Minimum Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental or Natural Sciences and five years of professional research experience or Master’s Degree in Environmental or Natural Sciences and four years of such experience or a doctorate in Environmental or Natural Sciences and two years of such experience.
Preferred Additional Qualifications:
Excellent interpersonal, strong writing and verbal communication skills.
Considerable knowledge of NYS regulations as they relate to water quality, impaired waters, water quality standards, impacts to waterbody uses and SPDES permit programs.
Experience with data analysis, GIS, and relational databases.
Experience developing an effective permit that is based on science and defensible.
Experience with evaluating and interpreting data related to agricultural, wastewater, craft beverage waste streams.
Familiarity with federal CWA water quality programs and requirements.
Familiarity with clean water planning and nonpoint source programs and implementation.
Experience with analysis and interpretation of environmental data and wastewater effluent data and familiarity of wastewater treatment technologies and techniques.
Program Overview:
The Division of Water (DOW) Bureau of Water Resource Management (BWRM) works to protect, manage, and conserve New York State’s groundwater and surface water supply sources, develop management strategies to enhance and protect these waters, and protect both the groundwater and surface
water quality of New York’s major watersheds. BWRM’s watershed programs, permit programs and nonpoint source program support development of clean water plans and permits to help improve water quality, identify potential funding, and conduct research to protect and restore water quality in relation to
climate change, pollution source sectors, and other emerging environmental issues.
New and emerging pollutants, industries, regulations, and legislative initiatives impact the implementation and compliance of the permitting, clean water planning, nonpoint source and funding programs. The Emerging Research and Regional Support Section provides research and policy development on these emerging issues to support these programs to ensure permit operating conditions, sampling, analysis, compliance, and reporting requirements for a range of facilities and activities, clean water planning and nonpoint source programs are aligned with NYS climate goals, adhere to environmental justice and disadvantaged communities policies, are incorporating best available science and technologies, and address new and emerging contaminants.
Duties/Responsibilities
The Research Scientist 4 will be responsible for developing research plans and conducting research projects to support the incorporation of new regulations, initiatives, and policies, including but limited to climate change, emerging contaminants, environmental justice, and new discharge categories, in the
context of state and federal regulations, into permitting, clean water planning and nonpoint source programs. This work will include, determining the method of analysis, performing the necessary research, evaluating, and interpreting results, and preparing reports, policies, guidance or publications. It is
expected that the candidate will coordinate their research and integrate their recommendations with other DOW and DEC program research areas.
The Research Scientist 4 will analyze environmental and permit effluent data, review, and interpret scientific literature and technical information to develop technical guidance and provide regulatory agenda recommendations to DOW management and DEC executive. Additionally, the Research Scientist
4 will direct and oversee lower-level staff to perform similar analysis and documentation.
The Research Scientist 4, based on their research, is expected to provide significant contributions to existing or expanded permitting, clean water planning and nonpoint source program implementation and compliance; including but not limited to technical guidance for DOW staff to implement programmatic
changes, development of new permit programs, establishment of compliance standards, and evaluation of regulatory impacts.
The Research Scientist 4 will be responsible for providing technical and training support to other professional staff and contributing to the DOW research program.
The successful candidate will fulfill the following:
Applied Research and Data Analysis (60%)
1) Identify and define permitting and compliance issues and research opportunities associated with general and individual SPDES permits, including, but limited to development of numeric
technology- and water quality-based effluent limits, numeric action levels, monitoring requirements, identification of appropriate and economically feasible treatment technologies, best management practices for avoiding exposure of water to pollutants, track down or special studies, determination of compliance schedules and reporting requirements to address emerging contaminants, climate change, numeric nutrient criteria, waterbody re-classifications, emerging
dischargers (cannabis industry, craft beverage), and other Agency or Division needs.
2) Identify and define issues and research opportunities for clean water planning and nonpoint source programs to address emerging contaminants, climate change, numeric nutrient criteria and other Agency or Division needs.
3) Collect, analyze, interpret, report and present data analytical results. This may require the development of monitoring plans, surveys or other methods to collect relevant data.
4) Supervise and coordinate research by lower-level scientists and technical staff.
5) Supervise and conduct literature reviews to ensure DEC programs are managed according to best science and policy.
6) Develop reports, publications, technical guidance documents and training materials of research findings to support permitting, clean water planning and nonpoint source programs and other
DOW and DEC programs.
7) Coordinate and collaborate with DEC and DOW scientists and engineers on permitting, clean water planning and nonpoint source programs research projects to ensure projects are
comprehensive and investigated through a transparent, scientifically defensible process.
8) Participate in NY’s Technical Standards Review Committee in evaluating Natural Resource Conservation Service standards for NY.
9) Identify and manage research projects for Environmental Protection Fund’s Agricultural Waste Management funding based on cost-effectiveness and pollutant load reduction science. Supervise development of research workplans. Coordinate and manage the Memorandum of Understanding with Department of Agriculture and Markets on research related projects and initiatives.
Program Coordination and Support (40%)
1) Supervise section staff; ensure DEC and DOW administrative policies and procedures are followed. Establish Section annual workplans and progress reporting.
2) Represent the Department at professional meetings and coordinate with local, state, and federal partners to exchange information, expand the understanding of the Department’s programs, address emerging concerns, identify best management practices, evaluate technical standards, and respond to water quality contamination issues.
3) Supervise the implementation of the Nonpoint Source program. Including coordination with DOW programs, reporting requirements, program and policy development and identify areas of research.
4) Supervise the implementation of the Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) general permit program; identify and conduct research on options for nutrient management on crop farms and small animal farms.
5) Supervise implementation of SPDES permit program for DEC Region 1. Including, coordination with the Region for permitting and compliance docketing and to discuss other regional needs.
6) Supervise implementation of water quality reviews for SPDES program statewide to support regional SPDES permit development. Including, coordination with the Region for permitting and compliance docketing and to discuss other regional needs.
7) Coordinate and manage DOW’s rulemakings and development of regulatory impact statements and financial impact statements. Conduct research and data analysis necessary to support
documentation.
8) Develop and conduct training materials associated with SPDES permitting and compliance strategies, including updated inspection forms/guidance, updated “black books”, SOPs, and
targeted inspection guidance/goals.
9) Coordinate permit equivalent communications and research and develop guidance for DOW, including updating guidance, training and templates.
Must have a valid driver’s license or demonstrate the ability to meet the transportation needs of the position.
Travel may be required.
Overnight travel may be required.
Telecommuting may be available, will be discussed at interview.
We offer a work-life balance and a generous benefits package, worth 65% of salary, including:
• Holiday & Paid Time Off
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
• Pension from New York State Employees’ Retirement System
• Shift & Geographic pay differentials
• Affordable Health Care options
• Family dental and vision benefits at no additional cost
• NYS Deferred Compensation plan
• Access to NY 529 and NY ABLE College Savings Programs, and U.S. Savings Bonds
• And many more…
For new State employees appointed to graded positions, the annual salary is the hiring rate (beginning of the Salary Range) of the position. Promotion salaries are calculated by the NYS Office of the State Comptroller in accordance with NYS Civil Service Law, OSC Payroll rules and regulations and negotiated union contracts.
DEC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.