The Natural Resources and Lands Management (NRLM) Division within the Water Enterprise of the SFPUC is responsible for the management of approximately 61,000 acres of Bay Area watershed lands under SFPUC ownership as well as 150 miles of utility right-of-way. NRLM Division is responsible for managing, protecting, restoring, and monitoring the ecological resources on these lands and environmental compliance for the operations and maintenance of the Hetch Hetchy Regional Water System which serves 2.7 million customers. We are committed to responsible natural resources management that protects and restores viable populations of native species and maintains the integrity of the ecosystems that support them for current and future generations. We strive to become a leader in science-based and collaborative environmental stewardship in order to continue providing high-quality and reliable water supplies to our customers.
Position Summary
Senior Biologist for Receiving Waters Monitoring
Under general supervision, the 2484 Biologist III – Senior Biologist for Receiving Waters Monitoring plans, designs, develops, manages, and coordinates environmental studies in support of permitting requirements for San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) wastewater and drinking water operational facilities and the marine, estuarine and watershed environments associated with the facilities. This position provides technical experience and leadership for managing NPDES regulatory compliance monitoring for the SFPUC’s wastewater and drinking water treatment facilities, including SFPUC’s Southwest Ocean Outfall Regional Monitoring Program, which conducts Beach Water Quality Monitoring; Ocean Monitoring of marine sediment, benthic infauna, and bioaccumulation and physical anomalies in sentinel marine species; as well as special studies required for regulatory compliance. This position works with SFPUC’s Wastewater Enterprise, Regulatory and Compliance Division staff to support permit negotiations with regulatory agencies, as well as interpretation of new regulations, permits, or rulings, and translation of these into laboratory and field programs; works with diverse stakeholders regarding SFPUC projects, permit compliance, and other activities; articulately represents the SFPUC to outside stakeholders; works effectively and courteously with multidisciplinary teams, departmental officials, managers, staff, regulatory personnel, and the public. This position leads report preparation for receiving waters monitoring projects and marine ecological assessment monitoring as well as correspondence, memoranda, and scientific studies; edits and reviews written materials prepared by Marine Biology Section staff or consultants; may prepare research materials for presentation and technical conferences and performs duties within the laboratory, in the field or on monitoring vessels on the ocean, San Francisco Bay or SFPUC reservoirs and may exercise supervision during the absence of the Supervising Biologist.
Senior Biologist, Bioassay Laboratory Manager
Under general supervision, the 2484 Biologist III – Bioassay Laboratory Manager plans, designs, develops and coordinates environmental studies and monitoring projects in support of permitting requirements for San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) wastewater and drinking water operational facilities and the marine, estuarine and watershed environments associated with the facilities. This position provides technical experience and leadership for managing NPDES regulatory compliance monitoring, including: periodic acute and chronic bioassay testing of effluent from SFPUC wastewater and drinking water facilities, environmental monitoring of ocean outfalls and monitoring of San Francisco beach water quality; working with SFPUC’s Wastewater Enterprise, Regulatory and Compliance Division staff to support permit negotiations with regulatory agencies, as well as interpretation of new regulations, permits, or rulings, and translation of these into laboratory and field programs. The Bioassay Laboratory Manager works with diverse stakeholders regarding SFPUC projects, permit compliance, and other activities; articulately represents the SFPUC to outside stakeholders; works effectively and courteously with multidisciplinary teams, departmental officials, managers, staff, regulatory personnel, and the public; coordinates with SFPUC Communications. This position leads report preparation for treatment plant bioassay monitoring and marine ecological assessment monitoring as well as correspondence, memoranda, and scientific studies; edits and reviews written materials prepared by Marine Biology Section staff or consultants; may prepare research materials for presentation and technical conferences and performs duties within the laboratory, in the field or on monitoring vessels on the ocean, San Francisco Bay or SFPUC reservoirs and may exercise supervision during the absence of the Supervising Biologist. Work under inclement weather conditions may be required.
Essential duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:
Working independently and with other staff to achieve compliance with existing permits, regulations, and SFPUC policies fulfilling regulatory monitoring and reporting requirements associated with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting requirements.
Modifying, developing and designing monitoring programs that that provide defensible scientific data to fulfill existing and future regulatory obligations or satisfy the needs of a variety of projects or legislation relating to environmental concerns.
Analyzing environmental and laboratory data and preparing reports with the purpose of meeting regulatory permit requirements and assessing the effectiveness of resource utilization for existing studies and monitoring programs.
Responsible for project-level technical supervision of other staff biologists, technicians, interns, volunteers, and consultants, and may be asked to perform management-level supervision for short periods during the absence of the Supervising Biologist.
Working with SFPUC’s Wastewater Enterprise, Regulatory and Compliance Division staff to support permit negotiations with regulatory agencies, interpretation of new regulations, permits, or rulings, and translation of these into laboratory and field programs to achieve regulatory compliance.
Effectively communicating the results of studies and monitoring programs both verbally and through clear, concise writing.
Interfacing with academic institutions and other professional organizations to keep the Marine Biology Section current with the most recent scientific advances in ocean monitoring, marine invertebrate taxonomy, bioassay assessment, and shoreline water quality monitoring; developing and maintaining intern program to support Marine Biology Section goals.
Ensuring work products are peer reviewed; communicates scientific monitoring results at professional conferences.
Scheduling and preparing for field work; participating in and leading field work.
Overseeing consultants and directing SFPUC staff performing routine monitoring and reporting.
Training biologists and other field staff in efficient, effective and safe fieldwork, quality controls, data handling and analyses, and report production.
Performing related duties as required.
How to qualify
Minimum Qualifications: Minimum qualifications reflect the lowest level of acceptable education and/or experience required of an individual such that the individual reasonably could be expected to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position. Candidates must meet all the requirements established by the MQs to be considered for the position.
Education: Possession of baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with a major in environmental biology, marine biology, aquatic biology, wildlife biology, fisheries biology, limnology, aquatic toxicology microbiology, biochemistry, or a related environmental science; AND
Experience: Six (6) years of verifiable environmental experience in field or laboratory biology; AND
License: Possession of a California valid driver’s license; AND
Special Conditions: Two (2) years of professional experience in Biological Monitoring Survey in Coastal Marine Environment
Note: One year of full-time employment is equivalent to 2000 hours. (2000 hours of qualifying work experience is based on a 40-hour work week.)
Applicants must meet the minimum qualification requirement by the final filing date unless otherwise noted. Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed to advance through all of the steps in the selection process.
Desirable Qualifications:
The stated desirable qualifications may be used to identify job finalists at the end of the selection process when candidates are referred for hiring.
Professional experience leading biological monitoring surveys in coastal marine environments which include whole effluent toxicity testing (both chronic and acute) and bacteriological standards for water contact recreation.
Experience of recent professional experience conducting acute and chronic aquatic toxicity tests.