Water Quality Environmental Scientist (Mid-Level)

Environmental Science Associates (ESA) is a 100% employee-owned environmental consulting firm. We plan design permit mitigate and restore for projects across our communities infrastructure systems open spaces and wildlands. We are 50 years strong in 21 offices across California the Pacific Northwest and the Southeastern United States.

ESA is seeking a motivated Environmental Scientist with a focus on water quality and watershed science to join our team of scientists ecologists engineers and planners in the Southeast region. We are looking for a technically strong datadriven team member with 5 years of experience applying quantitative methods to ecological hydrologic and water-quality datasets preferred in Floridas freshwater and estuarine systems and associated watersheds. The ideal candidate brings a passion for natural systems analytical skills and the ability to translate complex datasets into clear defensible technical work products. This is an exempt fulltime salaried role working a hybrid schedule (2-3 days per week) depending on project needs out of the Tampa and/or Orlando FL offices. Qualified candidates within a commutable distance to other Florida ESA locations may be considered. Strong preference given to candidates able to work hybrid from our Tampa or Orlando ESA offices.

Who You Are

You hold a bachelors degree or higher in ecology environmental science hydrology water resources or a related natural science field and you bring 5 years of professional experience in environmental consulting or applied ecological science. You possess knowledge and experience in water quality data analysis including data compilation quality assurance statistical modeling hydrologic/water quality data evaluation and geospatial evaluation of watershed conditions.

You are skilled in:

• Data compilation and quality assurance compiling data from various sources conducting data quality reviews (QA/QC) and producing concise quality-controlled datasets ready for delivery and analysis.
• Water quality and water quantity analyses producing descriptive statistics plots and other visualizations exploratory data analysis comparisons to water quality standards and other regulatory evaluations.
• Watershed management planning supporting or conducting surface water resource assessments land use characterizations and pollutant loading estimates.
• Water quality biological and hydrologic data analysis scripting reproducible analysis pipelines and integration of large multisource datasets to support statistical and mechanistic modeling.
• Regulatory technical documentation including preparation of clear defensible sections of permit applications contributing to technical memoranda environmental evaluations and datadriven summaries that support decision making.
• Advanced R or SAS proficiency or other
• Familiarity with hydrologic hydrodynamic and/or water quality data and modeling preferred
• Watershed management plan development
• Experience with GIS Field Maps Survey123 or similar tools
• Ecological knowledge (e.g. wetlands SAV wildlife restoration ecology). Preference given to candidates with Florida specific experience.
• Ability to work collaboratively and independently manage deadlines and contribute to high-quality analytical deliverables
• A valid drivers license
• Strong ability to data synthesis and analysis translating complex water quality and hydrologic datasets into actionable insights into freshwater estuarine and watershed systems.

What You Will Do for ESA

You will apply quantitative and ecological expertise to support a wide range of environmental and water resource projects.

Responsibilities include:

• Work as a data scientist including compilation and analysis of water quality and hydrologic data to assist public and private sector clients in decision-making related to pollution controls in coastal and freshwater environments in response to regulatory and/or policy directives.
• Serve as a technical specialist on projects involving watershed evaluations source water protection ecosystem restoration and regulatory compliance
• Prepare technical materials including memoranda documents and/or presentations that describe methods and results of scientifically rigorous and technically sound biological water quality and/or hydrologic evaluations which may serve as supporting materials for environmental management decisions or environmental permit applications
• Understand and apply environmental regulations relevant to Florida including those associated with the Clean Water Act and associated regulatory programs (NPDES TMDLs BMAPs) and water supply programs (WUPs MFLs) as well as other waterresource programs.
• Support and lead project management tasks including scope and budget development and schedule and budget tracking
• Contribute to a collaborative feedbackdriven team culture through internal discussions project coordination and problemsolving
• Present technical information to interdisciplinary internal teams and support meetings with clients agency staff and stakeholders in a clear and compelling manner
• Support business development through technical input on proposals scopes and budgets
• Participate in conferences workshops or networking events as appropriate
• Deliver assignments on time and within budget
• You will thrive in a fastpaced environment balancing multiple responsibilities.
• Demonstrated experience conducting water quality biological or hydrologic analyses including scripting in R or SAS
• Understanding of environmental regulations water quality programs and ecological assessment methods (Floridaspecific preferred).
• Strong technical writing and communication skills

Whats Special About Our Team

Our Southeast Biological Resources and Land Management team include environmental scientists quantitative ecologists hydrologists planners and technical specialists who support projects in water quality hydrology ecological monitoring program design and implementation restoration design and regulatory analysis. Much of our work focuses on watershedscale assessments hydrobiological monitoring permitting support and datadriven ecological evaluations that inform resilient sciencebased management decisions.

Whats Special About ESA

Joining ESA means becoming part of a close-knit team of environmental professionals who contribute to outstanding projects improve environmental stewardship and advance a more sustainable and resilient future for our communities and wild places.

At ESA we provide benefits such as medical dental and vision insurance (paid at 70% for you AND your family) annual allocations of company share through our ESOP a 401(k) plan with company match and paid vacation sick leave and holidays to name a few.

We also provide specific programs whether you want to further your technical expertise sharpen your business acumen or help lead the next generation of employee-owners. We want to support you in reaching your career goals through tuition reimbursement professional development bonuses and attendance at conferences.

Who We Are

We are a 100% employee-owned environmental consulting firm who values diversity and inclusion and celebrate the differences that make each of us unique. Our culture is built on mutual respect recognizing that our variety of backgrounds experiences and perspectives leads to better solutions which fosters our continued success for our employee-owners and clients.

In accordance with ESAs duty and responsibility to provide and maintain a safe workplace that is free of known hazards and to minimize the exposure to potential hazards any employee who works from an ESA office or conducts any other in-person ESA work-related activity is required to submit their proof of vaccination status or have received an approved exemption and accommodation in states which this applies.

Please note: We do NOT accept unsolicited resumes from agencies

If you are an applicant with a disability that requires a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process or are limited in the abilityor unable to usethe online application system and need an alternative method for applying you may contact our Human Resources Department via email:for assistance.

Please include the following in your message so we can promptly address your request:

• Full name
• The best method to contact you (phone number and/or email address)
• Title of Job Position Applied
• Description of your accommodation request

ESA is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment. (EOEM/V/F/D)