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Research Specialist, Advanced - Water… at William & Mary · Gloucester
Skills
Job Description
Job Requisition:
JR101649 Research Specialist, Advanced - Water Quality Project Coordinator (Open)Job Posting Title:
Research Specialist, Advanced - Water Quality Project CoordinatorDepartment:
CC00494 VIMS1 | RADV | CBNERRVAJob Family:
Staff - Lab & Research SupportWorker Sub-Type:
Regular (benefited)Job Requisition Primary Location:
Catlett-Burruss LaboratoryPrimary Job Posting Location:
Posting Location - VIMS GloucesterJob Description Summary:
The mission of William & Mary’s Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences & Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) is to seek and broadly communicate knowledge in marine and coastal science to the Commonwealth of Virginia, the nation, and the world through research, education, and advisory service. The Batten School & VIMS make seminal advances in understanding coastal and marine systems through research and discovery, translate research findings into practical solutions to complex issues of societal importance, and provide new generations of researchers, educators, problem solvers, and managers with an education of unsurpassed quality.Unit Mission Statement
The mission of Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Virginia (CBNERR-VA or Reserve) is to exhibit leadership in coastal zone management through innovative estuarine and coastal watershed science and education programs that promote natural-resource stewardship and science-based solutions to complex socioecological challenges.
Position Summary
This role provides technical support for CBNERR-VA administered by William & Mary's Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences & Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS), serving as a senior-level Laboratory & Research Specialist in its Water Program. The Laboratory & Research Specialist II assumes lead responsible for the day-to-day operations associated with the Reserve’s state-of-the-art surface water quality mapping program (DataFlow), as such, provides calibration and maintenance of lab and in-situ vessel mounted water quality instrumentation; collection of supporting information including the processing, and analysis of verification grab samples; and conducts initial data visualization and quality control processing. This position also serves as a senior support position for Principal Investigator (PI) or Co-PI for water quality and ecosystem-based research and/or monitoring programs, as such, provides calibration, maintenance and deployment/retrieval support of water quality, hydrologic-oceanographic and other instrumentation; collects, processes and analyzes multi-media samples; manages data sets including assurance of data quality; supports data analysis; and contributes to the development and dissemination of technically-oriented information products.
Job Description:
Required Qualifications:
EDUCATION / CERTIFICATIONS:
Bachelor’s degree in marine science, environmental science, biological science, chemical science, resource management, or a related field or the equivalent combination of education, training and or experience.
Valid driver’s license
CPR/First Aid certification (or achieved with 90 days of employment).
Certificate of successful completion of a Coast Guard endorsed boating safety and/or VIMS trailerable Vessels Operator certification (or achieved within 90 days of employment).
COMPETENCIES:
Knowledge of estuarine and coastal science with emphasis on water quality issues and environmental monitoring.
Working knowledge of water monitoring and the ability to use hand held and deployable multi-parameter water quality data sondes, manual and automated water sampling devices, GPS, weather monitoring equipment, and power tools.
Strong working knowledge of sampling and collections, with the demonstrated ability to perform aquatic research procedures including laboratory techniques/studies and field sampling.
Effective problem solving skills with the ability to troubleshoot failing instrumentation and equipment as well as modifying instrumentation for specific needs.
Proficiency with a variety of software applications, to include MS Office, with the ability to update and maintain a database, and support development of reports.
Proficient data entry skills with the ability to maintain records following CBNERR-VA’s and sponsoring agency QA protocols; Effective interpersonal, oral and written communication skills with the ability to work as a collaborative team player and with a diverse campus community;.
Ability to comfortably work in and around the water and swimming in shallow areas.
Ability to work in outdoor settings, in the water, in adverse weather conditions, and on small vessels.
Ability to comfortably work in and around the water and swimming in shallow areas. Ability to engage in strenuous work, tolerate inclement weather conditions and resist motion sickness, while successfully performing assigned.
EXPERIENCE:
Technical experience with a variety of instrumentation including multiparameter water quality data sondes, water sampling devices, GPS, weather monitoring equipment, and power tools.
Demonstrated experience in a laboratory and field setting.
Familiarity with VA waters, boat handling and trailering.
Preferred Qualifications:
EDUCATION/CERTIFICATION:
Bachelor’s degree in environmental or marine science, or closely related field is desirable; CPR/First Aid certification (or achieved within 90 days of employment).
United States Coast Guard Captain’s License and/or VIMS Trailerable Vessels Operators Certification.
COMPETENCIES:
Demonstrated knowledge with a variety of lab and field instrumentation used in water quality monitoring and studies, to include scales & balances, photospectrometer, fluorometer; drying & furnace ovens.
Demonstrated mechanical skills with the ability to calibrate and troubleshoot instrumentation.
Knowledge of hand held instruments (Licor, YSI WQ, hydrologic). Strong data management skills with the ability to develop and follow standard operating procedures and quality assurance/quality control protocols.
Strong analytical and technical writing skills, with the ability to analyze and interpret environmental data.
EXPERIENCE:
Demonstrated experience in instrument data downloads and computerized data entry.
Experience working on and operating vessels, comfortable working in and around the water (occasionally under adverse conditions), and familiarity with local waters; Multi-year experience using, calibrating and troubleshooting YSI Multi parameter instrumentation and other supporting water quality instrumentation.
Multi-year experience in environmental monitoring and field-oriented programs and/or studies.
Salary-up to $60.000.00 commensurate with experience
Review Date-5-25-26
Conditions of Employment:
This is a restricted position, subject to the continuation of funding.
This is a non-exempt position, eligible to receive overtime in accordance with the Fair Labor Standards Act and university policy. This position may require over time hours to include evenings and weekends to meet the changing needs of the laboratory, as directed and approved by the supervisor.
Valid driver’s license must be maintained at all times.
Ability to work in outdoor settings, in the water, in adverse weather conditions, and on small vessels. Ability to comfortably work in and around the water and swim in shallow areas.
Ability to engage in strenuous work, tolerate inclement weather conditions, and resist motion sickness, while successfully performing assigned responsibilities.
Key Duties & Responsibilities:
Performance Management (5%).
Current supervisory responsibilities include 1 direct PT report with 1 staff on the entire reporting line.
Clearly communicate expectations and prioritization of job goals and objectives to supervised staff and program supporting interns and volunteers (others).
Provide guidance, motivation and frequent and constructive feedback to supervised staff and others.
Assure staff and others have necessary skills, knowledge and abilities to accomplish goals, and if needed, identify training and development opportunities.
Assure staff performance planning and evaluation requirements are met and completed on time and that all staff performance issues are addressed and documented as they occur.
Assure a safe and healthy work environment.
Surface Water Quality Surface Mapping- DataFlow (35%).
This position assumes technical and co-leadership responsibilities for CBNERR-VA’s surface water quality mapping program (DataFlow), a state-of-the-art, high spatial resolution, mapping program used to assess numerical and narrative water quality criteria designed to protect aquatic life, human health and public recreation.
Oversite and implementation of the DataFlow water quality mapping program include laboratory, field operations, and data management/analysis responsibilities.
Oversee staff and conduct as required, sensor calibration and maintenance of continuous water quality monitoring instrumentation (ex. YSI multi-parameter datasondes).
Serve as on-vessel, scientist-in-charge during routine monitoring and event-based field studies assuring collection of surface mapping measurements (YSI datasonde), supporting information (LiCOR, vertical multi-parameter profiler; GPS), and verification grab samples.
Download, provide initial visualization, and Tier 1 quality control of all primary and secondary supporting measurements.
Process and analyze grab samples for physical (TSS) and biological (Chl) constituents.
Provide data storage, and Tier 2 data quality control including operational implementation of code-based (Python) automated quality control toolset.
Broader CBNERR-VA Water Program Support (60%).
CBNERR-VA administered numerous tidal water quality monitoring programs with data applications supporting a large range of interests, including assessment of aquatic habitat health, public health and safety (harmful algal blooms), water-based industry (aquaculture operations), and climate variability and change. Additionally, through state requested and sponsored applied research efforts, CBNERR-VA addresses several relevant issues that translate directly to the advisory service mission of VIMS.
Serve as Senior Technical Support of the CBNERR-VA Water Program Research & Monitoring:
Conduct sensor calibration (pre & post deployment) over a wide range of deployable instrumentation used in water quality (ex. YSI multi-parameter datasondes), hydrologic-oceanographic (ex.SonTek acoustic Doppler current profilers, ISCO automated samplers, Solinst and others water level pressure transducers, Turner and YSI dye-tracing fluorometers), and meteorological (Campbell Scientific MetPro and others) studies.
Develop chemical and sensor inventories, along with annual budget, to assure proper level of equipment and supplies inventory, and procure items as needed.
Maintain working knowledge of all associated instrument hardware, firmware and software, and evaluate water quality instruments as to confirm they are meeting quality assurance and quality control guidelines, if needed, troubleshoot any identified issues (seek technical support), perform corrective action, and maintain equipment maintenance records.
Construct and maintain instrument deployment platforms.
Deploy and retrieve instrumentation including beta-testing data collection platforms (DataFlow ver.2).
Collect, process (including sample and data chain of custody), and analyze multi-medium (water, soil, biological) samples including, but not limited to, inorganic and organic constituents, photosynthetic plant pigments, microbial agents, fluorescing dye agents, and a variety of physical and chemical constituents.
Participate in field operations as required assuring required certification to operate and trailer VIMS trailerable vessels including operational knowledge of vessel mounted navigation instrumentation/technology (radar, gps-based chartplotter, depth, Dataflow), and sustenance of VIMS safety, CPR and first aid certification.
Water Quality Data Management, Analytics, and Information Product Development:
Provide data collection, storage, data quality control including operational implementation of code-based (Python) automated quality control toolset.
Provide data management and dissemination support of research and monitoring data, specifically related to water quality elements of long-term monitoring programs (NOAA/NERRS System-wide Monitoring Program, Chesapeake Bay Interpretive Buoy System) and state initiatives (Tidal Water Quality Monitoring & Modeling, Elizabeth River Project).
Support dissemination of research and advisory service findings by contributing to the development of scientific and education information products (i.e., technical reports including grant progress reports, peer-reviewed manuscripts, posters, oral communications) by participating in data management, analytics, synthesis and interpretation.
Additional Job Description:
Job Profile:
JP0321 - Laboratory & Research Specialist II - Nonexempt - Salary - S09Qualifications:
Compensation Grade:
S09Recruiting Start Date:
2026-05-05Review Date:
2026-05-25Position Restrictions:
Restricted FundsEEO is the Law. Applicants can learn more about William & Mary’s status as an equal opportunity employer by viewing the "Know Your Rights" poster published by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. https://www.eeoc.gov/know-your-rights-workplace-discrimination-illegal
Background Check: William & Mary is committed to providing a safe campus community. W&M conducts background investigations for applicants being considered for employment. Background investigations include reference checks, a criminal history record check, and when appropriate, a financial (credit) report or driving history check.
Remote Work Disclaimer: Remote work eligibility is not guaranteed and is subject to approval. Employee eligibility depends on the likelihood of the employee succeeding in a remote work arrangement and the supervisor’s ability to manage remote workers. Departments and/or Human Resources may amend, alter, change, delete, or modify eligibility.