Water Quality Assessment Analyst - Job ID 50902
Job Summary
This position will play a key role in connecting water quality standards design with assessment policy and decisions by developing and refining scientifically defensible policies and processes for monitoring and assessing the quality of Minnesota’s waters.
The incumbent will drive the continued development and operation of scientifically defensible policies and processes for monitoring and assessing the quality of Minnesota’s waters;
Analyze monitoring data and studies of Minnesota waters statewide in order to assess current water quality conditions as well as trends, identify water quality problems, and evaluate the effectiveness of protection efforts;
Provide technical and statistical evaluations of water quality data, prepare trend evaluations for annual priority watershed monitoring reports;
Serve as a technical expert on Walis - the Water Assessment and Listing Information System, including user interfaces (CARL, eBIZ) and outputs (EPA’s ATTAINS, MPCA’s EDA, shapefiles) for assessment teams and other users, and;
Serve as a Division specialist for the trend analysis of water quality data, and to mentor and assist other professional employees in monitoring design, data interpretation, and statistical analysis for technical reports that withstand the critique of stakeholders with divergent interests.
Minimum Qualifications
- This position requires knowledge of environmental factors that affect water quality, including the broad spectrum of pollutants, natural conditions, and different types of land use. A degree and experience is required.
- A degree in environmental science, or equivalent with experience and training in chemistry, biology, mathematics, and statistics is needed. Experience must include a thorough understanding of the scientific bases for water quality, the application of water quality standards and to the specific conditions of individual waters, as well as an up-to-date knowledge of current research regarding scientific and statistical advances in assessing water quality conditions for a wide range of chemical, physical, and biological aspects.
- Degrees and experience requirements are provided below:
- Bachelor’s degree and two years’ experience as listed above;
- Master’s degree and one year experience as listed above.
- Candidates must have good communications skills to work on teams and communicate technical environmental information to external governmental and non-governmental entities and the general public.
Preferred Qualifications
- Possess a thorough understanding of the scientific bases for water quality standards and the application of those standards to the specific conditions of individual waters.
- Knowledge of current research regarding scientific and statistical advances in assessing water quality conditions for a wide range of chemical, physical, and biological aspects.
- Able to design specific statistical methodologies to analyze and interpret data in order to assess water quality for various parameters and under various conditions.
- Proficient in the application of statistical theory and techniques to water quality and pollution control problems and experience in the use of complex statistical software packages and environments, such as R
- Strong communication skills
- Ability to: prepare reports and present the resulting information in an understandable and defensible manner; work with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders; and have a good sense of how to approach various audiences and meet their different needs.
Physical Requirements
- Requires occasionally lifting and/or carrying such articles as file folders, ledgers, and small equipment. Although a sedentary job is defined as one which involves sitting, a certain amount of walking and standing is often necessary in carrying out job duties.
Why Work For Us
Our mission is to protect and improve the environment and human health. We work with many partners (citizens, communities, and businesses, all levels of government, environmental groups and educators) to prevent pollution, conserve resources, and to help ensure polluting does not have disproportionate impact on any groups of people. We emphasize work-life balance with flex schedules, compressed schedules, and options to telework.
GREAT BENEFITS PACKAGE! The State of Minnesota offers a comprehensive benefits package including low cost medical and dental insurance, employer paid life insurance, short and long term disability, pre-tax flexible spending accounts, retirement plan, tax-deferred compensation, generous vacation and sick leave, and 11 paid holidays each year.
Our differences make us stronger and leveraging them helps us create a workforce where everyone can thrive. The State of Minnesota is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to embedding diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility at our workplace. We do this by developing strong leaders and advocates, increasing cultural competence and understanding among all employees, and removing institutional barriers and attitudes that prevent employees from advancing as far as their talents will take them. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions), marital status, familial status, receipt of public assistance, membership or activity in a local human rights commission, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, or age.