(Hybrid) Water Research Specialist - West Virginia Water Research Institute

The West Virginia Water Research Institute (WVWRI) at West Virginia University is currently accepting applications for a Water Research Specialist.

About the Opportunity

The Water Research Specialist will support the coordination and implementation of West Virginia Water Research Institute (WVWRI) programs in water resources research. Primary responsibilities of the incumbent include planning and conducting field sampling, managing and analyzing water quality data, and coordinating and executing outreach activities on state, federal, and privately funded grants. Field sampling activities support WVWRI projects in acid mine drainage (AMD) characterization and remediation and long-term water quality monitoring. Data management and analysis activities support multiple WVWRI projects in water quality monitoring and watershed restoration. Outreach responsibilities include projects in workforce development, public/private engagement on local and regional water issues, and assimilation and dissemination of project findings. The incumbent also engages in various aspects of all WVWRI programs as needed, encompassing more general project execution on diverse water research projects, reporting, and organizational outreach. Changing priorities is inherent to grant-funded work, and adaptability is critical to the success of WVWRI and the incumbent.

The incumbent brings both a technical and interpersonal mindset to their work to represent WVWRI and WVU and to work towards practical solutions and knowledge transfer. The incumbent provides essential support across multiple WVWRI projects. They stay up to date on regional water issues and seek out new research, outreach, or restoration projects to engage in, assisting in the preparation of related grant proposals. Collaboration with state and federal agencies, other researchers, and nonprofit groups is a key function of WVWRI’s work and the success of the incumbent. Under the direction of the Senior Water Research Scientist, the incumbent pursues opportunities for funding and program expansion.

The incumbent provides task-level guidance, training, and oversight to undergraduate and graduate student workers during field sampling, outreach activities, and other assigned project tasks. Additionally, they deliver program support services to internal and external clients, respond to inquiries, address routine project-related issues, and identify more complex matters requiring guidance from project leadership. Responsibilities involve exercising judgment, resourcefulness, and originality in handling diverse tasks, applying or adapting available guides and precedents as necessary.

We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including:

• 37.5-hour work week
• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
• 24 annual leave (vacation) days per year (employee leave)
• 18 sick days per year (for when you’re ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family’s, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)
• WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits
• 401(a) retirement savings with 6% employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking for more retirement benefits information? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQ’s.
• Wellness programs

What You'll Do

Field Work

• Conducts fieldwork in diverse weather conditions and challenging terrain, including remote locations, streams, and watersheds throughout West Virginia
• Collects water quality samples in accordance with established scientific protocols, including proper sample collection, preservation, labeling, handling, and documentation.
• Operates, calibrates, and maintains field monitoring equipment, including multiparameter water quality meters, flow meters, GPS units, and other specialized instruments.
• Conducts field measurements and observations, including water quality parameters, streamflow, site conditions, and other relevant environmental characteristics.
• Assists with the development and implementation of sampling plans for water-related research projects, including background research, identifying potential sampling locations, and preparing maps.
• Follows established quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) procedures, including field blanks, duplicates, equipment checks, and proper chain-of-custody documentation.
• Assists with the preparation and revision of Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPPs) and standard operating procedures (SOPs) as required by project needs and funding agencies.
• Assists with the installation, operation, maintenance, and retrieval of environmental monitoring equipment, including water level and temperature loggers and other field instrumentation.
• Coordinates field sampling logistics, including preparing sampling supplies, organizing equipment, coordinating sample delivery or shipment to analytical laboratories, and maintaining field records.
• Assists with managing and maintaining field and laboratory equipment and supplies in coordination with the Field Equipment Manager.

Outreach

• Assists with the planning, coordination, and implementation of technical outreach activities related to WVWRI research and restoration projects.
• Supports workforce development initiatives through the coordination of educational activities, training opportunities, workshops, and other outreach events.
• Assists with the development of technical and educational outreach materials, including fact sheets, online maps, website content, and other resources communicating project findings to support public and private stakeholder engagement.
• Establishes and maintains positive working relationships with watershed organizations, community groups, educational institutions, government agencies, and other project partners.
• Coordinates with external partners and stakeholders to support project activities, including occasional evening meetings and weekend events.
• Provides technical assistance to watershed organizations and community partners related to water quality monitoring, sampling procedures, and data management, consistent with established WVWRI protocols.
• Establishes and maintains relationships with landowners to support project activities.
• Maintains organized records of outreach activities, stakeholder communications, meetings, and related project documentation.
• Participates in relevant training, conferences, and professional development activities to maintain and expand knowledge of regional water resource issues and outreach practices.
• Prepares and delivers presentations to communicate project activities, scientific findings, and water resource issues to technical and nontechnical audiences.

Office

• Coordinates field sampling logistics, including scheduling, site access, communication with project partners and landowners, and preparation of sampling materials.
• Provides task-level guidance and oversight to undergraduate and graduate student workers, coordinating assigned field and office activities.
• Collaborates with project teams to support research activities, maintain communication, and ensure tasks are completed in accordance with established project procedures.
• Processes, organizes, and maintains water quality datasets and databases, including data entry, quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) checks, and routine data management activities.
• Conducts routine data analysis, prepares summary tables, and develops graphs and other visualizations to support project evaluation, reporting, and communication of results.
• Uses Geographic Information Systems (GIS), including ArcGIS, to develop maps, organize spatial data, and support field sampling, project reporting, and public outreach.
• Assists with the interpretation of water quality data to identify trends, potential pollution sources, and watershed conditions under the guidance of project scientists.
• Conducts literature searchers and assists with preparing technical reports, project summaries, scientific manuscripts, presentations, and other research-related materials.
• Participates in project meetings, communicates progress and findings, and provides updates on assigned tasks to project management and technical teams.
• Assists with identifying funding opportunities and preparing grant proposals, including supporting documentation and budget information.
• Maintains organized project records, including field documentation, analytical laboratory results, sample tracking logs, invoices, and related correspondence.
• Completes project-related administrative tasks in accordance with WVU policies and procedures, including travel documentation, reimbursements, and other assigned responsibilities.

The West Virginia Water Research Institute (WVWRI) at West Virginia University is currently accepting applications for a Water Research Specialist.

About the Opportunity

The Water Research Specialist will support the coordination and implementation of West Virginia Water Research Institute (WVWRI) programs in water resources research. Primary responsibilities of the incumbent include planning and conducting field sampling, managing and analyzing water quality data, and coordinating and executing outreach activities on state, federal, and privately funded grants. Field sampling activities support WVWRI projects in acid mine drainage (AMD) characterization and remediation and long-term water quality monitoring. Data management and analysis activities support multiple WVWRI projects in water quality monitoring and watershed restoration. Outreach responsibilities include projects in workforce development, public/private engagement on local and regional water issues, and assimilation and dissemination of project findings. The incumbent also engages in various aspects of all WVWRI programs as needed, encompassing more general project execution on diverse water research projects, reporting, and organizational outreach. Changing priorities is inherent to grant-funded work, and adaptability is critical to the success of WVWRI and the incumbent.

The incumbent brings both a technical and interpersonal mindset to their work to represent WVWRI and WVU and to work towards practical solutions and knowledge transfer. The incumbent provides essential support across multiple WVWRI projects. They stay up to date on regional water issues and seek out new research, outreach, or restoration projects to engage in, assisting in the preparation of related grant proposals. Collaboration with state and federal agencies, other researchers, and nonprofit groups is a key function of WVWRI’s work and the success of the incumbent. Under the direction of the Senior Water Research Scientist, the incumbent pursues opportunities for funding and program expansion.

The incumbent provides task-level guidance, training, and oversight to undergraduate and graduate student workers during field sampling, outreach activities, and other assigned project tasks. Additionally, they deliver program support services to internal and external clients, respond to inquiries, address routine project-related issues, and identify more complex matters requiring guidance from project leadership. Responsibilities involve exercising judgment, resourcefulness, and originality in handling diverse tasks, applying or adapting available guides and precedents as necessary.

We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including:

• 37.5-hour work week
• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
• 24 annual leave (vacation) days per year (employee leave)
• 18 sick days per year (for when you’re ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family’s, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)
• WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits
• 401(a) retirement savings with 6% employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking for more retirement benefits information? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQ’s.
• Wellness programs

What You'll Do

Field Work

• Conducts fieldwork in diverse weather conditions and challenging terrain, including remote locations, streams, and watersheds throughout West Virginia
• Collects water quality samples in accordance with established scientific protocols, including proper sample collection, preservation, labeling, handling, and documentation.
• Operates, calibrates, and maintains field monitoring equipment, including multiparameter water quality meters, flow meters, GPS units, and other specialized instruments.
• Conducts field measurements and observations, including water quality parameters, streamflow, site conditions, and other relevant environmental characteristics.
• Assists with the development and implementation of sampling plans for water-related research projects, including background research, identifying potential sampling locations, and preparing maps.
• Follows established quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) procedures, including field blanks, duplicates, equipment checks, and proper chain-of-custody documentation.
• Assists with the preparation and revision of Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPPs) and standard operating procedures (SOPs) as required by project needs and funding agencies.
• Assists with the installation, operation, maintenance, and retrieval of environmental monitoring equipment, including water level and temperature loggers and other field instrumentation.
• Coordinates field sampling logistics, including preparing sampling supplies, organizing equipment, coordinating sample delivery or shipment to analytical laboratories, and maintaining field records.
• Assists with managing and maintaining field and laboratory equipment and supplies in coordination with the Field Equipment Manager.

Outreach

• Assists with the planning, coordination, and implementation of technical outreach activities related to WVWRI research and restoration projects.
• Supports workforce development initiatives through the coordination of educational activities, training opportunities, workshops, and other outreach events.
• Assists with the development of technical and educational outreach materials, including fact sheets, online maps, website content, and other resources communicating project findings to support public and private stakeholder engagement.
• Establishes and maintains positive working relationships with watershed organizations, community groups, educational institutions, government agencies, and other project partners.
• Coordinates with external partners and stakeholders to support project activities, including occasional evening meetings and weekend events.
• Provides technical assistance to watershed organizations and community partners related to water quality monitoring, sampling procedures, and data management, consistent with established WVWRI protocols.
• Establishes and maintains relationships with landowners to support project activities.
• Maintains organized records of outreach activities, stakeholder communications, meetings, and related project documentation.
• Participates in relevant training, conferences, and professional development activities to maintain and expand knowledge of regional water resource issu