Field Scientist

The NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) enriches the environment and protects public health for all New Yorkers by providing 1.1 billion gallons of high-quality drinking water, managing wastewater and stormwater, and reducing air, noise, and hazardous materials pollution. DEP is the largest combined municipal water and wastewater utility in the country, with nearly 6,000 employees. DEP's water supply system is comprised of 19 reservoirs and 3 controlled lakes throughout the system’s 2,000 square mile watershed that extends 125 miles north and west of the City.

The Bureau of Water Supply seeks to hire a Scientist (Water Ecology)II for a position with the Watershed Water Quality Operations-North division, within the Drinking Water Operations Directorate, located in Kingston, New York.

Under the direction of the Field Supervisor, the Scientist (Water Ecology)II will serve as a Field Scientist, responsible for field sampling and data collection and will assist in coordinating field activities as described in the Divisional Standard Operating Procedures. Additionally, the Field Scientist will use established sampling protocols for the proper collection, transportation and relinquishment of samples collected from streams, reservoirs, wastewater treatment plants and key-points. Some sample collections will require trailering and piloting small watercraft.

Specific duties include:

- Performing sample collections and field analyses from a boat as required

- Operating F150 trucks (and larger) to tow boats or other gear

- Compiling, reviewing and reporting water quality and associated data in accordance with divisional procedures by specified deadlines

- Operating and maintaining field sampling equipment, which includes the ability to trailer and pilot small watercraft

- Performing quality control procedures according to the Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program protocols and maintaining an accurate log of records of Quality Control data

- Assisting in the purchasing and maintenance of supplies and equipment

- Contributing to the production of operational, compliance and special investigation reports

- Compiling with applicable environmental, health & safety laws and regulations and DEP’s Environmental Health & Safety policies set out in the employee Environmental, Health and Safety handbook.
(This is a brief description of what you might do in this position and does not include all the duties of this position.)

Preferred Skills:
- General Familiarity of MS Office suites and MS outlook

- Ability to utilize desktop computers as well as handheld computers in the field for data collection

- Ability to spend a substantial portion of field days outdoors in any weather or season

- Ability to lift heavy loads up to 50 pounds and climb in and out of boats

- Ability to wade through streams, hiking in the woods and scaling over rocks to collect samples

- Ability to work at a computer for a substantial portion of an office day

- Experience with basic hand tools

- Familiarity with field sampling and data collection techniques

- Familiarity with use of small, motorized watercraft including trailering, launching and recovery

- Good communication skills (written and oral)

- Good time management skills


Physical Work Environment:
Some of the physical activities performed by Scientists (Water Ecology) and environmental conditions experienced are: lift and carry packages weighing approximately 20 pounds for a distance of 30 feet, perform duties in confined work areas, wear protective garments such as gloves, lab coats, goggles, and life vests, handle and manipulate laboratory equipment and instruments/tools such as glass test tubes, slides, beakers and other glassware, scalpels, scissors, etc., adjust settings on machines, which requires fine finger and hand coordination and control, and collect samples at sites in all weather conditions.


Typical Hours/Shift:
Day Shift
May be required to work shifts including nights, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.


Work Location:
71 Smith Ave.,
Kingston, NY 12401
Kingston is a city in Ulster County, NY approx. 90 miles North from New York City.


License Requirements:
All candidates must have a Motor Vehicle Driver’s License valid in the State of New York. This license must be maintained for the duration of employment.

SCIENTIST (WATER ECOLOGY) - 21538

1. A masters degree from an accredited college or university in one of the following areas of study: environmental or chemical engineering, limnology, environmental science, marine science, geology, biology, earth science, chemistry, physics, or health science; or

2. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with 24 semester credits in one or a combination of the areas of study described in ""1"" above, at least 12 of which must have been in one of these areas of study; and at least one year of satisfactory full time experience, which may not have been part of graduate or undergraduate course work, working in the field of water quality planning, management or
research or performing environmental laboratory analyses, and/or environmental field sampling of water; or

3. An associate degree from an accredited college or university including or supplemented by 24 semester credits in one or a combination of the areas of study described in "1" above, at least 12 of which must have been in one of these areas of study; and at least three years of satisfactory full time experience as described in "2" above.

Additional Requirements

To be assigned to Assignment Levels II or III, all candidates must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university as described in "2" above and must have one additional year of the experience described in "2" above for a total of two years of experience.

Special Note
A master's degree from an accredited college in one of the areas described in "1" above may be substituted for up to two years of the required experience.

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.