3H29
PAY RANGE: N25
STAFF SCIENTIST 2
This is senior staff environmental science or analytical chemistry work in the Water Department serving as the primary environmental science or chemistry expert in a specified discipline for a departmental or division program. Employees in this class are located in the Planning and Environmental Services Division and are responsible for the planning, development, maintenance and evaluation of programs critical to the department’s goals and represent the department on a local, regional and national level. Employee in this class differs from the next lower level in that the employees serve as technical advisors to the Planning & Environmental Services Division, develop a basis for new and improved programs and policies, and are responsible for procuring grant funding. Employees provide technical guidance and supervise, on a project basis, the work of lower level scientists, engineers, planners and/or technical personnel in analyzing data, conducting research and solving environmental problems related to the mission of the department. Positions are also responsible for theoretical and experimental scientific and technological investigation directed toward the acquisition of new knowledge, developing theories and devising methods to apply scientific principles and theories in projects related to the mission of the department. Contact with other scientists, engineers, planners, city officials and regulatory agencies to coordinate and achieve assigned objectives is a significant aspect of the work. Work is performed under the direction of a program director or higher level engineer.
ALLOCATING FACTORS: (The following conditions must be met for a position to be allocated to this class.)
1. The position must have responsibility for serving as the primary environmental science expert in a specified discipline for a departmental or division program in the Water Department.
2. No more than two positions per unit in the Planning & Environmental Services Division will be allocated to this class.
TYPICAL EXAMPLES OF WORK (ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY)
Supervises, on a project basis, the work of lower level scientists, chemists, engineers, planners and/or technical personnel; manages complex environmental science projects; defines the scope and selection of problems for investigation; works on complex problems that impact success of current projects or addresses future environmental science concerns; attends meetings with division or project managers, administrators, consultants, city officials and regulatory agency representatives to discuss pending and in-progress projects.
Serves as an internal resource by providing environmental science technical expertise for departmental staff with regard to environmental policies; serves as technical advisor to the Planning and Environmental Services Division providing various services in support of major environmental science initiatives; provides technical and scientific guidance in water quality, water management, wildlife, environmental impacts, and data management matters to colleagues within and outside the department; researches and develops projects to provide basis for new or improved programs or policies; develops theories, and devises methods to apply scientific principles related to the mission of the division and its strategic goals.
Researches and procures grant funding through technical proposal preparation or presentations to further research in a specified environmental science discipline; prepares and submits research journal articles and delivers presentations at regional and national conferences; conducts peer review work of other scientists on a national level; represents the department on national and regional committees which establish the technical standards in the discipline; prepares and presents technical reports; analyzes legislative and regulatory measures and prepares reports discussing state and national environmental protection of water resources; reviews environmental studies and recommends improvements and corrections.
Represents the department in public speaking engagements, including communications media appearances; testifies as an expert for the department at hearings.
Champions organization wide knowledge sharing to ensure pertinent information is communicated with business partners and stakeholders
Performs related work as required.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
KNOWLEDGE OF:
· chemical, physical and/or biological sciences.
· the use and care of instrumentation
· Microsoft Office and the current Windows Operating Systems
· biological, chemical, and microbiological evaluation techniques
· the application of information technology systems as they relate to data analyses and report generation
· mathematics, including algebra and statistics
· natural resource management if required by work assignment
· sustainable and renewable energy management if required by work assignment
· sources of environmental science information and current developments in the field of environmental science related to the area of specialization
· innovative and sophisticated methods, techniques and procedures for research, investigation and analysis involving complex water quality and environmental issues
· 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 work assignment
· water treatment plant operations, processes, design, facilities and equipment if required by work assignment
· scientific protocols and assessments required by the assignment
· principles and techniques of project management
· principles and techniques of employee training and development
SKILL IN:
· the use, care and maintenance of field and/or laboratory equipment and sophisticated instrumentation
· resolving complex scientific problems
· experimental scientific and technological investigation
· using analytical techniques and scientific principles to evaluate data/ environmental problems in an environmental protection, control, or monitoring program or project
· applying and integrating advanced theories, concepts, principles and processes to assignments of diverse and complex nature
ABILITY TO:
· manage, on a project basis, the activities of professional and technical employees
· apply analytical techniques and scientific principles to evaluate data/ environmental problems
· direct scientific and technical personnel towards the successful achievement of goals and objectives
· train various professionals and technicians in scientific procedures and techniques
· simplify, adapt and explain analytical procedures or assessment techniques necessary for the resolution of design problems and project development
· prepare and interpret reports detailing the results of tests and analyses
· represent the department on national committees and in national publications which establish the standards in technical expertise
· present ideas effectively both orally and in writing
· interpret and apply rules and regulations required for the environmental discipline
· make technical presentations
· write scientific publications and grant proposals
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 1/25.)
EDUCATION:
Completion of a Master's degree program at an accredited college or university, with major course work in a qualifying field*.
* Qualifying scientific fields 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
· Chemical and Materials Sciences: Analytical Chemistry, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Environmental Chemistry, Environmental Science, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science or Materials Engineering
· 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: Completion of a bachelor’s degree with major coursework in a qualifying field as described above and additional experience may substitute for the master’s degree on a year for year basis.
AND
GENERAL EXPERIENCE:
Five years of environmental science or analytical chemistry experience which has included two years of experience in science work equivalent to Environmental Scientist Specialist or Laboratory Program Scientist with responsibility for leading scientific research projects by determining the scope, direction, and timetables for project completion and coordinating work with other scientific and technical staff in the area of assignment.
AND
SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE:
Two years of experience in one of the following areas:
· as an Analytical Chemist Supervisor supervising the work of subordinate chemists and technicians engaged in conducting a wide variety of chemical and physical analyses and research
· as an Environmental Scientist Supervisor supervising and directing a staff of lower level scientists, engineers and technical personnel in analyzing data and solving environmental problems
· as a Staff Scientist 1 serving as an expert in an environmental science or analytical chemistry discipline for a departmental or division program
OR
Any equivalent combination of education and experience determined to be acceptable by the Office of Human Resources, which includes a bachelor’s degree as an educational minimum and the specific experience.
City of Philadelphia classes that typically meet the specific experience requirement:
Analytical Chemist Supervisor (3H30)
Environmental Scientist Supervisor (3H14)
Staff Scientist 1 (3H28) (Water Specialty only)
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 – 8/15; Ad. Board – 8/15
Spec. Revised:
CSC – 9/18; Ad. Board – 10/18
Spec. Revision:
CSC – 12/20; Ad. Board – 01/21
Latest Spec. Revision:
CSC – 12/24; Ad. Board – 1/25
CP