Environmental Scientist I bei King County, WA
King County, WA · Renton, Vereinigte Staaten Von Amerika · Hybrid
- Junior
- Optionales Büro in Renton
About the Department
The Department of Local Services, Road Services Division (RSD), is looking for a talented Environmental Scientist I (ES I) to support the Roads Environmental Unit (EU) project managers and program leads with a wide range of permit-driven and regulatory regulatory projects overseen by Roads. This role will provide both technical expertise and field support to ES III program leads.
The position will support a broad range of environmental activities, including groundwater and soil monitoring, stream water quality and flow monitoring, stormwater decant operations, spill response, hazardous waste management, and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program support. The successful candidate will be experienced with collecting environmental data using various water quality monitoring equipment, assessing and documenting field conditions, managing laboratory samples, reviewing laboratory reports, managing large data sets including time series data, preparing graphical and written data summaries, maintaining monitoring equipment, and working in the field under varying weather conditions.
Our commitment to Equity, Racial and Social Justice
The Department of Local Services is deeply dedicated to fostering Equity, Racial and Social Justice in every aspect of our work. Our commitment to “True North” values which ensures every person has the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential and forms the core of our mission and purpose. Our pledge is to cultivate, embrace, and celebrate the distinct experiences, viewpoints, and perspectives of our people, partners, and the communities we serve. Through this work, we dismantle systemic barriers, address inequities, and actively confront prejudices and biases. We acknowledge this journey is ongoing, and we remain steadfast in our efforts to create a positive impact for our employees and communities alike.
The King County Road Services Division designs, builds, operates, and maintains roads and bridges in unincorporated areas of King County. The Division is committed to ensuring the county's transportation system is safe and efficient for all uses and modes of travel.
To learn more about the Road Services Division, visit us at: About the Road Services Division - King County, Washington
Position Duties
Applying equity, racial, and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. In this role, you will apply equity and social justice principles that exemplify shared values, behaviors, and practices to all aspects of the work.
- Collect groundwater samples using low-flow purging and sampling techniques, multiparameter data sondes with flow cells and bladder pumps.
- Collect soil samples using a variety of methods including working with drill rigs (directed push, hollow-stem auger and others) and hand grab samples.
- Monitor streams for continuous water quality parameters and flow to meet permit compliance and construction project support requirements.
- Follow and prepare sampling and analysis plans (SAPs) and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
- Collect field samples and follow proper laboratory chain-of-custody procedures.
- Review and summarize analytical laboratory reports and compare results to State of Washington criteria for soils and groundwater established in the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA).
- Handle large datasets of analytical time-series data, evaluate analytical data using basic statistical analysis, produce graphical and written data summaries.
- Work under various regulatory permit requirements, read and interpret the required permit conditions.
- Perform site inspections, complete required paperwork and maintain material storage areas as it pertains to State of Washington Solid Waste Handling regulations (173-350 WAC).
- Respond to spills and/or illegal dumping incidents and initiate proper response actions.
- Perform site inspections, complete required paperwork, and maintain material storage areas as it pertains to Washington State Dangerous Waste Regulations (173-303 WAC)
- Experience with site inspections of stormwater drainage systems related to NPDES permit compliance.
- Maintain and implement Stormwater Pollution Plans (SWPPP’s)
- Actively participate in meetings with a diverse group of internal and external team members
- Accomplish job duties with an equity mindset.
- Perform other duties or special projects as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
- A bachelor’s degree in environmental science, or a closely related field; OR any combination of equivalent education, experience/professional certifications that clearly demonstrate the ability to perform the job duties.
- Demonstrated experience collecting soil samples using drill rigs (e.g., direct push, hollow-stem auger and hand methods).
- Proficient in groundwater sampling techniques, including low-flow purging and collection methods using multiparameter sondes with flow cells and bladder pumps; skilled in ensuring representative and defensible water quality data through strict adherence to QA/QC protocols.
- Experience conducting site inspections, preparing documentation, and maintaining material storage areas in accordance with Washington State Solid Waste Handling (173-350 WAC) and Dangerous Waste Regulations (173-303 WAC).
- Proficiency in collecting field samples while maintaining accurate laboratory chain-of-custody documentation.
- Skill in reviewing and interpreting laboratory reports, with the ability to compare results against Washington State Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) standards.
- Experience handling and analyzing large datasets, including time-series data.
- Understanding of regulatory permits and ability to interpret and apply permit conditions.
- Familiarity with stream monitoring for water quality and flow in support of permit compliance and construction projects.
- Knowledge of groundwater sampling techniques, including low-flow purging, multiparameter data sondes, flow cells, and bladder pumps.
- Ability to work under tight deadlines while performing physically demanding fieldwork, often in inclement weather or other harsh field conditions.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills. with the ability to convey information clearly and effectively to diverse audiences, including Roads staff and external partners.
- Committed to fostering an equitable and inclusive environment through continuous learning and meaningful actions.
- Proficiency in the use of Adobe Acrobat Pro, Microsoft Office Suite products (Teams, Word, Excel, Project, SharePoint, and PowerPoint), and GIS software/environmental data management tools to support the development, review, and reporting of environmental documents and assessments, such as (Bluebeam Revu; ArcMap, ArcGIS Pro).
NECESSARY REQUIREMENTS:
- Must have a Valid Washington State Driver's License or the ability to obtain one prior to start date.
- Must be able to operate a motor vehicle safely and travel throughout the County in all weather conditions.
- An offer of employment will be contingent on the successful completion of a pre-employment physical examination.
WORK ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
- Must be able to lift, carry, move or handle up to 50 pounds.
- Physically able to traverse by foot through densely wooded terrain and steep inclines in all weather conditions.
- This position requires fieldwork year-round in all weather conditions, the frequency of which varies with the season.
Other Qualifications
INTERVIEW SCHEDULE:
Those applicants who pass the initial screening will be invited to participate in a 15-minute phone interview the week of 10/27/2025.
If you are selected to move forward after the phone interview, you will be invited to participate in a 45-minute interview the week of 11/3/2025.
WHO MAY APPLY:
This recruitment is open to all qualified applicants and may be used to fill current and or/future career service, term-limited temporary, short-term temporary, and or/special duty positions over the next six months.
APPLICATION PROCESS:
A full and complete King County application is required. You may also provide a resume and cover letter, summarizing how you meet the experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skills for the position.
Applicants will be screened for clarity, completeness, and competitiveness. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in one or more interviews. Answers to supplemental questions must be demonstrated in your application materials.
For interviewing tips, please see the STAR-LA method: star-la_interview_method.pdf
WORKSCHEDULE:
The workweek is normally Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., but may at times require work outside of normal business hours. This position is Non-Exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is eligible for overtime pay, with prior supervisor approval.
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION STATUS:
Mission-Critical-Those employees who provide, maintain, and re-establish essential county functions as described in agency Continuity of Operations plans.
Unless otherwise directed by the County Executive, department director or agency head, all employees, regardless of designation, are expected to report to work or request leave during an emergency or inclement weather.
TELEWORKING REQUIREMENT:
The work associated with this position will be performed by a combination of teleworking, fieldwork (at least 40% of the time depending on season) year-round in all weather conditions, and onsite work and meetings as needed. The responsibilities of this position will include regular and ongoing in-office work.
Employees will have access to shared workspaces at various King County facilities. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.
Employees will be provided with a County issued laptop and must maintain a workspace with an internet connection (access may be supplemented in some situations) where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours.?
UNION MEMBERSHIP:
This position is represented by PROTEC17.
To learn more about the Department of Local Services, please visit our website at: https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/local-services
For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact:
Cassandra Montgomery
Senior Human Resource Analyst
(206) 263-5866
[email protected]
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.
