Field Hydrology Technician

Full Job Description

This opportunity is open to current King County employees. We are not accepting external applications at this time.

In addition to the current opening, this recruitment may be used to establish a pool of qualified candidates to fill future Field Hydrology Technician FTE within the Water and Land Resources Division or throughout the Department of Natural Resources & Parks (DNRP) over the next 6 months.

Are you ready to use science to gather evidence for protecting and restoring our local waterways? Do you enjoy being outside and doing hands on work gathering environmental data? We have an exciting opportunity for a Field Hydrology Technician (Environmental Scientist I) to manage critical monitoring sites that support nearly 40 years of long-term hydrology monitoring. This position utilizes some of the more innovative field technologies to monitor watersheds across King County.

The person in this position conducts field science to track weather and hydrology—important indicators of environmental change— and provide data that is used across the county’s environmental programs. Operating within the Science Section of Water and Land Resources Division (WLRD), this role is focused on achieving the goals of the county’s Clean Water Healthy Habitat (CWHH) Strategic Plan. You will help us accomplish the plan’s goals by tracking changes in weather and hydrologic conditions in the field, assessing influences of human activities, and providing data for management actions. Your work will advance CWHH Plan goals including cleaner, controlled stormwater runoff; functional river floodplains; solving inequity in environmental monitoring; and better fish habitat. Join our team and help us achieve these goals!

About the Role:

As a Field Hydrology Technician, your role is to provide scientific and technical support for one of the county’s most important environmental monitoring programs.

The field hydrology program supports salmon restoration projects, the management of stormwater, floodplains, and wastewater, and even our efforts to coexist with beavers.

The person in this position will be in the field installing and maintaining continuous flow, stage, and rain gages as well as in the office managing the data and coordinating with clients.

This is a hands-on field position that also reviews data quality and assists with analysis of hydrologic patterns.

The distribution of workload is approximately 60% field work and 40% office work depending on storm events, stream gage maintenance needs, and yearly scheduled gage installations and decommissions.

This position follows a hybrid work model, blending remote and in-person work.

About the Team:

The Science Section is a unique part of King County – where scientists help to build the scientific framework for policy and decision-making.

The Section is a Seattle-based team of more than 40 technical staff producing credible and innovative, applied science and technical guidance for the benefit of all people and the environment.

The team collaborates with various county environmental programs as well as partner jurisdictions to gather long term hydrology data used to solve some of our toughest environmental questions.

We lead applied studies in environmental sciences, manage monitoring programs, deliver technical services to clients and collaborators, and inform evidence-based policies and regulations.

About the Division:

The Water and Land Resources Division (WLRD) is at the forefront of King County’s efforts to protect and restore clean water and healthy habitat and strengthen the resilience of communities, environment, and infrastructure in the face of climate change.

We are a dedicated workforce of more than 450 supported by an annual budget of ~$280 million.

WLRD has a strong track record of developing innovative strategies to protect working farms and forests, restore habitat, improve water quality, and provide county residents with equitable access to green space.

We house the Land Conservation Initiative, which aims to preserve our last, most important lands.

Our forestry and agricultural programs help individuals protect their lands and support local food production.

We house four salmon recovery forums where we collaborate with scores of partners to plan, design, and build habitat projects.

We partner with regional jurisdictions to help residents and businesses reduce the threats posed by production, use, storage, and disposal of hazardous materials.

We are the primary service provider to the King County Flood Control District, contributing to flood preparedness and constructing and maintaining facilities that restore rivers and reduce risk.

Our one true local service to unincorporated King County is stormwater management, protecting water quality, reducing flooding, and building and maintaining facilities.

Finally, we provide regional science and laboratory services to an array of customers, maintaining high-quality data sets used to assess water quality and habitat trends, and provide Best Available Science to inform decision making.

In two words, we are a watershed utility.

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 an HR Administrative Staff Assistant, 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.

Requirements

What You Will Be Doing:

• Assist senior team members in the field to install, maintain, and troubleshoot water flow gages, water level gages, and rain gages in streams, rivers, and stormwater projects or facilities. Assist in managing equipment inventory and turbidity gage installations and maintenance.
• Collect and download flow, water level, and rain gage data in the field. Conduct quality control and quality assurance review of field and telemetered gage data. Process data into a hydrologic database.

• Calculate flow, rain, and temperature data. Assist in preparing maps, graphs and charts showing monitoring results including discharge rating curves.
• Prepare data for annual reports on flow, rain, and temperature conditions in King County streams and rivers.
• Assist senior team members in field hydrology efforts with clients within King County agencies and other jurisdictions. Present results (orally or via written reports) to clients, colleagues, and managers.

Qualifications

Qualifications You Bring:

• Knowledge of hydrology equivalent to that obtained in the earning of a Bachelor’s degree in hydrology, environmental science, or similar degree, OR at least two years’ work experience conducting field environmental monitoring.
• Experience assisting senior staff members in installing environmental monitoring equipment, downloading and processing field data, and calibrating and maintaining field equipment. Experience with a variety of data loggers, sensors, and associated software.
• Experience using spreadsheets or other computer programs to conduct statistical analyses of water quantity, water quality, or environmental data sets.
• Experience working on a project team, including assisting senior team members with tracking project scope, schedule, budget, and purchasing monitoring equipment.

Competencies You Bring:

• Tech Savvy: Anticipating and adopting innovations in business- building digital and technology applications.
• Balances Stakeholders: Anticipating and balancing the needs of multiple stakeholders.
• Ensures Accountability: Holding self and others accountable to meet commitments.
• Collaborates: Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Communicates Effectively: Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.

It Would Be Great if You Also Bring:

• Knowledge of stormwater management principles and techniques.
• Experience assisting in data preparation for technical reports that present water quantity data, data analyses, and interpretation.
• Experience using graphical, statistical, and or hydrologic software such as R or SPSS, to conduct statistical analyses of water quantity and quality data sets.

• Experience using ArcGIS or similar map-based software, querying and data management in Microsoft Access, and graphing in Python or R.

Additional Information

Working Conditions:

Work Location: The Science Section of the Water and Land Resources Division works in a hybrid model, with days in the office as well as telecommuting.

The ratio of remote to onsite work will be dependent on business needs and is subject to change. The primary onsite location is King Street Center, 201 S. Jackson, Seattle, Washington 98104.

Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely.

The individual selected for this opportunity will join an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment.

Employees will be provided with a County-issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours.

Work Schedule: This full-time position works a 40-hour work week, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. This position is covered under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and is overtime eligible.

Union Representation: This position is represented by the PROTEC Local 17A union.

Physical Requirements: Outdoor work in uneven terrain carrying up to 35 lbs of field equipment up to 1/2 mile. Preemployment physical is required.

Workplace Exposures: Simple confined space entries a few times a year.

Application and Selection Process:

We welcome applications from all qualified current King County employees, but first consideration will be given to all current King County PROTEC Local 17A bargaining unit employees eligible for a lateral transfer (transferring within the Environmental Scientist I classification and having passed probation).

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
• Cover Letter
• Resume

Note: Additional documents won't be considered during minimum qualification screening.

Who to Contact: For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact Dani Mudd at 206-477-6997 or dmudd@kingcounty.gov.

Discover More About the Division: Visit our website.

Discover More About DNRP: Visit our webs­ite, explore an interactive map 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.