Ecotoxicologist (Water Quality Planner/ Project Manager II)

Summary

Join our team of toxicologists as we protect the most vulnerable communities and aquatic life, such as fish and orca, from toxic chemicals in the environment. You’ll have opportunities to protect the people in fishing communities most impacted by toxic chemicals. Your work will help King County leaders understand the science on toxic chemicals, from impacts to aquatic life to harmful effects on people. In doing so, you’ll improve how we manage stormwater and wastewater and directly inform public policy. You will help us accomplish our goals in the following ways:

• D esign and manage contaminant studies to answer applied research questions.
  

• Improve health outcomes for fishing communities disproportionately impacted by toxic chemicals , often communities of color, immigrants, and refugees; and
  

• Help us identify PFAS sources in our wastewater and solid waste systems .
  

• Partner with other local governments on emerging policies and strategies for addressing contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) such as 6 PPD -q .
  

We need applied scientists with experience investigating and monitoring environmental contaminants . If you love to work collaboratively with others to protect people and the natural environment from the hazards of toxic contaminants , this job is for you.

About the Role:

King County is committed to reducing t oxic chemicals in waters, sediments, and aquatic food webs . Our goal is to make fish safer for people to eat, and improve the health of salmon, orca, and other wildlife in King County waters. Our Clean Water Healthy Habitat ( CWHH ) strategy outlines our guiding principles .

In the near-term, this position may be involved with one or more of the following projects:

1) Monitoring toxic chemicals in freshwater fish of King County lakes and streams

2) CEC Prioritization Framework

3) CEC-related studies for PFAS or 6PPD-q)

This position performs work remotely and onsite .

About the Team:

The Science and Technical Support Section is a unique workplace . You will help build the scientific frameworks informing evidence-based policies and management decisions. We are a Seattle-based team of more than 40 technical staff producing credible , innovative, applied science to benefit people and the environment. We lead environmental investigations, manage monitoring programs, and support clients and partners with technical services. We collaborate with other teams in King County, 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 and racial and social justice, making it a foundational and daily expectation for all employees. As a n Ecotoxicologist, 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 (WLRD) 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.

Job Duties

What You Will Be Doing :

Under guidance of a program manager, plan and implement the annual sampling and analysis for our freshwater fish toxics monitoring program.


Serve as project manager for special aquatic studies to investigate toxic chemicals in the environment in support of regulatory actions such as wastewater discharge permit requirements. Work with an internal client or senior scientist to design and manage the study.


Work with internal clients and Science peers to implement PFAS studies by analyzing leachate, stormwater, biosolids, wastewater influent/effluent data; conduct literature reviews, write technical memos and coordinate sample collection and analysis with consultants and King County Laboratory.


Support other environmental investigations of toxic chemicals including stormwater treatment effectiveness, CEC prioritization, 6 PPD- q surveys.


Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

Qualifications You Bring :

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience in ecology, toxicology, biology, environmental engineering, environmental chemistry, environmental science or closely related field.
  

• One year of work experience managing scope, schedule, budget, and workflows for scientific studies.
  
• Working knowledge of R, SQL, or Python for data analysis.
  

• Work experience writing technical documents describing study methods and interpreting data to answer study questions.
  

• Work experience in environmental sample collection, handling , and processing.
  

• Work experience statistically analyzing and interpreting environmental chemistry data.
  

• Work experience collaborating with a team.
  
  

Competencies You Bring :

Action-Oriented - Shows initiative in addressing challenges, seizes new opportunities, has a can-do attitude to work.

Demonstrates Self-Awareness - Views criticism as helpful, willing to admit mistakes and use feedback to improve performance .

Collaborates - Eager to work with others to achieve shared objectives ; shows interest in others’ goals and gains trust of teammates.

Resourcefulness - Can maximize use of resources, is effective and confident in securing needed resources, can juggle many resources to get work done.

Being Resilient - Stays positive and stays composed under adversity, learns from difficult experiences, comfortable asking for help when needed.

It Would Be Great if You Also Bring :

• A postgraduate degree in environmental sciences, ecology, toxicology, biology, environmental engineering, environmental chemistry or closely related discipline.
  

• Experience leading or designing an environmental sampling investigation of toxic chemicals.
  

• Work experience reflecting the need to have close attention to detail.
  

• Education or work experience interpreting WA state and federal regulations applicable to water and sediment quality including how to use regulatory standards.
  

• Working knowledge of Tableau or Power BI.
  

Supplemental Information

Working Conditions :

• Remote and Onsite Work Details : Employees in this role work remotely from a home location, with onsite reporting requirements typically 2-3 days per month. The frequency of onsite work is determined by business needs and may be adjusted accordingly. Onsite reporting locations may be at various King County worksites including the collaboration space at King Street Center (201 S. Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104). This work arrangement promotes work-life-balance and reduces carbon footprint under the department’s vision of Green Where We Work .
  

• Remote Work Location R equirement: Employees must reside in Washington State and be within a reasonable distance to King County worksite s to meet onsite reporting requirements.
  

• Work Location : Remote/Onsite - Seattle-Regional Area.
  

• Work Schedule : This full-time position works a 40-hour work week . This position is exempt from the overtime provision of the Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA) and is not overtime eligible.
  

• Union Representation : This position is represented by Teamsters Local 117 - Professional & Technical and Administrative Employees.
  
• Physical Requirements: This position periodically requires the ability to perform field work under difficult conditions, including wading in the intertidal zone; walking on uneven terrain and in slippery conditions; working in and around Puget Sound streams, rivers, and lakes; and carrying up to 20 lbs. of field equipment for short distances. Long hours (9+ hour days) may be necessary to complete this field work, which can occur in remote locations and during inclement weather.
  

Application and Selection Process :

We welcome applications from all qualified applicants . We value diversity, diverse perspectives and life experience and encourage people of all background 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 . A writing assessment will be included as part of the selection process.

To apply, submit a:

• Complete Application
  

• Optional Resume ( w ill be reviewed if submitted )
  

• Optional Cover Letter ( w ill 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 Hermann, Sr. HR Analyst, at 206-477 9092 or mhermann@kingcounty.gov .

Discover More About the Division: Visit our website .

Discover More A bout DNRP : Visit our webs ite , e xplore an interactive map of our recent accomplishments and check us out at Facebook , X (formerly T witter) , 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.

King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:

• Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage options: King County provides eligible employees with options, so they can decide what’s best for themselves and their eligible dependents
• Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
• Retirement: eligible King County employees may participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
• Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
• 12paid holidays each year plus twopersonal holidays
• Generous vacation and paid sick leave
• Paid parental,family and medical, and volunteer leaves
• Flexible Spending Account
• Wellness programs
• Onsite activity centers
• Employee Giving Program
• Employee assistance programs
• Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
• Training and career development programs

For additional information about employee benefits, visit our Benefits, Payroll, and Retirement Page .

This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails.

NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position.Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.

For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.

Closing Date/Time: 3/28/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

• 

• King County Water and Land Resources Division

• 206-477-4800

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