Field Scientist

Job description

The NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) enriches the environment and protects public health for all New Yorkers by providing 1.1 billion gallons of high quality drinking water, managing wastewater and stormwater, and reducing air, noise, and hazardous materials pollution. DEP is the largest combined municipal water and wastewater utility in the country, with nearly 6,000 employees. DEP's water supply system is comprised of 19 reservoirs and 3 controlled lakes throughout the system’s 2,000 square mile watershed that extends 125 miles north and west of the City. The Bureau of Water Supply seeks to hire a Scientist (Water Ecology) III for a position in Distribution Water Quality Operations’ Field Operations Unit located in Queens, New York. Under direction, of the Field Supervisors, the Scientist (Water Ecology) III, will monitor the drinking water quality in the City’s distribution system by collecting samples, performing chemical field analyses for compliance, and verification, and maintenance of online Water Quality (WQ) instrumentation in accordance with NYS and federal regulations. Specific duties include: - Being responsible for the collection of drinking water quality compliance samples from sampling stations, hydrants, wells, and internal tap locations. Additionally, testing of field analyses including pH, residual chlorine, orthophosphate, temperature, turbidity, and specific conductance shall be performed. Calibration, maintenance, and troubleshooting of assigned field meters is required. - Maintaining, verifying and calibrating water quality monitoring instrumentation, such as, but not limited to, continuous water quality analyzers, probes, sensors, handheld water quality meters and data capture devices and barcode scanners. - Assisting in water quality emergency remediation and field investigations as needed. - Responding to emergency calls related to water quality instrumentation (chlorine, pH, etc) outside of normal working hours. (This is a brief description of what you might do in this position and does not include all the duties of this position.) Some of the physical activities performed by Scientists (Water Ecology) and environmental conditions experienced are: lift and carry packages weighing approximately 20 pounds for a distance of 30 feet; perform duties in confined work areas; wear protective garments such as gloves, lab coats, goggles, and life vests; handle and manipulate laboratory equipment and instruments/tools such as glass test tubes, slides, beakers and other glassware, scalpels, scissors, etc.; adjust settings on machines, which requires fine finger and hand coordination and control; and collect samples at sites in all weather conditions. Special Working Conditions: Scientists (Water Ecology) may be required to work shifts including nights, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. Preferred Skills: - A valid NYS driver’s license for the duration of their employment - Familiarity with of Microsoft Office Suite including Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint - Familiarity with WISKI - Familiarity with online water quality instrumentation - Familiarity with personal data capture devices - Mechanical ability in maintenance and troubleshooting equipment - Experience in collecting routine and special samples for water quality compliance/special investigation - Experience in performing field analytical verifications of continuous water quality monitoring instrumentation - Ability to write legibly on field dispatch cards and be able to record and transfer the results of analyses/investigations onto spreadsheets/handheld barcode scanners - Ability to ensure data entries in notebooks and files of computer output are complete and legible. - Strong written and communication skills - Drive throughout the five boroughs for six hours a day. - Interpersonal skills - Time management - Knowledge of WQ parameters - Knowledge of online WQ instrumentation Hours and Shift: 35 Hours per week. Rotating five (5) day work week schedule, including weekends and holidays. May require emergency response at all hours of the day or night. Work Location: 96-05 Horace Harding Expressway Flushing, NY 11368 SCIENTIST (WATER ECOLOGY) - 21538 1. A masters degree from an accredited college or university in one of the following areas of study: environmental or chemical engineering, limnology, environmental science, marine science, geology, biology, earth science, chemistry, physics, or health science; or 2. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with 24 semester credits in one or a combination of the areas of study described in ""1"" above, at least 12 of which must have been in one of these areas of study; and at least one year of satisfactory full time experience, which may not have been part of graduate or undergraduate course work, working in the field of water quality planning, management or research or performing environmental laboratory analyses, and/or environmental field sampling of water; or 3. An associate degree from an accredited college or university including or supplemented by 24 semester credits in one or a combination of the areas of study described in "1" above, at least 12 of which must have been in one of these areas of study; and at least three years of satisfactory full time experience as described in "2" above. Additional Requirements To be assigned to Assignment Levels II or III, all candidates must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university as described in "2" above and must have one additional year of the experience described in "2" above for a total of two years of experience. Special Note A master's degree from an accredited college in one of the areas described in "1" above may be substituted for up to two years of the required experience. The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.