Scientist Water Ecologist Bureau of Environmental Sciences and Engineering

The Office of Building Water System Oversight (BWSO) within the Bureau of Environmental Sciences and Engineering (ESE) is responsible for conducting inspections to ensure compliance with various rules and regulations aimed at improving the operating conditions of various engineered systems such as cooling towers water tanks evaporative condensers internal plumbing and wastewater systems in order to prevent risks associated with these systems.

Reporting directly to the Enforcement and Compliance Field Operations Chief you will be tasked with supervising a team of water ecologists responsible for conducting cooling tower inspections. You will be mainly responsible for all aspects of daily supervision scheduling problem solving reports quality assurance performance evaluations and inspection progress toward overall program goals.

DUTIES WILL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:

Directing and planning activities to achieve annual field inspection targets for the BWSO unit including scheduling and logistical support providing work assignments to field staff solving issues that arise during field work monitoring field task progress and evaluating data to measure inspection results.
Supervising and leading a team of Scientist Water Ecologists II Scientist Water Ecologists I and Scientist Water Ecologists Trainees including organizing workflows and ensuring that employees understand their duties or delegated tasks.
Setting performance goals mentoring and meeting with staff and providing performance evaluations for the staff members.
Managing and coordinating response activities during community investigations and building evaluations based on signals from the Departments Legionella disease surveillance system.
Utilizing technical writing and analysis skills to assess and understand water management programs and plans and associated operation records drawings and specifications of water treatment systems to establish regulatory compliance.
Serving as a primary customer service liaison for the Bureau of ESE in corresponding with building owners and managers to address questions and to provide education on our regulatory program and best management practices for building water systems.
Taking leadership role in identifying and performing actions to eliminate environmental health hazards promptly in accordance with Health Code and NYS Sanitary Code regulations.
Representing the Department in an enforcement capacity by serving violations/summons to business owners or owners representatives and attending Tribunal hearings to adjudicate notice of violations and summons. Will be responsible for reviewing inspection findings and preparing necessary evidence to represent the Department
Organizing Bureau activities for Field Operations and implementing protocols for response to any disease surveillance signals triggered by increased case reporting of Legionnaires disease.
Conducting cooling tower inspections periodically during each inspection cycle year.
Performs regulatory compliance activities including compliance inspections case tracking correspondence and follow up actions as assigned for each cooling tower system.

PREFERRED SKILLS:
Experience in environmental sciences water testing supervising field staff and designing drinking and/or wastewater plans.
Ability to climb ladders and work in confined spaces work in high altitudes (building roofs) in order to perform water testing.
Pass medical clearance and FIT testing for wearing proper PPE respirators.
Complete and pass Agency required trainings and be in compliance with position related certificates and licenses.
Strong interpersonal and customer service skills with the ability to interact at all levels in addition to exceptional written and communication skills.
Demonstrate excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
Proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite (Word Excel Access PowerPoint)

Why you should work for us:

Loan Forgiveness: As a prospective employee of the City of New York you may be eligible for federal/state loan forgiveness and repayment assistance programs that lessen your payments or even fully forgive your full balance. For more information please visit the U.S. Department of Educations website ()
Benefits: City employees are entitled to unmatched benefits such as:
oa premiumfree health insurance plan that saves employees over $10K annually per a 2024 assessment.
oadditional health fitness and financial benefits may be available based on the positions associated union/benefit fund.
oa public sector defined benefit pension plan with steady monthly payments in retirement.
oa taxdeferred savings program and
oa robust Worksite Wellness Program that offers resources and opportunities to keep you healthy while serving New Yorkers.
Work From Home Policy: Depending on your position you may be able to work up to two days during the week from home.
Job Security you could enjoy more job security compared to private sector employment and be able to contribute to making NYC a healthy place to live and work.

Established in 1805 the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC Health Department) is the oldest and largest health department in the U.S. dedicated to protecting and improving the health of NYC. Our mission is to safeguard the health of every resident and cultivate a city where everyone regardless of age background or location can achieve their optimal health. We provide a wide array of programs and services focused on food and nutrition antitobacco support chronic disease prevention HIV/AIDS treatment family and child health environmental health mental health and social justice initiatives. As the primary population health strategist and policy authority for NYC with a rich history of public health initiatives and scientific advancements from addressing the 1822 yellow fever outbreak to the COVID19 pandemic we serve as a global leader in public health innovation and expertise.

Come join us and help to continue our efforts in making a difference in the lives of all New Yorkers!

The NYC Health Department is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation to all individuals. To request reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process contact SyeEun Ahn Director of the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity at or.

Qualifications :

1. A masters degree from an accredited college or university in one of the following areas of study: environmental or chemical engineering limnology environmental science marine science geology biology earth science chemistry physics or health science; or

2. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with 24 semester credits in one or a combination of the areas of study described in 1 above at least 12 of which must have been in one of these areas of study; and at least one year of satisfactory full time experience which may not have been part of graduate or undergraduate course work working in the field of water quality planning management or
research or performing environmental laboratory analyses and/or environmental field sampling of water; or

3. An associate degree from an accredited college or university including or supplemented by 24 semester credits in one or a combination of the areas of study described in 1 above at least 12 of which must have been in one of these areas of study; and at least three years of satisfactory full time experience as described in 2 above.

Additional Requirements

To be assigned to Assignment Levels II or III all candidates must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university as described in 2 above and must have one additional year of the experience described in 2 above for a total of two years of experience.

Special Note
A masters degree from an accredited college in one of the areas described in 1 above may be substituted for up to two years of the required experience.

Additional Information :

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic including but not limited to an individuals sex race color ethnicity national origin age religion disability sexual orientation veteran status gender identity or pregnancy.

Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Fulltime