Lead Geologist

This position is the Lead Geologist for all Solid Waste Division facilities. As the lead geologist for the Landfill Engineering, Geology, and Environmental Data (LEGEND) unit you will provide the direction for assessment, monitoring, and improvement of groundwater quality for essential public facilities in the King County Solid Waste Division. This work is exciting and innovative and serves as a very important role in the protection and preservation of clean water and health habitat for the environmental and communities surrounding our facilities.

We are filling one Career Service position and may use this recruitment to create a list of candidates for any potential vacancies in similar positions in the following 6 months. The classification of this position is Engineer III.

We also have a new County Executive with dynamic and progressive priorities including:

• Breaking the Cycle: Addressing homelessness, addiction, and incarceration.

• Building More: Expanding housing, childcare, transit, and infrastructure.

• Be in Community:Making King County government more visible, connected, and community-driven.

• Better Government: Delivering a government that is more transparent, efficient, and accountable.

Our program has the ability to connect with each of these areas that provides opportunities for creative and innovative projects.

The Solid Waste Division of King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks is looking for a Lead Geologist. The primary function of this position will be senior level project manager and geotechnical duties associated with Solid Waste Division landfill projects.

This position will perform engineering, geotechnical, environmental assessment and project management duties with the Cedar Hills Landfill and Closed Landfills. This position will support Post Closure Maintenance, Capital Improvement Program, and Hydrogeologic report projects. Provide geotechnical services to support the evaluation, assessment, modification, and improvement of landfill groundwater and landfill gas monitoring systems. Manage environmental data from groundwater, surface water, wastewater, landfill gas and soil and perform water quality evaluations applying knowledge of air and aquatic chemistry, fate and transport, environmental analytical methods, environmental monitoring networks, environmental regulations and environmental control systems and will require patience and diligence in environmental data review.

This position will be responsible for overseeing diverse project teams composed of internal and consultant subject matter experts from a broad range of disciplines including engineering, geotechnical, community relations, property acquisition, permitting and operations and maintenance staff. Provide leadership to team and project members including providing technical and professional mentoring and assigning tasks to team members.

The position will be required to supervise the production of hydrogeologic evaluations of the division’s landfills for the annual and quarterly reporting requirements as specified in WAC 173-304 and WAC 173-351 as the division’s lead licensed geologist or hydrogeologist; these evaluations will be stamped by a licensed hydrogeologist. Includes review of engineering reports and design documents prepared by consultants, and other agencies as required.

Other functions of this position will include:
Preparing permit compliance reports;
Preparing consultant and construction contracts;
Managing geotechnical and engineering consultants and, construction contractors.

King County, named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is a diverse and vibrant community that represents cultures from around the world. We…