Environmental Scientist IV in , us

Job Summary

Our Road Services Division is currently seeking to hire an Environmental Scientist IV (ESIV) to supervise the Environmental Unit programs and staff. This position will be responsible for building a cohesive workplace culture across the work unit. The Environmental Unit is comprised of scientific staff ranging in disciplines that include soil and water quality monitoring, fish and wildlife habitat protection and enhancement, and local/state/federal permit processing, NPDES Permit Compliance, and spill response and hazardous waste management. Staff are based in King Street Center (Seattle) and Roads Maintenance Complex (Renton). This position reports to both locations throughout the week.

Job Duties

• Apply principles of equity, racial and social justice daily to all aspects of work.
• Supervise 14-16 personnel who perform office and field studies and assess impact of construction and environmental improvement activities.
• Oversee staffing resources, assigning work, managing and coaching performance, and providing training.
• Manage daily operations of the work unit: workloads, processes, schedules, meeting deadlines, quality control, building effective teams, developing detailed work plans, creating efficiencies, instituting performance measures.
• Develop and recommend strategic plans and team goals for the work unit.
• Manage small to large‑scale projects involving natural science research, environmental monitoring, and environmental cleanups.
• Manage budget, schedule, and quality controls of multiple projects.
• Develop scope and resources for new projects to meet emerging issues and regulations.
• Develop and review technical environmental documents and federal, state, and local permits/approvals.
• Serve as liaison and negotiate with regulatory agencies and stakeholders on regulatory requirements, environmental issues, and standards.
• Manage cross‑functional, inter‑work group, and external/internal customer relations.
• May provide onsite assistance to multidisciplinary scientific staff as needed.
• Provide expert scientific consultation to engineering, planning, and maintenance functions.
• Give expert testimony in public hearings on natural conditions and their implications.
• Review related state, federal, and King County regulations, ordinances, and rules.
• Oversee studies: examine field conditions; measure properties of natural phenomena; identify issues; resolve contradictory data; diagnose natural conditions; predict future behavior of natural resources.
• Interpret and apply laws and policies to ensure program and project compliance with SEPA/NEPA, technical studies, permit/approval requirements, and complex engineering plans.
• Develop, coordinate, and schedule reviews of complex engineering plans related to project designs and their environmental impacts.
• Present conclusions orally or in writing to technical staff, elected officials, management, and the public.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, and Skills

• Minimum 5 years of professional supervisory experience overseeing multidisciplinary scientific staff in environmental sciences (biology/fish and wildlife, ecology, water quality) or equivalent experience.
• Five years of progressive experience in an environmental field such as biology, ecology, botany, forestry, or related field.
• Knowledge of leadership, supervisory, and quality management techniques (coaching, team building, planning, scheduling, employee development, performance management).
• Skill in applying principles of customer service and continuous quality improvement.
• Skill promoting mutual respect and acceptance in diverse work groups.
• Knowledge of workload management, capital improvement projects, roads maintenance programs, analytical skills, and work plan development.
• Experience with hiring processes, creating efficiencies, instituting performance measures, identifying staff training needs, and recommending disciplinary actions.
• Experience recommending short‑and long‑term goals for programs and projects.
• Knowledge of environmental regulatory requirements for road maintenance facilities, sand and gravel pit sites, groundwater monitoring, and water quality sampling.
• Knowledge of applied ecological and biological local, state, and federal regulations.
• Expert knowledge in wetland sciences, fisheries, wildlife biology, and ecology.
• Expert knowledge in project/environmental impacts, mitigation and monitoring.
• Ability to direct staff overseeing construction of stream and wetland restoration projects.

Desired Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering/Science, Environmental Planning, Fisheries/Wildlife Ecology, or related field.
• Knowledge of Western Washington environmental issues (cultural resources, protected fish and wildlife, water quality, agriculture, tribal concerns, Endangered Species Act, etc.).
• Experience in NPDES permit requirements and compliance.
• Experience delivering complex environmental processes such as SEPA and NEPA, biological assessments, multi‑level government permits and approvals; experience with federal agencies (USACE, FEMA, FHWA).

Special Requirements

• Valid Washington State Driver's License or ability to travel throughout the County timely.
• Employment contingent upon pre‑employment physical examination.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage options.
• Life and insurance coverage.
• Retirement: pension plan through Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and 457(b) deferred‑compensation plan.
• Transportation program and ORCA transit pass.
• 12 paid holidays and personal holidays.
• Generous vacation and paid sick leave.
• Paid parental, family, medical, and volunteer leaves.
• Flexible Spending Account.
• Wellness programs.
• Onsite activity centers.
• Employee Giving Program.
• Employee assistance programs.
• Flexible schedules and telecommuting options.
• Training and career development programs.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, layoff, termination, and pay or other compensation.