Job Appointment: Full-Time
Work Schedule: M-Th 7:00a-4:30p, every other Friday 7:00a-3:30p.
Work Location:6543 N BURLINGTON AVE, PORTLAND, OR 97203
Benefits: Please check our benefit tab for an overview of benefits for this position.
Union Representation:Professional and Technical Employees Local 17 (PTE-17). To view labor agreements, current and future, please visit the Current City Labor Agreements page.
Application Material: Please click APPLY to submit your application via the City of Portland’s online portal. You will need to respond to the supplemental questions and attach a resume.
Are you passionate about your local environment and have a sense of adventure? Are you a collaborative team player who would rather work outdoors and apply your skills outside the walls of a cubicle? Are you a recent high school or college graduate seeking experience in an environmental profession? Maybe you are a perfect candidate for a Field Science Technician Trainee position.
The Environmental Information Division of the Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) is seeking a Field Science Technician Trainee to join our Field Operations team.
The Field Science Technician Trainee program is a structured on-the-job training program, typically lasting approximately two years, with established work performance measures and goals. The Trainee works with experienced Field Science Specialists and Technicians to build skills in a wide variety of environmental monitoring disciplines, and to provide essential data to support BES projects, programs, and regulatory requirements. Upon successful completion of the training program, Trainees will be eligible for appointment as a Field Science Technician.
What you’ll get to do:
Learn to conduct a wide range of environmental monitoring techniques. Techniques include utilizing equipment and standard operating procedures (SOPs) to sample and monitor: industrial wastewater; sewer flows; surface waters; watershed health; biological communities, including fisheries and macroinvertebrates; stormwater; groundwater; and more. Perform maintenance and troubleshoot monitoring equipment.- Perform physically demanding fieldwork. Daily fieldwork may involve: climbing steep stream banks; operating motorized and non-motorized watercraft; performing work in manholes, sewer pipes, and other confined spaces; working in and around traffic; performing heavy lifting (up to 50 pounds); and working in inclement weather and at irregular hours.
- Implement data management and quality procedures. Approximately 20% of this position is spent in the office for recordkeeping, data entry, and organizational activities, including but not limited to: database management, analyzing and summarizing monitoring data, entering water-quality and watershed data, and managing electronic and paper files.
- Be a part of a high-performing service-oriented team. Work assignments are shared to ensure worker health and safety, utilization of team expertise, and ongoing delivery of reliable, valuable, quality, and cost-effective technical services.
The
Field Science Technician Trainee performs their work in a team setting with technical and professional environmental staff under the direction of the section manager and guidance of Field Science Specialists and Technicians.
About the Bureau of Environmental ServicesThis is an exciting time to join the Bureau of Environmental Services (BES). Together we are reimagining the work we do to ensure it aligns with Our Values:
- We implement equity in our workplace, business practices, and service delivery.
- We value our customers and partners.
- We carefully manage our watersheds, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, and financial resources.
- We encourage leadership among our employees in our City and community.
- We support a diverse, collaborative, healthy, and engaged workforce.
- We urge respectful communication and transparency.
- We advance innovative, sustainable, and resilient solutions.
At BES, we value our customers and partners; Portlanders’ sense of connection to their waterways; conscientious stewardship of our watersheds, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, and financial resources; a diverse, collaborative, healthy, and engaged workforce; leadership among our employees and in our City and community; equity in our workplace, business practices, and service delivery; clear communication and transparency; innovative, sustainable, and resilient solutions.
BES is seeking talented individuals from diverse racial, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds with knowledge, ability, and experience working with a broad range of individuals and communities; and who desire to work collaboratively and creatively to broaden the variety of innovative ways to partner with and serve all Portland communities.
To learn more about the work we do at BES, click on the link: About Environmental Services | Portland.gov
Our BES 10-Year Strategic Plan can be found here: download (portland.gov)
Questions?
Terrol Johnson, Recruiter
Bureau of Human Resources
terrol.johnson@portlandoregon.gov
Applicants should specifically address and demonstrate in their résumé and answers to supplemental questions how their education, training, and/or experience meet each of the following minimum qualifications:
- Knowledge of basic environmental monitoring techniques, practices, and procedures to collect field data and samples.
- Ability to perform detailed work neatly, accurately, and efficiently.
- Ability to learn and operate a variety of computer software programs to record and analyze data, maintain technical files, and prepare maps, plans, records, graphics, documents, and reports.
- Ability to demonstrate basic knowledge of physical and biological sciences and their relationship to environmental monitoring.
- Ability to work well in a diverse team setting, demonstrating accountability for individual assignments as well as productive collaboration with teammates to accomplish work objectives in an equitable manner.
Additional Requirements- A valid state driver’s license and an acceptable driving record at the time of hire.
- Ability to routinely enter confined spaces, including manholes and sewers, and work in rough, steep, and uneven terrain.
- Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds and work outdoors in all weather conditions.
- Ability to perform very physical and strenuous work under hazardous working conditions, significant traffic risk, and potential exposure to unknown chemicals.
A typical way of demonstrating the knowledge, skills, and abilities outlined above is to
demonstrate, at a minimum, graduation from high school, trade school or vocational school, or G.E.D. equivalent; supplemented by courses in environmental sciences or an equivalent combination of training and experience.