Minimum Qualifications Candidates for this position must have a Bachelor’s Degree in environmental sciences, environmental management, environmental biology, biology, or a related field, and two years of
professional research experience in the appropriate field; OR Master’s Degree in environmental sciences, environmental management, environmental biology, biology, or a related field, and one year of experience.
Duties Description Program Overview :
The core mission of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) Division of Water (DOW) is to protect and conserve the water resources of New York State. To
realize protection and conservation objectives, DOW administers a comprehensive water quality planning, management, and implementation grant program.
Through this program, efforts within waterbodies and watersheds are prioritized for funding under various grant opportunities, including the Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) program, Non- Agricultural Nonpoint
Source Planning and MS4 Mapping Grant (NPG), and the 604(b) Water Quality Planning Grant. The Water Protection Grants Program is responsible for developing materials to solicit
applications, evaluate the impact of those proposals on water quality protection and improvement, and select projects for award that align with Division priorities and support the goals of the national Clean Water Act.
Duties / Responsibilities
Under the technical and administrative supervision of a higher-level Research Scientist, the successful candidate will assist in the planning, development, and implementation of water
quality improvement grant programs that will fund projects to reduce pollutant loading to protect and / or restore water quality, increase climate resiliency and mitigate flooding, in association with the Clean Water Infrastructure Act (CWIA), Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) and Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act (Bond Act), and various Federal
resources. The Research Scientist 1 will assist with and conduct research, author guidance documents, and provide technical advice and consultation on programs and issues to program
staff, agency officials, consultants and members of the regulated community, special interest groups and the general public.
Applied Research and Data Analysis (60%)
Conduct and assist with research, data analysis, and interpretation of water quality and environmental data to evaluate the impact of the Water Protection Grant Programs
funding on water quality in New York. This includes research to evaluate changes observed due to water quality protection and improvement planning and implementation efforts, to investigate impacts within environmental justice communities and disadvantaged communities with increased vulnerability to climate change stressors, as well as a retrospective review of directed funding efforts with shifting Division priorities.
Assist with research in all phases of the process including problem definition, planning, execution, analysis, interpretation, and reporting of findings toward the evaluation and
incorporation of novel best management practices, mitigation, and implementation activities for pollutant reduction and increased resiliency into the Water Protection Grants Program.
Conduct and assist with research, data analysis, and interpretation of water quality and environmental data to evaluate the condition of New York’s water resources for the Division’s programs.
This includes research to evaluate monitoring data for data suitability and applicability within the Water Quality Assessment Program, analyze data for assessment, and formulate conclusions based on chemical, biological and toxicity
indicators within the context of sound environmental science and federal and state regulation.
Draft and assist in the development of research products and synthesis of technical information to include in department reports, white papers and spoken communications,
participate in the presentation of research results at scientific meetings and publication of technical results in appropriate venues.
Participate in the Division of Water’s research
related workgroups.
Program Coordination and Support (40%)
Coordinate and manage data generated and / or collected within the Water Protection Grant Programs, and the Water Quality Assessment Program.
Serve as a Data Coordinator to maintain integrity of data, complete annual data uploads to databases,
and identify and execute improvements to data storage and reporting requests.
- Provide expert, technical guidance to Division / Department staff on pollutant reduction practices, and planning and implementation funding opportunities.
- Work closely with the NYS watershed programs for the alignment and consistency of smaller grant opportunities with Division goals and regulatory requirements.
- Provide technical assistance, outreach and training to regional offices and partner organizations (., soil and water conservation districts, local governments, regional planning entities) who may collect data to be considered for use by the Water Quality Assessment Program.
- Assist in the execution of automated assessment scripting (R, RStudio), preparation of public assessment factsheets, and preparation of submission of Clean Water Act reporting requirements through automated tools (Section 303(d) and Section 305(b)).
- Supervise lower-level staff including seasonal positions and interns. Supervision includes the development of performance plans, and associated reviews;
review and approval of timesheets and expense reports; development and completion of program
specific training for new staff.
Preferred Additional Qualifications :
o Excellent interpersonal and oral communication skills; comfortable with public speaking.
o Experience in, and understanding of, analytical chemistry in water pollution and the measurement of water quality.
o Experience with collecting, analyzing, and interpreting chemical, biochemical, ecological, biological, and geospatial data within the context of water quality.
o Experience with development of automated processes.
o Experience in competitive and noncompetitive grant programs.
o Experience with data management, analysis, reporting, prioritizing, quality control and quality assurance.
o Proficiency working with GIS, statistical computing software (R), databases, and in Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Access.
o Ability to evaluate and manage large datasets and expertise in statistical and geospatial analysis of environmental data sets.
o Knowledge of New York State regulatory programs as they relate to water quality monitoring, impaired waters, watershed planning and management, water quality standards, impacts to waterbody uses and SPDES permit programs.
o Experience with establishing and maintaining partnerships with Federal, State, and local agencies and nonprofit organizations.
o Familiarity with State and Federal water quality protection programs.
o Experience writing technical reports, work plans, Standard Operating Procedures and Quality Assurance Project Plans.