Full job description
About MWA
Mountain Watershed Association is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization with the mission to protect, preserve and restore the Youghiogheny River watershed and its broader communities through conservation, recreation, education, and advocacy. Our organization is unique in that we pursue on-the-ground restoration of past environmental damages while we advocate to protect the watershed from new sources of pollution, primarily caused by fossil fuel development. We achieve our mission through a variety of initiatives, including abandoned mine drainage remediation, water quality monitoring, trail development, educational programming, grassroots organizing, and legal advocacy.
Watershed Specialist Job Description
Through the implementation of our Comprehensive Restoration Plan, MWA has achieved the restoration of 70% of the streams impaired by abandoned mine drainage in the Indian Creek Watershed, a major tributary to the Youghiogheny River. The Watershed Specialist plays a vital role in helping to ensure the ongoing oversight and maintenance of these restoration efforts. At the same time, the Watershed Specialist will support MWA’s conservation and advocacy programs by developing and implementing strategies to protect, monitor, and restore ecosystems throughout the broader Youghiogheny River Watershed in accordance with MWA’s established comprehensive plans. This position will be responsible for conducting water quality sampling and biological surveys, managing watershed restoration projects, responding to pollution events, and coordinating with local communities and organizational partners. To effectively carry out these goals, collaboration with each of MWA’s internal departments (Conservation, Recreation, Education, and Advocacy) is essential.
Essential Functions:
Monitoring (40%):
- Coordinate with Youghiogheny Riverkeeper, Director of Conservation, and community members to conduct water quality monitoring as needed to assess safety for recreational use, respond to complaints, or check for compliance of issued permits.
- Assist in the collection and identification of macroinvertebrates and other biological samples on a scheduled basis.
- Strive to continually improve watershed monitoring efforts through continued research, training, and collaboration with consulting experts.
Restoration (30%):
- Conduct maintenance and routine monitoring activities at our existing treatment systems as instructed by Pennsylvania’s Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation and Operation, Maintenance, and Replacement Plans. Maintenance includes: system flushings, elevation readings, sign maintenance, gate painting, etc.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of the Youghiogheny River Conservation Plans in order to prioritize conservation and restoration priorities identified throughout the watershed.
- Coordinate with the Director of Conservation to implement continued conservation and restoration initiatives in the watershed, such as abandoned mine drainage, riparian buffer, and streambank restoration projects.
Data Management & Compliance (20%)
- Maintain water quality monitoring databases, including data entry.
- Evaluate the biological, chemical, or physical data collected through sampling efforts to inform management actions.
- Assemble, organize, and analyze results of monitoring and communicate these findings internally and through external communication.
- Complies with State Protocols and methodologies and guides internal protocols.
Outreach & Program Support (10%)
- Contribute material for newsletters, blogs, or website content as requested.
- Represent the organization and its work through tabling and public events.
- Attend collaborative meetings with outside organizations.
- Conduct environmental education and training for students and the public.
- Support the preparation of grant proposals as directed.
- Other duties to support the work of our organization as needed.
Requirements:
- Ability to work a minimum of three days a week from MWA’s office in Melcroft, PA.
- Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, geology, biology, engineering, or related field.
- Coursework in fields of ecology, biology, environment disturbances, or related topics.
- Field experience, including physical, chemical, and biological water quality monitoring.
- Commitment to collaboration with MWA staff, volunteers, and organizational partners.
- Ability to be a self-motivated worker who respects deadlines.
- Ability to work effectively and creatively with diverse people and organizations (experience local to the Youghiogheny River Watershed strongly preferred).
- Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Word Excel, and PowerPoint and/or a willingness to develop additional skills as needed.
- Strong written and oral communication skills.
Top 3 Competencies:
- Problem Solving
- Attention to Detail
- Technical Knowledge
Work environment:
- Indoor- 40%, data management, report writing, reading bacteria samples, etc.
- Outdoor- 60%, treatment system monitoring and maintenance, water sampling, monitoring, macroinvertebrate collection, etc.
Physical demands:
- Willingness to work a flexible schedule, including occasional evenings and weekends.
- Has reliable transportation and willingness to travel when required.
- Willingness to work both in field and office environments.
- Ability to bend, twist, or lift a minimum of 20lbs.
- Ability to walk long distances.
Compensation: This position is full-time hourly. The starting hourly rate range is $19.23-$21.63 ($40,000-$50,000 annually). Additional qualifications, advanced degrees, and/or work experience will be considered. MWA offers a generous benefits package, including generous paid time off, fully paid health, vision, and dental insurance coverage, and a matching IRA program.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: We maintain a strong policy of equal employment opportunity. We seek to achieve equal opportunity for all members as articulated by federal, state, and local laws. Mountain Watershed Association actively seeks to recruit individuals without regard to race, creed, color, religion, gender, national origin, ancestry, age, or physical or mental non-position related handicap or disability. Our equal employment opportunity philosophy applies to all aspects of service with MWA.
Pay: $19.23 – $21.63 per hour
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Professional development assistance
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
