Senior Limnologist

Full Job Description

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

Are you a passionate limnologist who loves lakes that support everything from the smallest plankton to the humans who swim in them?

Are you energized by the idea of monitoring “crown jewel” lakes and digging into long term datasets? Then this is a job for you!

Come join us as part of King County’s Science and Technical Services section as a Senior Limnologist (Environmental Scientist III) charged with monitoring and understanding Lake Washington, Lake Sammamish, Lake Union, and other area lakes.

We are a Seattle-based team building the scientific foundation for King County to protect water quality and restore 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.

About the Role:

This role’s primary work monitors, analyzes, and reports on the status of King County major lakes: Lake Washington, Lake Sammamish and Lake Union.

The deep limnological history on these lakes from the early days of removing wastewater to understanding today’s pressures of population growth have created an exciting scientific opportunity to continue to explore how to keep our major lakes functioning at a high level, and in some cases even improving.

This position requires understanding of lake ecosystems, sediment coring results, and food web interactions.

You will work with partners in King County Wastewater Department, University of Washington, and other regional experts to continue to understand lake systems and ensure they remain ecosystems where humans and animals can thrive.

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

About the Team:

This amazing opportunity is set in an organization that believes in ‘breaking trail’ through collective action. We seek to make scientific discoveries that shape environmental regulations and polices.

Our work informs how millions of dollars are invested to protect and restore clean water and healthy habitat.

At King County, your work will have meaning and impact, affect the lives of people and the environment, and advance environmental justice.

You’ll collaborate with your supervisor to ensure you and your team design useful studies, gather reliable evidence, address emerging issues, and contribute to effective and equitable solutions.

In this role, you will join a respected and motivated team of scientists that support both King County and regional leaders, keeping communities at the heart 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 Senior Limnologist, 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:

• Program design and oversight – develop and manage long-term scientific monitoring and special-study programs, including the development and implementation of SOPs and SAPs; work with KCEL field crews and contractors to execute monitoring plans and studies
• Data analysis and modeling – perform time-series analysis, multivariate statistics, use and interpret model results, use simple modeling methods (e.g., empirical, statistical, and box models) interpretation of environmental trends; establish and follow data QA/QC SOPs; build and follow systems that make data repeatable, replicable, and reproducible.
• Reporting and synthesis – write technical reports, peer reviewed papers, management summaries and regulatory documents as well as prepare materials that explain technical concepts and findings in plain language for elected officials, planners, and the public.
• Interagency coordination – represent the County on multi-jurisdictional working groups and technical advisory committees.
• Engagement – present findings at professional conferences, public meetings, stakeholder workshops, and during contested proceedings; work across the Unit, Section, Division and Department supporting teams to help deliver products with scientific credibility.

Qualifications

Qualifications You Bring:

• At least a Bachelor of Science degree in the field of environmental sciences with special focus on limnology.
• Experience in using and interpreting model results as well as simple modeling methods (e.g., empirical, statistical, and box models) for aquatic systems
• Experience performing time-series analysis, multivariate statistics, and interpretation of ecological trends and proficiency using R, MATLAB, or Python.
• Experience establishing study objectives, experimental designs, sampling schedules, QA/QC, and statistical approaches; establishing and using SOPs, managing long-term monitoring and special study programs.
• Experience writing technical reports, peer-reviewed papers, management summaries, and/or regulatory documents.

Physical Requirements:

Ability to carry equipment up to 50 lbs., performing field work which may include rugged, uneven terrain in outdoor settings including in times of inclement weather conditions.

Field conditions include brushy, forested environments; river, stream and wetland corridors; slippery, uneven surfaces; and adverse outdoor weather conditions.

Work tasks also may include in-water situations involving wading and the use of kayaks and boats.

Competencies You Bring:

• Manages Complexity: Making sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.
• Decision Quality: Making good and timely decisions that keep the organization moving forward.
• Action Oriented: Taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.
• Drives Results: Consistently achieving results, even under tough circumstances.
• Collaborates: Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Situational Adaptability: Adapting approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations.

Required Licenses/Certifications:

Valid Washington State driver’s license and ability to travel throughout the County to conduct field work.

It Would Be Great if You Also Bring:

• Experience with food web linkages with fish, in particular salmon.
• Experience advising policymakers and translating scientific information into recommendations for resource managers, regulators, and stakeholders.
• Project management experience monitoring and controlling scope, schedule, and budget of work-related projects.
• Demonstrated success at writing and implementing scientific grant proposals.
• Experience representing agencies on multijurisdictional working groups or technical advisory groups.

Additional Information

Working Conditions:

Work Location: The Lakes, Streams, Sound, and Ground Unit 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. 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 PROTEC Local 17A.

Application and Selection Process:

We welcome applications from all qualified applicants, 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 III 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
• Resume
• Sample scientific technical report, peer-reviewed paper, management summary or similar, that lists you as the lead or co-author. This report should contain an example of your data analysis using statistical evaluations of ecological trends.
• Optional Cover Letter (will be reviewed if submitted)

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

Who to Contact: For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact Morgan Knight Hermann, Senior HR Analyst, at 206-477-9092 or mhermann@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.