Job Description

This Opportunity

WSP is seeking a team-oriented and self-directed candidate to support their San Diego Environmental Water Group as a Lead Environmental Scientist, Molecular Scientist. The position represents an opportunity to join a passionate team, participate in meaningful and cutting-edge work, and be supported by a flexible and career-oriented environment.

Join a passionate and diverse team

You will work with a passionate, growing, and diverse group of water quality scientists and engineers to tackle our clients’ most complex problems. Our team is the largest group of surface and marine water quality professionals in California, with a diverse portfolio of clients and projects across the state.

We are seeking a team leader and problem solver with expertise in environmental water quality, particularly in surface water quality monitoring. The ideal candidate will have experience with fecal indicator bacteria (FIB), waterborne pathogens, microbial source tracking (MST), and quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA). This role involves developing and implementing compliance monitoring projects and pioneering special studies. Additionally, this person will lead the WSP environmental molecular laboratory analytical team overseeing laboratory operations, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of data, and mentoring junior staff.

Participate in meaningful, cutting-edge science

You will help implement projects at the forefront of bacteria and watershed science and lead a state-of-the-art water quality molecular laboratory. You will be involved with cutting-edge source identification methods to research, identify, and assess bacteria sources present within our watersheds, including employing advanced techniques to pinpoint contamination sources and evaluate their impact on water quality. As such, you should have a proven track record in supporting regulatory compliance programs, , and some experience in an environmental laboratory setting. You will also be responsible for communicating complex scientific concepts in an accessible and understandable manner to a variety of stakeholders, including clients, regulatory agencies, and the public. Ultimately, your work will make a direct and meaningful impact on improving our region’s water resources. By leading innovative projects and advancing our understanding of bacterial contamination in watersheds, you will contribute to the development of effective strategies for protecting and enhancing water quality, benefiting both the environment and the communities we serve.

MST is being widely applied in various contexts, such as beach monitoring, total maximum daily load (TMDL) assessments, and other waters that do not meet designated use criteria due to high densities of fecal indicator bacteria. MST continues to advance as a critical tool in watershed science for identifying sources of fecal contamination. Our laboratory employs advanced DNA markers to detect and quantify specific gene fragments linked to human sources. We are enthusiastic about expanding our services to include markers for livestock and wildlife.

Be supported within a flexible and career-oriented environment

A flexible work environment with a wide array of professional development programs is available to support your career growth and reward you for your performance. An extensive Developing Professionals Network within the company organizes a variety of social and career development opportunities.

Your Impact

• Lead implementation of NPDES permit compliance programs and bacteria TMDL compliance programs.

• Support research and development efforts (e.g. expansion of molecular services).

• Perform Project Management and assist with Business Development.

• Prepare technical reports, work plans, and other deliverables.

• Support data entry, QA/QC, statistical analysis, and report preparation support.

• Ensure adherence to data quality standards.

• Ensure adherence to Health and Safety requirements.

• Participate on occasion with field teams to collect water, sediment, and biological samples.

• Assess and report sample results in compliance monitoring reports.

• Participate in regional scientific organizations and/or meetings.

• Assist in a supervisory capacity to oversee or train junior staff including assisting with training molecular laboratory technicians in standard protocols and manage training records.

• Conduct periodic molecular quality checks.

• Manage dynamic sample capacity, including receipt of samples for initial processing/archival outside of business hours on occasion (typically associated with storm events).

• Provide technical support to laboratory technicians with guidance from laboratory quality assurance officer and/or director.

Who You Are

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management, or a related life sciences field.

• 7 to 10 years of experience working as a biologist and completing biological surveys (e.g. vegetation, wetlands, wildlife, avian, marine), fieldwork, habitat assessments, wetland delineations, and/or construction monitoring.

• Experience working within a team in a laboratory setting using microbiological and molecular methods including but not limited to membrane filtration, DNA/RNA extraction, PCR/qPCR/ddPCR.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word including use of formulas for calculations, data analysis, and visualization.

• Demonstrated attention to detail, organization, and communication skills.

• Knowledge of NPDES programs, California State Bacterial Objectives, bacteria TMDLs, AB411 program, and other applicable local, state, and federal regulations and guidance.

• Technical reporting and writing skills that include preparation of project specific work plans, laboratory reports, and technical reports that require data interpretation and analysis.

• Passion for collecting and providing clients with high quality data and work products.

• Must be able to pass a Fit for Duty Exam / Medical Exam.

• Must successfully complete and pass WSP’s Motor Vehicle screening.

• Must reside in the San Diego area in order to conduct field, laboratory, and office work.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Supervisory experience.

• Project management experience.

• Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (ELAP) and/or The NELAC Institute (TNI) experience.

• Knowledge of environmental sample types and general environmental laboratory methods.

• Experience in metagenomics/eDNA.

• Proficiency in basic molecular techniques (e.g. DNA extraction and PCR) preferred, experience with droplet digital PCR strongly preferred.

• Proficiency in other software (e.g. statistical packages, graphing programs) and/or coding (e.g. Python, R).

WSP Benefits:

WSP provides a comprehensive suite of benefits focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career. These benefits include coverage related to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life; retirement savings; paid sick leave; paid vacation (or other personal time); paid parental leave; and paid time off for purposes of bereavement, voting, and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings.

Compensation

Expected Salary (all locations): $93,600- $159,100

WSP USA is providing the compensation range that the company in good faith believes it might pay and offer for this position, based on the successful applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities in addition to internal equity and specific geographic location. WSP USA reserves the right to ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and offer additional benefits and other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicant’s sex or other status protected by local, state, and/or federal law

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About WSP

WSP USA is the U.S. operating company of WSP, one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms. Dedicated to serving local communities, we are engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic advisors and construction management professionals. WSP USA designs lasting solutions in the buildings, transportation, energy, water and environment markets. With more than 15,000 employees in over 300 offices across the U.S., we partner with our clients to help communities prosper.

WSP provides a flexible and agile workplace model while meeting client needs. Employees are also afforded a comprehensive suite of benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, life, and retirement savings focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career.

At WSP, we want to give our employees the challenges they seek to grow their careers and knowledge base. Your daily contributions to your team will be essential in meeting client objectives, goals and challenges. Are you ready to get started?

WSP USA (and all of its U.S. companies) is an Equal Opportunity Employer Race/Age/Color/Religion/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/National Origin/Disability or Protected Veteran Status.

The selected candidate must be authorized to work in the United States.

NOTICE TO THIRD PARTY AGENCIES:

WSP does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters, employment agencies, or other staffing services. Unsolicited resumes include any resume or hiring document sent to WSP in the absence of a signed Service Agreement where WSP has expressly requested recruitment/staffing services specific to the position at hand. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers or other business leaders, will become the property of WSP and WSP will have the right to hire that candidate without reservation – no fee or other compensation will be owed or paid to the recruiter, employment agency, or other staffing service.

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