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Program Specialist I - Ecological Assessment and Evaluation

Posted: 
09/06/2022
Expiration Date: 
09/13/2022

Program Specialist I - Ecological Assessment and Evaluation
   
Salary:  $53,514.00 - $90,940.00 Annually
Location:  Anne Arundel County, MD
Job Type:  Full-Time Permanent
Department:  Public Works
Job Number:  06579
Closing:  9/12/2022 11:59 PM Eastern

Position Description
This posting will be used to fill a full-time, permanent, Program Specialist I - Ecological Assessment and Evaluation position in the Bureau of Watershed Protection and Restoration (BWPR) in the Department of Public Works. The position will work with the Bureau’s Ecological Assessment & Evaluation (EAE) staff to provide technical support for various non-tidal surface water monitoring programs, biological condition assessments, and vegetative surveys including field related activities and data analyses. The position reports to the EAE Program Senior Planner.

NATURE AND VARIETY OF WORK

This position is both a field and office position. Field activities include collecting basic stream geomorphology data, biological community and habitat condition assessment, riparian area vegetation surveys, storm event and baseflow water quality sample collection, and stream discharge data collection. Office activities include organizing, managing, and performing initial data analyses as well as contributing to analytical report writing. The position also performs field quality assurance review and data quality control reviews.

Examples of Duties and Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
(Note: The duties and responsibilities enumerated in this class specification are for the purpose of determining a common set of minimum qualifications and salary level for all positions in this class. They are not intended to include all of the essential functions of all positions in the class.)

  • Program, operate, and maintain an automated water quality monitoring station (e.g., ISCO sampler, in situ multimeter, and a rain gage) for storm event sampling.
  • Conduct wet weather and dry weather stream monitoring, stream discharge, and process stream discharge and water quality data.
  • Achieve and maintain MBSS certification for habitat assessment and benthic macroinvertebrate sampling.
  • Perform non-tidal stream geomorphological assessments and habitat assessments (e.g., RBP and MPHI)
  • Assist with property owner identification and outreach, for permission to sample, in support of a variety of EAE monitoring projects and programs.
  • Analyze monitoring data and provide interpretation for reports and publications.
  • Carry out vegetation surveys and identify invasive flora associated with non-tidal stream riparian areas.
  • Work closely with EAE Program administrators and staff to support and respond to citizen inquiries.
  • Provide support, as assigned, for various components of NPDES MS4 Permit compliance.
  • Perform related program duties as assigned by the EAE Program Senior Planner and the Planning Administrator.


KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

  • Ability to communicate very effectively, both orally and in writing.
  • Ability to deal tactfully, effectively, and equitably with people.
  • Ability to carry out field investigations under a broad range of weather conditions and over uneven terrain and in wadable streams.
  • Knowledge of Mid Atlantic stream form and function.
  • Knowledge and understanding of basic ecosystem function.
  • Ability to effectively and efficiently organize and analyze environmental data.
  • Ability to determine pollutant loads associated with storm and baseflow water monitoring.
  • Awareness of stormwater management regulations in Maryland.


Minimum Qualifications
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in environmental science, biology, ecology, or related field; and one (1) or more years’ experience with non-tidal stream geomorphic assessments, habitat assessments, biological community assessments, riparian vegetation surveys, and/or wet weather and dry weather stream monitoring.

Supplemental Qualifications
Preference will be given to candidates with the following:

1.) Strong written and oral communication skills.

2.) Knowledge and experience with wet weather non-tidal stream monitoring and automated water quality monitoring.

3.) Knowledge and experience with aquatic biological monitoring in non-tidal streams.

4.) Knowledge and experience with Microsoft Office software (Excel, Access, Word, and PowerPoint), R Studio, and the G Suite of programs.

5.) Knowledge and experience with empirical stream water quality and flow data and pollutant load development.

6.) Knowledge and experience with GIS.

 

Agency:  Anne Arundel County
Address:  Heritage Complex, 2660 Riva Road, First Floor
                Annapolis, Maryland, 21401
Phone:  (410) 222-7595
Website:  http://www.aacounty.org/Personnel/Index.cfm