existing DEC programs.
• Research nonpoint source BMPs (e.g. urban and agricultural) and the associated coefficients to measure water quality benefits.
• Provide technical support and maintain effective working relationships with non-Departmental experts and the public and participate in the Division of Water’s research related workgroups.



Program Implementation
• Assist with the implementation of a Nonpoint Source Pollution (NPS) program specific to the Lake Champlain watershed.
• Support the development of clean water plans (TMDLs, 9E plans).
• Provide technical assistance to partner organizations, attend meetings of partner organizations to build relationships and distribute technical information, provide training opportunities.
• Assist in the execution of, and provide oversight for, awarded contracts and implementation of projects. Perform technical evaluations of current programs to further reduce nutrients and sediments by expanding partnerships and researching opportunities not currently being fully utilized.
• Provide training, education and outreach on DEC nonpoint source pollution control programs in the Lake Champlain watershed. Represent New York on Lake Champlain technical groups and task forces, as needed.

Preferred Additional Qualifications:
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills; strong writing and verbal communication skills and have experience and comfort in public speaking.
• Experience identifying pollution sources and related impairments in watersheds and recommending and implementing projects to improve water quality.
• Familiarity with assignment of load reductions, regulatory planning and implementation of practices involved in Total Maximum Daily Loads or other clean water restoration efforts.
• Experience with program languages (R, python).
• Ability to evaluate and manage large datasets and competence in statistical and geospatial analysis of environmental data sets.
• Knowledge of waterbody and watershed modeling techniques.
• Familiarity working in ArcGIS and understanding landscape drivers of water quality.

Additional Comments Must have a valid driver’s license or demonstrate the ability to meet the transportation needs of the position. Travel may be required. Overnight travel may be required. Telecommuting may be available, will be discussed at interview.


POSITION TYPE

ORGANIZATION TYPE

EXPERIENCE-LEVEL

DEGREE REQUIRED

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