Columbia River Basin Field Lead; Natural Resource Scientist

Overview

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Department of Ecology is hiring a Columbia River Basin Field Lead (Natural Resource Scientist
2) within the Environmental Assessment Program (EAP).

This is a project position that is funded until September 30, 2029.

Location:

• Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA.
• Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.

Schedule:

• This position is eligible for telework and flexible schedule options.
• In this role you will be doing a lot of fieldwork; when office work is needed you may telework most of your work time with occasional in-person meetings and activities.
• Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

Application Timeline:

• Apply by November 9, 2025
• This position will remain open until filled. The agency reserves the right to make a hire at any time after application review begins. Applications received after the date above may not be considered.

In this role, you will be required to balance complex field operations with rigorous scientific analysis and reporting. You must operate safely and efficiently in remote field environments, often under varying weather conditions, while maintaining data quality and consistency. This role also demands strong coordination and communication skills to align fieldwork, laboratory processes, and data management across multiple teams and agencies.

Additionally, you will be required to continually learn and adapt to evolving environmental regulations, analytical technologies, and program priorities.

• Consult with lead scientists, supervisors, and agency management to define research goals and implement specialized natural resource science studies.
• Develop, implement, and update Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPPs) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure high-quality data and regulatory compliance.
• Plan, lead, and coordinate field operations across the Upper and Middle Columbia River Basin, including logistics, sampling design, and safety oversight.
• Conduct environmental field surveys, collect and prepare samples (water, sediment, tissue), and perform stream flow measurements, often utilizing specialized boats and equipment.
• Perform data analysis and quality assurance reviews of environmental data using software tools such as GIS, databases, and statistical programs.
• Prepare detailed scientific reports and presentations, interpret findings and formulate recommendations in collaboration with project leads.
• Manage and maintain environmental data systems, ensure accuracy and compliance with state and federal data reporting requirements (e.g., EIM, WQX).
• Promote safety and collaboration by participating in program meetings, maintaining required training, and reviewing technical documents, SOPs, and environmental standards.

For detailed information on how we calculate experience, please visit the Recruitment website.

Seven (7) years of experience and/or education as described below:

• Experience: research and field work involving environmental toxicology and monitoring.
• Education: in environmental toxicology with a major study focus.

Examples of how to qualify:

• 7 years of experience.
• 6 years of experience AND 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter college credits.
• 5 years of experience AND 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter college credits (Associate’s degree).
• 4 years of experience AND 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter college credits.
• 3 years of experience AND a Bachelor’s degree.
• 1 year of experience AND a Master’s degree.
• no experience AND a Ph.D.

Desired Qualifications

• Knowledge of monitoring approaches to assess environmental toxics.
• Experience in conducting environmental monitoring using various media.
• Knowledge of scientific research methods.
• Working knowledge of chemical properties and analytical methods.
• Experience with spreadsheets and statistical software.

If you are excited about this role but not sure if your experience aligns perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply. Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At the…