Field Scientist

About the role

The Bureau of Water Supply within the Water Quality, Drinking Water Operations Directorate of the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) seeks to hire a Scientist (Water Ecology) II. This position is located in Grahamsville, New York.

Responsibilities

• Perform sample collections and field analyses from a boat as required
• Operate F150 trucks (and larger) to tow boats or other gear
• Compile, review and report water quality and associated data in accordance with divisional procedures by specified deadlines
• Operate and maintain field sampling equipment, which includes the ability to trailer and pilot small watercraft
• Perform quality control procedures according to the Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program protocols and maintain an accurate log of records of Quality Control data
• Afford assistance in the purchasing and maintenance of supplies and equipment
• Contribute to the production of operational, compliance and special investigation reports
• Comply with applicable environmental, health & safety laws and regulations and DEP’s Environmental Health & Safety policies set out in the employee Environmental, Health and Safety handbook

Requirements

• License Requirements: All candidates must have a Motor Vehicle Driver’s License valid in the State of New York.
• Physical Activities: 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

• General Familiarity of MS Office suites and MS outlook
• Ability to utilize desktop computers as well as handheld computers in the field for data collection
• Ability to spend a substantial portion of field days outdoors in any weather or season
• Ability to lift heavy loads up to 50 pounds and climb in and out of boats
• Ability to wade through streams, hiking in the woods and scaling over rocks to collect samples
• Ability to work at a computer for a substantial portion of an office day
• Experience with basic hand tools
• Familiarity with field sampling and data collection techniques
• Familiarity with use of small, motorized watercraft including trailering, launching and recovery
• Good communication skills (written and oral)
• Good time management skills

Hours and Shift

35 hours per week. May be required to work weekends and holidays.

Work Location

Grahamsville Facility
7870 State Road 42
Grahamsville, NY 12740

Minimum Qualifications

• 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;
• 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;
• 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.

55a Program

This position is also open to qualified persons with a disability who are eligible for the 55-a Program. Please indicate at the top of your resume and cover letter that you would like to be considered for the position through the 55-a Program.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education's website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.

Residency Requirement

New York City residency is not required for this position.