3H16
PAY RANGE: EP 21
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST SPECIALIST
This is environmental science work at the project leader level. Employees perform the most complex work independently assessing and developing methodologies and programs and participating in water quality studies to assure optimal water quality and compliance with environmental laws and regulations. Employees perform work in one of the following areas of assignment in the Water Department: Aquatic Sciences, Earth Sciences, Biological Sciences, Environmental Policy and Environmental Resource Management and Plant Sciences. Employees in this class lead scientific research projects by determining the scope, direction, and timetables for project completion, and coordinating work with other scientific and technical staff. Work is differentiated from lower-level technical classes by responsibility for initiating projects to identify instances of non-compliance, and recommending remedial measures to assure conformance with regulatory requirements. Providing technical guidance to project team members and representing the unit to the department in matters that may go before the public, researchers, regulatory agencies and civic and industrial groups to provide assistance in specific program areas are significant aspects of the work. Work is performed under the direction of a higher level scientist or engineer.
ALLOCATING FACTORS: (The following conditions must be met for a position to be allocated to this class.)
1. Positions must be responsible for performing the most complex environmental science work and for providing technical oversight as a project leader within an area of assignment.
2. Positions must be located in the Water Department.
TYPICAL EXAMPLES OF WORK (ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY)
Determines the scope and direction of environmental projects which include advanced scientific methods and techniques; develops and sets project goals, objectives and work plans; identifies timetables, equipment requirements, and budget needs; develops, tests, and documents methodology; designs and performs initial experiments; selects and analyzes laboratory samples and parameters; selects statistical methods to evaluate test results; determines the need for related discipline analyses and plans; plans and conducts studies and surveys; develops responses and presents to superiors; oversees work done by consultants.
Serves as resource to the department in area of expertise; collaborates with other technical personnel on projects; provides technical and scientific guidance in water quality, water management, wildlife, environmental impacts, and data management matters to colleagues within the department.
Reviews and interprets Federal and State Water Quality Criteria to determine their applicability in urban watershed systems; coordinates assigned NPDES (National Pollution Discharge Elimination System) permit requirements; conducts initial analyses of new regulatory and legislative requirements or proposed monitoring changes.
Participates in the development and implementation of water quality studies, environmental monitoring programs, surface water and watershed study plans, and water monitoring plans, analysis of wastewater, industrial waste, solids, sediments, and other materials, including physical, chemical, biological, and ecological monitoring, or departmental sustainable and renewable energy projects; conducts initial research work; gathers and analyzes data; compares historical data along with representative data from outside communities and data collected to determine the validity of the water quality criteria requirements; evaluates the ecological and environmental effects of new development and urban re-development; researches specialized environmental materials and evaluates pertinent biological, chemical, and microbiological data; performs field investigations with relation to wetland, riparian and sediment erosion control to ensure compliance with the NPDES Permit; performs riparian and wetland assessments and classifications.
Develops projects involving water plant energy performance measures, energy tracking and documentation; responsible for internal and external energy communications, energy budget support; prepares project reports on departmental energy use trends; leads feasibility analysis for departmental sustainable and renewable energy projects and initiatives.
Prepares a variety of reports, letters, memoranda, and other documents pertinent to NPDES requirements or energy management initiatives; conducts environmental impact assessments and prepares related reports; makes formal presentations of study results; participates in all aspects of pollution or energy advisorship and prepares scientific reports for public information; documents investigations.
Maintains and calibrates equipment; assures compliance with manufacturer and quality assurance requirements; makes recommendations to management regarding the need for ongoing projects; develops on‑going monitoring strategies; develops and oversees implementation of project procedures and protocols; provides technical guidance in the development of computerized databases for the storage of analytical data, communication and response procedures, statistical and computer applications, quality assurance procedures, and sampling and analytical methodologies; reviews results and recommends changes in procedures and protocols; makes recommendations to purchase equipment, books and other resources as needed; researches current literature, regulations and legislation related to a program field; participates in committees; participates in and contributes to scientific meetings and conferences on behalf of the department.
Performs related work as required.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
KNOWLEDGE OF:
· the use and care of state-of-the-art instrumentation
· water pollution laws and regulations at the local, state, and federal levels including the Federal Clean Water Act (CWA) and Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)
· the principles and practices of project leadership and project management
· state and federal funding sources and budgetary cycles
· air, water, hazardous or solid waste pollution, measurement and/or control principles
· Stormwater Management, Combined Sewer Overflows, green stormwater infrastructure, adaptive watershed management, non-point source pollution if required by assignment
· water treatment plant operations, processes, design, facilities and equipment if required by assignment
· the application of chemical principles, methods and practices in the analyses of samples if required by assignment
· sustainable and renewable energy management if required by work assignment
· safety practices and procedures as they apply to the field setting
· research practices and techniques related to area of assignment
· the application of data processing systems as they relate to chemical analyses, data analyses and report generation
· mathematics, including algebra and statistics
· Microsoft Office and the current Windows Operating Systems
· biological, chemical, and microbiological evaluation techniques and protocols
SKILL IN:
· the use, care and maintenance of field and/or laboratory equipment and sophisticated instrumentation
ABILITY TO:
· manage projects toward the successful achievement of goals and objectives
· simplify, improve, adapt and standardize analytical procedures or assessment techniques necessary to resolve problems
· prepare and interpret reports detailing the results of tests and analyses
MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE (The following statement represents the minimum training and experience standards which will be used to admit or reject applicants for tests. Applications submitted by candidates for this class will be reviewed based on training and experience requirements as approved on 10/18.)
EDUCATION:
Completion of a bachelor's degree program at an accredited college or university, with major course work in a qualifying scientific field.*
AND
GENERAL EXPERIENCE:
Two years of experience performing environmental science work.
AND
SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE:
One year of experience equivalent to Environmental Scientist 2 performing environmental science work analyzing data and solving environmental problems in the area of Aquatic Sciences, Biological Sciences, Earth Sciences, Environmental Policy and Environmental Resources Management, or Plant Sciences.
OR
Any
equivalent combination of education and experience determined to be acceptable
by the Office of Human
Resources which
has included completion of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or
university and the specific
experience.
NOTE: Completion of a master's degree program at an accredited college or university in a qualifying scientific field may be substituted for the general experience.
City of Philadelphia classes which typically meet the specific experience:
Environmental Scientist 2 (3H13)
* Qualifying scientific fields (by assignment) include:
· Aquatic Sciences: Aquatic Biology, Aquatic Ecology, Aquatic Toxicology, Limnology, Marine Biology, Marine Ecology, Oceanography, Wetland Sciences, Wildlife and Fisheries Management
· Biological Sciences: Bacteriology, Biology, Biological Sciences, Ecology, Environmental Science, Microbiology, Molecular Biology
· Earth Sciences: Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, Geosciences, Geology, Geochemistry, Hydrology
· Environmental Policy and Environmental Resource Management: Environmental Management, Environmental Policy, Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Natural Resource Management, Sustainable/Renewable Energy Management, Watershed Management, Wildlife Science, Forest Science
· Plant Sciences: Botany, Forestry, Plant Biology, Plant Taxonomy, Soil Sciences
NOTE: Selective Factor Certification may be utilized, as needed, to fill specific positions. In accordance with Civil Service Regulation 11.032 - Selective Factor Certification – the appointing authority may request certification of eligible candidates with the specified education, training and/or experience to fill specific positions in this class. Certification to fill such position will be made from the two highest ranking eligible candidates on the eligible list who possess the specified qualification.
PHYSICAL AND MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS
Ability to physically perform the duties and to work in the environmental conditions required of a position in this class.
LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS AND/OR CERTIFICATES
Possession of a valid proper class motor vehicle operator's license as issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania prior to appointment and during tenure of employment in this class, if required by work assignment.
Class Established:
CSC – 2/06
Ad. Board – 6/06
Spec Revision: 3/11
CSC - 4/14; Ad. Board – 5/14
Latest Spec Revision:
CSC – 9/18; Ad. Board 10/18
JH