Scientist Water Ecologist, Bureau of Environmental Sciences and Engineering

Job Description

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 Department's 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 Education’s website (https://studentaid.gov/pslf/)
- Benefits: City employees are entitled to unmatched benefits such as:
o a premium-free health insurance plan that saves employees over $10K annually, per a 2024 assessment.
o additional health, fitness, and financial benefits may be available based on the position’s associated union/benefit fund.
o a public sector defined benefit pension plan with steady monthly payments in retirement.
o a tax-deferred savings program and
o a robust Worksite Wellness Program that offers resources and opport