Come join our team as we protect clean water and restore healthy habitat for the benefit of people, salmon, and orca. Your work will help King County make good decisions about leading applied research, managing environmental monitoring programs, delivering technical services, and informing evidence-based policies and regulations. As part of a three (3) year Special Duty/Term Limited Temp (TLT) assignment, you as a Groundwater Scientist (WQP/PPM II), will be instrumental in understanding and protection of groundwater resources. You will be responsible for monitoring groundwater levels, collecting water quality samples, entering data, and supporting the analysis and presentation of scientific findings. You will work closely with our licensed hydrogeologist to ensure projects move forward on time, on budget, and produce high quality data and analyses. 

About the Role: 
This position offers significant time outside in various parts of King County collecting ground water samples: a quarter of the position will be in the field, spread throughout the year. In a collaborative environment, you will be instrumental in understanding and protection of groundwater resources. You will be responsible for monitoring groundwater levels, collecting water quality samples, entering data, and supporting the analysis and presentation of scientific findings. With our licensed hydrogeologist, you will work closely to ensure projects move forward on time, on budget, and produce high quality data and analyses. This position offers significant time outside in various parts of King County collecting ground water samples: a quarter of the position will be in the field, spread throughout the year.  

About the Team:
The Science and Technical Support Section (STSS) of Department of Natural Resources & Parks (DNRP) is a Seattle-based team building the scientific foundation for King County to protect clean water and restore healthy habitat for the benefit of people, salmon, and orca. We lead applied research, manage environmental monitoring programs, deliver technical services, and inform evidence-based policies and regulations.

With more than 40 technical staff producing credible and innovative, applied science and technical guidance to benefit people and the environment, we build the scientific frameworks informing evidence-based policies and management decisions. We lead environmental investigations, manage monitoring programs, and support clients and partners with technical services. We collaborate with many County sections, local jurisdictions, universities, and state agencies.

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 (WQ PPM II), your work as a Groundwater Scientist 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 Land & Resources Division with King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks. 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.

What You Will Be Doing: 

• Field Data Collection -collecting water level data and water quality samples from various groundwater wells around King County and deliver them to the King County Environmental Lab for analysis;
• Enter data into databases, ensuring data quality for analysis;
• Collaborate with senior scientists to tell the story of groundwater and help explain how recycled water what influences groundwater resources;
• Support the presentation of data to various technical and non-technical audiences; 
• Collaborate with staff hydrogeologist to develop and ensure delivery of project deliverables and data.

Qualifications You Bring:

• Education and Experience: Bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies, Geology, or Hydrology, or at least two years of experience in groundwater science and management.
• Technical Skills: Proficient in data entry, database management, and analysis of long-term time series data. Experienced in water quality sampling, water level data collection in field settings, statistical analysis using R or Python, and GIS applications such as ArcGIS.
• Professional Attributes: Strong ability to work independently, take initiative, and make sound judgment calls to ensure personal and team safety.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Education and Experience: 2-3 years of field work experience
• Technical Skills: using groundwater monitoring software; i.e. Levelogger, Hoboware, Diver Office, Hobo Connect
• Professional Attributes: Experience in creating and delivering presentations to technical and non-technical audiences.
  
  

• Action Oriented - Taking on new opportunities and touch challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm
• Collaborates - Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Plans and Aligns - planning and prioritizing work to meet commitments aligned with organizational goals.
• Nimble Learning - actively learning through experimentation when tackling new problems, using both successes and failures as learning fodder
• Self- Development - Actively seeking new ways to grow and be challenged using both formal and informal development channels 

Working Conditions:

• Work Location: This is a hybrid position. It will be partly remote with onsite work requirements as informed by business needs. This position reports onsite on the first day of employment for orientation and a minimum of 1-3 days per month onsite at King Street Center, potentially more as directed by supervisor. Employees must reside in Washington State and be within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to meet workplace reporting requirements.  
• Primary onsite location: is King Street Center (201 S. Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104). This location offers excellent accessibility through multiple mass transit options ensuring convenient and sustainable commuting. This work arrangement promotes work-life-balance and reduces carbon footprint under the department's vision of Green Where We Work
• Work Schedule: This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and it is not eligible for overtime. This full-time position works a 40 -hour work week. 
• Union Membership: This position is represented by Teamsters Local 117.
•  Physical Requirements: This position requires the ability to conduct occasional physical site inspections and evaluations. There is an intermittent need to walk on uneven terrain, for limited periods of time. Field locations include existing stormwater facilities and roads, forested environments, including ravines, and possibly agricultural lands, and may expose the employee to inclement weather, slippery, uneven surfaces and other dynamic conditions typically found in rural and undeveloped portions of King County.
  
  

• King County application (REQUIRED)
• Resume (REQUIRED)
• Cover Letter (REQUIRED)