Postdoctorate Scientist jobs in Olympia, WA

About the Department of Ecology

• A healthy life/work balance by offering flexible schedules and telework options for most positions.
• An Infants at Work Program that is based on the long-term health values of infant-parent bonding and breastfeeding newborns.
• Continuous growth and development opportunities. 
• Opportunities to serve your community and make an impact through meaningful work.

Our commitment to DEIR
Diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect (DEIR) are core values central to Ecology’s work. We strive to be a workplace where we are esteemed for sharing our authentic identities, while advancing our individual professional goals and collaborating to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment for current and future generations.

What makes this role unique? 

• Prepare quality assurance project plans (QAPPs), standard operating procedures (SOPs), and scientific reports. 
• Work closely with analytical laboratories to coordinate analysis of environmental samples including developing Request for Proposals for externally contracted analyses and work.
• Conduct surveys, analyzes and records conditions for collection of environmental samples for toxics chemical analysis.
• Communicate sampling results to partners, public, industry, and other agency in an understandable manner.
• Manage large datasets, assist with data reduction, and oversee entry of project data into Ecology’s EIM System.
• Research, develop, and coordinate toxics approaches to address impaired water bodies and TMDLs.
• Conduct the technical assessment for toxics in tissue and water using Ecology’s Water Quality Assessment Automation (WQAA) application. 
• Transform, sort, clean and filter toxics assessment data files for upload into Ecology’s Water Quality Assessment Tracking System database (WATS).
• Perform testing on the WQAA application to implement enhancements and bug-fixes. 

• 30 hours worked per week for 20 months: (30/40) x 20 months = 15 months full-time equivalent
• 20 hours worked per week for 12 months: (20/40) x 12 months = 6 months full-time equivalent

Option 1:

Option 2:

A Master’s degree or higher with a major study in chemistry, environmental science, physical, or one of the natural sciences, or other closely allied field.
 
AND

Two years of professional research work experience in the evaluation of toxic chemicals or evaluating the effects of toxic chemicals on organisms in the environment.

• Experience designing and managing projects in the environmental sciences.
• Experience collecting environmental samples of water, sediment or fish tissue for contaminant analysis.
• Experience writing technical reports or publishing findings in scientific journals.
• Experience presenting scientific findings at conferences.

• Please call: (360) 407-6186 or email: careers@ecy.wa.gov and we will be happy to assist.
• If you are deaf or hard of hearing you can reach the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.
• If you need assistance applying for this job, please e-mail careers@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not send an email to this address to follow-up on the status of your application. You can view the latest status of your application on your profile's main page.
• If you are reading this announcement in print format, please enter the following URL to your search engine to apply: https://ecology.wa.gov/About-us/Get-to-know-us/Jobs-at-Ecology.   

• A cover letter describing why you are interested in this position.
• A resume outlining your experience and education (if applicable) as it relates to the minimum qualifications of this position.
• A list of three professional references.

• Please be sure to remove private information such as your social security number, date of birth, etc. 
• Do not attach documents that are password-protected, as these documents may not be reviewed and may cause errors within your application when downloaded. 

Additional Application Instructions for Current Ecology Employees:

If you have specific questions about the position, please email James Medlen at:  James.Medlen@ecy.wa.gov Please do not contact James to inquire about the status of your application.
 
To request the full position description: email careers@ecy.wa.gov

Why work for Ecology?

As an agency, our mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington's environment for current and future generations. We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, effective resource management, teamwork, professionalism, and accountability.

Joining Ecology means becoming a part of a team committed to protecting and restoring Washington State's environment. A career in public service allows you to help solve some of the most challenging problems facing our state, while keeping your health and financial security a priority. We combine one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation with a strong commitment to life/work balance.

To learn more about The Department of Ecology, please visit our website at www.ecology.wa.gov and follow, like or visit us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or our blog.

Equal Opportunity Employer: The Washington State Department of Ecology is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, veterans, military spouses or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply. Persons needing accommodation in the application/testing process or this job announcement in an alternative format may call (360) 407-6186. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.