Portland Water Bureau (Water Quality)
Work location:Â 664 N Tillamook St, Portland, OR 97227
Work schedule: M-F (8 or 9-hour, flex schedules are possible)
The Environmental Technician II position will serve as a member of the Water Quality Division, whose core function is to provide safe drinking water and meet all federal and state drinking water regulations. The Water Quality Division oversees and coordinates monitoring across workgroups throughout the water system and analyzes and reports data to the State, the public, and internal stakeholders, ensuring regulatory compliance and public health protection.
The Environmental Technician II will work within the Water Quality Monitoring team and will primarily be responsible for collecting water samples and performing field measurements throughout Portland’s drinking water distribution system and source waters. This position will operate and maintain field sampling equipment, follow standard operating procedures, manage data, assist in water quality investigations and inspections, and collaborate across groups, including the Water Quality Lab. This position will also manage data, perform data analysis, and report findings using charts, graphs, reports, and presentations as needed. Incumbents in this position spend approximately 50-75% of their time in the field. This position will require a valid state driver’s license and an acceptable driving record at the time of appointment.
What you’ll get to do:
- Collect regulatory samples for coliform bacteria and test for chlorine, pH, turbidity, temperature, and conductivity in the water distribution system
- Test for indicators of nitrification to help optimize tank operations.
- Conduct limnological monitoring from a boat in the Bull Run Reservoirs to support operations and seasonal trend analysis.
- Hike to tributary monitoring stations in the Bull Run Watershed to collect storm event samples.
- Assist with groundwater monitoring in the Columbia South Shore Well Field
- Calibrate, maintain, and troubleshoot a variety of water quality field instruments.
- Respond to water quality incidents, customer complaints, and conduct special investigations.
- Perform data entry and review within the Laboratory Information Management System.
- Review and improve Standard Operating Procedures, and field sampling Quality Management System documents.
An ideal candidate will demonstrate through direct or transferable experience:
- Strong working knowledge of biological, physical, and chemical principles as applied to water quality
- Ability to work within a regulatory compliance setting.
- Ability to build and maintain effective relationships.
- Ability to explain and present technical information clearly and effectively.
- Ability to work independently and make sound decisions in the field
- Ability to uphold a culture of workforce safety
- A desire and ability to work outdoors, year-round
- A passion for water quality and public health
Wages and Benefit Information
We offer competitive salaries and a range of benefits, retirement options, and more! Information can be found in our Total Rewards Statement and Calculation linked below.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rbRhlAWaQT2BOfITo5tgY-ug2a_sXG9X/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/11VVvn__IinUSBrIQjRLFIF1otiV98qbi/view?usp=sharing
About the Water Bureau
The Portland Water Bureau (PWB) serves almost a million people in the Portland area, about a quarter of Oregon’s population. PWB employs over 600 people providing responsive service to build and maintain a water system that enhances public health and safety and contributes to the economic vitality and livability of the Portland metropolitan region. To learn more about us, visit our websitehttps://www.portland.gov/water/about-us
To Qualify
Applicants must describe in their supplemental question responses and résumé how their education, training, work experience, and/or lived experience meet each of the following minimum qualifications:
- Knowledge and experience in one or more of the following areas: environmental science, stormwater management, wastewater, drinking water, hydrology, water quality, general biology, microbiology, wildlife biology, fisheries, botany, chemistry, engineering, or statistics.
- Ability to evaluate, analyze, and interpret environmental data and clearly present technical information in oral, written, or other forms
- Ability to coordinate and/or perform field inspections and/or monitoring using a variety of technical equipment, and interpret and/or record field conditions/data clearly and accurately as they apply to natural resources, drinking water, stormwater, and/or sanitary sewer discharge programs.
- Knowledge and ability to interpret federal, state, and local regulations relating to environmental programs such as wastewater, pretreatment, stormwater, groundwater, drinking water, natural resources, or hazardous waste, and explain the regulations to the public or internal stakeholders.
- Ability to read, interpret, and evaluate various technical documents such as watershed management plans, monitoring plans, standard operating procedures, equipment instruction manuals, scientific publications, environmental testing reports, lab reports, GIS maps, process flow diagrams, and/or site assessments.
- Ability to work with a multicultural workforce, promote an equitable workplace environment, and apply equitable program practices to diverse and complex City services.
