Summary

About This Role:
As a Freshwater Systems Ecologist, you will apply your expertise in environmental monitoring, data management, and analysis to deepen the understanding of freshwater ecosystems in King County. We take pride in maintaining rare, long-term time series data, ensuring that the insights we generate will be valuable for years to come. You will actively seek innovative methods for data collection, management, and analysis, positioning us to leverage cutting-edge technologies and tackle emerging, relevant questions. Working closely with seasonal field teams, you will collect and integrate new environmental data into long-term datasets. In collaboration with the Stream Macroinvertebrate Monitoring Team and the Integrated Streams Program, you will apply your technical skills in data analysis, quality assurance, and visualization. Your efforts will support key County initiatives, such as the Clean Water Healthy Habitat Initiative, aimed at monitoring and managing aquatic resources and critical areas. You will also work with supervisors and colleagues to train seasonal field technicians. If you are passionate about freshwater ecology, enjoy being part of a dynamic and collaborative team, and thrive in a fast-paced environment, we encourage you to join us!

This position performs work remotely and onsite.

About the Team:
We are a Seattle-based team dedicated to building the scientific foundation for protecting King County’s water quality and restoring vital habitats that benefit people, salmon, and orcas. Our work includes leading applied research, managing environmental monitoring programs, providing technical services, and shaping evidence-based policies and regulations. Through our collaborative efforts, we engage with local communities, scientists, and policymakers to ensure that our work is grounded in both scientific rigor and practical application. By integrating diverse perspectives and the latest research, we aim to create sustainable solutions that support long-term environmental health and resilience in King County, safeguarding these ecosystems for future generations.

Why is this a great Opportunity:
This is an excellent opportunity to join an organization committed to ‘breaking new ground’ and using science to inform critical management decisions. At King County, we believe in the power of scientific discovery to shape environmental policies and guide the investment of millions of dollars in efforts to protect and restore clean water and healthy habitats. As both a data steward and a scientist, you will play a key role in maximizing the value of our monitoring programs. Your work will have a meaningful impact, influencing not only the environment but also the lives of people in the community, while advancing environmental justice. You’ll collaborate closely with your supervisor to ensure that you and your team are designing effective studies, gathering robust evidence, addressing emerging challenges, and contributing to equitable and impactful solutions. In this role, you will join a highly respected and motivated team of scientists dedicated to supporting both King County and regional leaders, with communities at the center of our work.

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, 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

What You Will Be Doing:

Use statistical programs (e.g., R) to analyze water quality, hydrology, stream macroinvertebrate, and other environmental data to help understand the status, trends, and drivers of stream conditions.
Help maintain existing and develop new data management systems to ensure our findings are reproducible, accurate, and trusted.
Conduct field work, and support others conducting field work. This will include collecting stream macroinvertebrates, water, and other environmental samples and information.
Guide, teach, and support a seasonal stream monitoring team.
Communicate results of analyses to diverse audiences, including but not limited to writing and co-writing reports, preparing technical memos, and giving oral presentations.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

Qualifications You Bring:

Demonstrated skill and experience in using statistical program R, or similar, for analysis and data visualization.
Experience performing statistical analyses and interpreting complex ecological and time-series data (e.g., multivariate analyses, community similarity analyses, structural equation modeling, seasonal Mann-Kendall analyses).
Demonstrated skill and experience collecting environmental samples or data in a natural resources field.
Experience writing and following sampling protocols for collecting aquatic organisms and/or water samples.
Experience following data management protocols, including methods for ensuring and checking data quality (QA/QC).
Experience synthesizing and communicating technical information to a variety of audiences. This could include, but is not limited to, writing reports and memos, giving oral presentations, and preparing summaries of findings for technical audiences, the public, and a variety of regional professionals.
Experience and skill in using geographic information systems to produce maps and do spatial analyses.

Competencies You Bring:

Tech Savvy - Anticipating and adopting innovations in business building - building digital and technology applications.
Optimizes Work Processes - Knowing the most effective and efficient processes to get things done, with a focus on continuous improvement.
Interpersonal Savvy - Relating openly and comfortably with diverse groups of people.
Drives Results - Consistently achieving results, even under tough circumstances.
Nimble Learning - Actively learning through experimentation when tackling new problems, using both successes and failures as learning fodder.

Required Licenses: Valid WA driver's license

It Would Be Great if You Also Bring:

Knowledge of and experience implementing project management techniques and principles.
Knowledge of and experience measuring stressors known to affect aquatic organisms and habitats.
Experience with organizing and leading collaborative field projects that involved sampling streams or other aquatic habitats.
Experience managing databases and developing data management protocols.

Supplemental Information

Working Conditions

Remote and Onsite Work Details:
Employees in this role work remotely from a home location, with onsite reporting requirements typically range from 0 to 5 days per week. 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).

Work Schedule:
This full-time position works a 40-hour work week.

Union Representation: This position is represented by the local Teamsters 117 union.

Physical Requirements: Ability to walk and carry 40 pounds over uneven ground to sampling sites.

Application and Selection Process:
We welcome applications from all qualified applicants. We value diversity, diverse perspectives and life experience and encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.

Application materials will be screened for clarity, completeness and alignment with the
experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skills essential for this role to determine which candidates may be invited to participate in one or more panel interviews.

To apply, submit a:

Complete Application
Resume
Cover Letter

Who to Contact: For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact Calvin Rivers, Sr. Human Resources Analyst at 206-263-1986 or crivers@kingcounty.gov .

An offer of employment will be contingent on the success of a pre-employment physical examination.

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

Sign up for Job Alerts to be notified of additional career opportunities with King County. Select the Natural Resources category for DNRP opportunities and explore other categories of interest.

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: 9/30/2024 11:59 PM Pacific

KING COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF WATER & LAND RESOURCES

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Water Quality Planner II - Freshwater Systems Ecologist