Job Description

　　23000CW6 - Environmental Analyst III - Worcester

　　The mission of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) is to protect and enhance the Commonwealth's natural resources - air, water, and land - to provide for the health, safety, and welfare of all people, and to ensure a clean and safe environment for future generations. In carrying out this mission, MassDEP commits to address and advance environmental justice and equity for all people of the Commonwealth; provide meaningful, inclusive opportunities for people to participate in agency decisions that affect their lives; and ensure a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

　　MassDEP seeks applicants for the position of GIS Analyst (Environmental Analyst III) in the Watershed Planning Program (WPP), Division of Watershed Management, Bureau of Water Resources. WPP is a statewide program with five Sections that each have a different technical focus under the federal Clean Water Act (CWA), such as the Data Management & Water Quality Assessment Section, which manages key data systems to ensure that QA goals and requirements are met for multiple water resource management objectives. For example, WPP collects chemical, physical, and biological data to determine the health status of surface waters throughout the Commonwealth pursuant to CWA s. 305(b) and s. 303(d), which are reported biennially to EPA.

　　Under the supervision of the Data Management and Water Quality Assessment Section Chief or designee, the GIS Analyst will work with WPP's water quality monitoring, data management, and assessment staff on GIS data development, maintenance, and publication related to reporting surface water quality conditions in Massachusetts as mandated by the CWA.

　　The preferred candidate will have a professional demeanor, be highly motivated, and possess excellent written and oral communication skills. Excellent organizational skills are also required, as well as the ability to manage and work on multiple projects concurrently, meet deadlines, and work well both independently and as a member of a team. The position will be subject to a hybrid work environment (i.e., partly telework and partly on-site), with a minimum of one day per week at WPP's office in Worcester.

　　All applicants are requested to provide a position-specific cover letter and resume with their application.

　　Duties for this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

　　1. Georeferencing to support CWA reporting requirements, including, but not limited to, biological and water quality sampling stations, river/lake/estuarine assessment units (AUs), whole effluent toxicity testing sites, active Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) and National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) outfall locations, public freshwater beach locations, and lake and pond bathymetry.

　　2. Assisting and/or overseeing the development of GIS tools, interactive dashboards (e.g., R Shiny), and other applications to make WPP data and information more readily available and user friendly to MassDEP staff and the public.

　　3. Maintaining AU definitions for CWA assessments, including identification codes for rivers, lakes, ponds, and impoundments, within WPP databases.

　　4. Developing and maintaining water quality sampling station definitions in WPP databases for both WPP monitoring efforts and external data submissions, in coordination with WPP's External Monitoring and Data Coordinator.

　　5. Training WPP staff as needed on the use of modern GIS software and procedures.

　　6. Assisting staff with joining data elements from WPP databases to spatial data and making them available in a geodatabase and/or alternate formats.

　　7. Assisting monitoring staff with georeferencing activities including recommendations on the use of GPS equipment for station positioning and bathymetric studies.

　　8. Providing quality control/assurance reviews of geospatial and related data.

　　9. Developing appropriate metadata and other documentation for spatial data publication (MassGIS).

　　10. Developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that document required protocols for GIS data development, WPP database functions, georeferencing activities, and other project tasks.

　　11. Assisting in contractor projects that include spatial data management or tool development intended to improve and streamline procedures for assessing water quality.

　　12. Participating in planning, coordination, and implementation activities related to Massachusetts hydrography improvements.

　　13. Assisting the Data Management & Water Quality Assessment Section in interpreting and analyzing monitoring data and with preparation of scientifically defensible technical reports and memoranda.

　　14. Communicating results of work-related activities to agency personnel, contractors, and the public when requested.

　　15. Assisting WPP staff with water quality monitoring activities as needed.

　　16. Utilizing computer programs and applications to plan activities, set schedules, and track workflow progress.

　　17. Supervising temporary staff to complete individual project tasks.

　　Preferred Qualifications at Hire:

　　1. Proficiency with software applications, including MS Excel and Access, ESRI GIS programs and tools (e.g., ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS online, ArcMap, Python, Story Map, etc.), and R statistical software (R and R Studio).

　　2. Knowledge of the principles and practices of environmental geography, biology, ecology, and water quality assessment.

　　3. Knowledge of databases used to compile and store spatial and environmental data.

　　4. Knowledge of field survey protocols and sampling methodologies pertaining to aquatic ecosystems.

　　5. Familiarity with the use of standard laboratory and field instrumentation.

　　6. Familiarity with scientific quality assurance/quality control measures associated with environmental analyses.

　　7. Familiarity with CWA reporting and the Massachusetts Surface Water Quality Standards.

　　8. Ability to compile, review, analyze, and interpret environmental data and enter data into environmental data systems.

　　9. Ability to prepare technical reports and communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, the results of scientific investigations.

　　10. Ability to work independently, as well as coordinate with other environmental professionals, including other GIS technical staff, in a professional manner.

　　11. Strong organizational skills.

　　12. Ability to provide supervision, in coordination with WPP's Section Chief for Data Management & Water Quality Assessment or designee, of interns and seasonal employees, including (1) planning and assigning work to achieve project goals and (2) periodic reviews and/or evaluations.

　　Qualifications

　　 First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.

　　MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must have at least (A) four years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, technical or professional experience in the field of environmental science, biology, chemistry, earth science, environmental health, meteorology, natural science, toxicology or public health, of which (B) at least two years must have been in a professional capacity, or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and the substitutions below.

　　Substitutions:

　　I. An Associate's degree with a major in the field of environmental science, biology, chemistry, earth science, environmental health, meteorology,. natural science, toxicology or public health may be substituted for a maximum of one year of the required (A) experience.

　　II. A Bachelor's degree with a major in the field of environmental science, biology, chemistry, earth science, environmental health, meteorology, natural science, toxicology or public health may be substituted for a maximum of two years of the required (A) experience.

　　III. A Graduate degree with a major in the field of environmental science, biology, chemistry, earth science, environmental health, meteorology, natural science, toxicology or public health may be substituted for a maximum of three years of the required (A) experience and one year of the required (B) experience.

　　Education toward such a degree will be prorated on the basis of the proportion of the requirements actually completed.

　　NOTE: Educational substitutions will only be permitted for a maximum of one year of the required (B) experience.

　　Comprehensive Benefits

　　When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

　　Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!

　　An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

　　The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.