Environmental Lab Scientist- Field

Job Description:

Environmental Lab Scientist- Field

Description

Summary

This is a great opportunity for an energetic and enthusiastic person with excellent scientific and technical skills to join our team. The Field Science Unit is a group of active and innovative scientists. We are looking for an Environmental Laboratory Scientist, someone excited about science and the health of our region’s people and ecosystems. If you are interested in a position that combines your technical talents with an opportunity to support efforts to protect our environment actively, this job may be for you!
About the Role: The Field Science Unit (FSU) provides outstanding sampling and data collection services for King County’s Water and Land Resources, the Wastewater Treatment Division, other King County agencies and regional partners. FSU works within King County and beyond, utilizing vehicles and vessels to conduct operations on land and water. This is a demanding but rewarding in-person job. Environmental sampling is conducted outdoors and in all types of weather. There is a lot of variety in the day-to-day work. FSU scientists spend a large amount of time in the field using state-of-the-art equipment to collect samples and data. Responsibilities include in-lab tasks as well as field assignments. Each team member participates in most routine projects, which include frequent scheduled samplings of marine and freshwater bodies. We also do monitoring in King County sewage and stormwater facilities. Each person in FSU coordinates field aspects of specific projects.

Our work includes developing sampling plans, preparing bottle kits, scheduling work and processing field data. Each team member spends time using and maintaining field instruments and equipment. We communicate and coordinate with other lab units, the project managers, people in other King County Departments, and sometimes regulatory agencies or educational institutions. The person hired into this position will be responsible for maintaining the Field Science Unit’s fleet of Sea-Bird instruments and equipment and participate in managing and maintaining remote monitoring buoys and moorings. This will include managing data produced by the Sea-Bird and associated instruments.

About the Team: The Field Science Unit is a team of active and innovative scientists. The work unit of (approximately) nine (9) people shares a variety of indoor and outdoor functions. We collaborate to complete tasks and solve problems. We frequently spend long days in vehicles or onboard vessels. The successful candidate will be someone who functions well independently or as part of a team. Ideally, you will bring energy, curiosity, self-motivation and strong technical and problem-solving skills. We are seeking applicants with previous experience in environmental monitoring to bring complementary abilities to the team. We are particularly seeking applicants with knowledge of and skills relating to Sea-Bird Scientific instrumentation plus water quality buoys and moorings. New members of FSU develop their skills with training and decreasing oversight by more experienced team members. We promote cross-training and cultivate a culture of continuous learning.

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, racial and social justice, making it a foundational and daily expectation for all employees. As an Environmental Lab Scientist- Field(Environmental Laboratory Scientist II ), 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:

• Perform environmental sampling and data acquisition using a variety of equipment, instrumentation and methods. Follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Sampling and Analysis Plans (SAPs) and Quality Assurance Plans (QAPs).
• Function as a deck hand/scientist/technician on research vessels (e.g. R/V Sound Guardian); safely trailer and operate smaller boats; safely operate motor vehicles
• Calibrate, operate, deploy, maintain and troubleshoot field instrumentation; perform and document associated QC tasks
• Work collaboratively with Field Science Unit team, lab personnel and project planners/customers to accomplish sampling and data quality objectives
  
• Follow safety requirements and guidelines, maintain situational awareness in a fast-changing outside-of-lab environment; recognize and react appropriately to potential hazards; identify and utilize appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE)
  
• Perform in-lab tasks such as preparing instruments/equipment, prepare field sampling kits, enter field data to Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), schedule sampling events, collaborate on project planning and management tasks
  

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

QUALIFICATIONS YOU BRING:

• Experience and proficiency collecting environmental samples and data following Standard Operating Procedures, QA/QC protocol, Sampling and Analysis Plans, etc.
• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Chemistry, Biology or similar scientific discipline or an equivalent combination of experience and education.
• Experience and proficiency with using water quality and other types of field instrumentation and equipment aboard scientific vessels. Experience and skill in calibrating, operating and troubleshooting of scientific equipment including Sea-Bird Scientific instruments such as Conductivity/Temperature/Depth instrument packages and Hydro-Cat Eps.
• Experience generating, processing and reviewing large datasets generated by Conductivity/Temperature/Depth instrument packages, water quality moorings, etc.
• Ability to understand and adhere to safety protocols; ability to use Personal Protective Equipment; ability to maintain situational awareness in complex and changing environments.
• Skill in communicating verbally and in writing; ability to use basic Microsoft products such as Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Ability to use and troubleshoot telemetered instruments and equipment associated with moorings, buoys and other types of environmental sampling equipment.
• Experience with and skill in using hydraulic lifting equipment.
• Captain’s license (OUPV/6-Pack, etc) or documentable progress towards license.
• Knowledge of and experience with research vessel systems, vessel maintenance procedures.
• Experience with/knowledge of Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).

COMPETENCIES YOU BRING:

• Tech Savvy: Anticipating and adopting innovations in business- building digital and technology applications.
  
• Action Oriented: Taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.
  
• Collaborates: Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Manages Complexity: Making sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.
  
• Situational Adaptability: Adapting approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations.

Supplemental Information

Onsite Work Details:

• Work Location: King County Environmental Laboratory, 322 W. Ewing St., Seattle, WA
  

• 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 not represented.
  

• Licensing/Certification Requirements:
  

• WA State Driver’s License
  

• WA State Boater’s card (obtain within 90 days of hire)
  

• Swiftwater Awareness Training (obtain within 9 months of hire)
  

• First Aid/CPR (obtain within 90 days of hire)
  

Physical Requirements: Incumbents will traverse uneven terrain, work aboard moving vessels, and work in proximity to bodies of water. Members of the FSU team frequently lift and carry bulky or moderately heavy items. They frequently walk or stand for significant periods of time. Someone in this position will perform a variety of physical activities as part of the job.

Application and Selection Process:

To apply, submit your completed application materials:

• Resume
  
• Cover Letter
  
• Completed Supplemental Questions
  

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.

Who to Contact: For more information regarding the Environmental Laboratory Scientist II recruitment, please contact William R. Herbert at [email protected]

Discover More About the Water and Land Division by visiting our website .

Discover More About DNRP: Visit our website , explore an interactive map of our recent accomplishments, and check us out on Facebook , X (formerly Twitter), 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 how the government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join a 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 are 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 Americans 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 have questions, please contact the recruiter listed in 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: 3/1/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary:

$100,123.92 - $126,912.66 Annually