Columbia River Basin Toxics Scientist; Natural Resource Scientist

Columbia River Basin Toxics Scientist

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen.

The Department of Ecology is hiring a Columbia River Basin Toxics Scientist (Natural Resource Scientist
3) within the Environmental Assessment Program (EAP). This is a project position funded until September 30, 2029.

Location: Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA. You must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.

Schedule: Eligible for telework and flexible schedule options. Fieldwork is needed; office work may be teleworked most of the time with occasional in-person meetings (about one day per week). Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

Application Timeline: Apply by April 12, 2026. The position will remain open until filled; applications received after this date may not be considered.

We invite a team of highly skilled, passionate, and collaborative scientists and planners to reduce toxic contaminants in the Columbia River Basin. In this role, you will plan, lead, and/or provide technical support to environmental and Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) studies to address toxic contaminants in the Columbia River Basin in coordination with internal and external partners/grantees.

• Research and provide monitoring recommendations to inform toxics reduction strategies identified by internal Ecology and external basin interests.
• Convey toxics monitoring priorities and reduction strategies to basin interested parties, planners, management, and a variety of other audiences including the state legislature.
• Assist Ecology’s CRB science support team in review of grantee quality assurance project plans (QAPPs) and scientific reports.
• Prepare quality assurance project plans (QAPPs), standard operating procedures (SOPs), and scientific reports. Coordinate with analytical laboratories for analysis of environmental samples, including developing Request for Proposals for externally contracted analyses and work.
• Conduct surveys, analyze and record conditions for collection of environmental samples for toxics chemical analysis.
• Conduct statistical analysis and quality assurance reviews of environmental data using various software programs for data analysis (spreadsheets and statistics) and report preparation.
• Communicate sampling results to partners, public, industry, and other agencies in an understandable manner.
• Manage large datasets, assist with data reduction, and monitor entry of project data into Ecology’s EIM System.

Eight (8) years of experience and/or education as described below.

Experience: Research and/or monitoring of toxic contaminants. Must include three years of one or more of the following:

• Environmental toxics monitoring experience, including monitoring or assessment of toxic contaminants (e.g., PFAS, PCBs, pesticides, metals, emerging contaminants) in water, sediment, and/or biological tissues.
• Study design, QAPPs, scientific reports, and SOPs: proven ability to prepare, review, and implement QAPPs, scientific reports, SOPs, and study designs consistent with EPA and state requirements.
• Field leadership and sampling expertise, including leading or coordinating field operations, environmental sampling, instrument calibration, equipment decontamination, chain-of-custody procedures, and working safely in remote or adverse field conditions.
• Data analysis and statistical skills: experience conducting statistical analysis, quality assurance review, and interpretation of environmental data using spreadsheets, statistical software, and data management systems.
• Large dataset and environmental database management: demonstration of managing large environmental datasets, performing data reduction, and entering and maintaining data in environmental databases such as Ecology’s EIM System and EPA’s WQX.

Education: Environmental science, chemistry, toxicology, hydrology, biology, engineering, or a closely related scientific field.

Examples of how to qualify:

• 8 years of experience.
• 7 years of experience AND 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter college credits.
• 6 years of experience AND 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter college credits (Associate’s degree).
• 5 years of experience…