Position Website
Position Summary & Responsibilities
Position Summary:
The position (K0228105) The Kansas Department of Health & Environment's Watershed Planning, Monitoring, and Assessment Section within the Bureau of Water is hiring an Environmental Specialist to support the Stream Biological Monitoring Program. This program examines the structural attributes of aquatic macroinvertebrate assemblages and utilizes this information to determine the ecological health status of streams in Kansas. In addition, this program generates information on contaminant levels in fish collected from the states' streams and lakes. This position will assist in the collection, analyses, and identification of benthic macroinvertebrate samples and the field collection of fish contaminant tissue samples. These statewide water quality evaluations will be used to support the development and refinement of Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for 303(d)- listed streams and fish consumption advisories in Kansas.
Job Responsibilities may include but are not limited to the following: Serves as an aquatic macro-invertebrate and freshwater mussel taxonomist for the Stream Biological Monitoring Program. Identifies macro-invertebrate samples and provides in-house taxonomic training to other environmental scientists as needed. Participates in the organization, updating and maintenance of KDHE's collection of reference documents on aquatic macro-invertebrate taxonomy. Maintains KDHE's reference collection of aquatic macro-invertebrate specimens and reports the taking of unusual or highly significant taxa (e.g. threatened or endangered species; new state or county records) to appropriate state and federal authorities (USFWS, KDWP, KBS). This work involves a considerable degree of independent judgment on the part of the employee with QA/QC review by the work evaluator and supervisor.
Responsible for the ongoing scheduling and implementation of all field, office, and laboratory activities related to the collecting samples for the KDHE Fish Tissue Contaminant Monitoring Program. Duties involve scheduling, organizing, coordinating, and leading field activities related to the collection of fish tissue samples, preparing fish tissue samples, submittal of prepared samples to the laboratory, and coordination of field and laboratory activities with participating state and federal agencies (e.g., EPA, USFWS, KDWP, KDHEL). This work involves a considerable degree of independent judgment on the part of the employee with QA/QC review by the work evaluator and supervisor.
Qualifications
- Education:
- Bachelor's Degree in biology, environmental science, fish and wildlife management, freshwater ecology or a related natural sciences/resources.
- Licensing & Certification:
- Valid Driver's License - Incumbent is required to have and maintain a valid driver's license when operating a state vehicle, a private vehicle, or a rental vehicle for the benefit of the State.
- Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor's Degree in biology, environmental science, fish and wildlife management, freshwater ecology, or a related natural sciences/resources.
- Preferred Qualifications:
- One or more years of experience in the collection, handling, and analysis of ambient water quality/biological samples. Experience using water quality sampling and analysis equipment.
- Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access
- Proofreading, editing, attention to detail
- Knowledge of aquatic organism taxonomy
- Knowledge of basic statistics
- Technical writing skills
- Post-Offer, Pre-employment Requirements:
- Employee must obtain and maintain Red Cross certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and basic first aid.
