What are the responsibilities and job description for the Early Career Environmental Scientist position at WSP?
Our Business
We are a global leader in environmental consulting - made stronger with the recent acquisition of Wood’s Environment & Infrastructure business and Golder - with world-class expertise in environmental, social and governance (ESG), climate resiliency & sustainability (CRS), and earth sciences. Combined we have over 20,000 multidisciplinary professionals worldwide collaborating daily to protect and conserve natural landscapes, create firm foundations for communities to stand on, and champion sustainable development to combat climate change.
As part of the team, you will have access to an unparalleled network of resources and endless opportunities to collaborate on exciting projects with diverse teammates from across the globe.
This Opportunity
WSP is currently initiating a search for an Early Career Environmental Scientist for our Tallahassee, Florida office to be involved in projects with our Earth & Environment Business Line and be a part of a growing organization that meets our client’s objectives and solves their challenges. In this role, you will assist multi-disciplinary teams with site assessment and remediation activities (e.g., surface water, soil, groundwater, sediment, and air sampling etc.) in support of our statewide site assessment and remediation contracts. Secondarily, you will likely also serve as a support staff member on multidisciplinary natural resources management teams conducting biological fieldwork (e.g., wetland delineations, habitat classification, threatened and endangered species surveys, seagrass surveys, and water quality monitoring etc.) for a variety of coastal or other habitat restoration, resiliency planning, or development projects.
Candidates must have a willingness and interest in learning about and supporting a variety of environmental projects Exposure to a variety of environmental work during your early career will provide opportunities for you gain skills and experience in your future preferred professional focus or specialty practice area(s).
Your Impact
- Under general supervision, perform fieldwork related to assessment and remediation of contaminated sites (e.g., surface water, soil, groundwater, sediment, and air sampling etc.), and coastal restoration/resiliency and other development projects (e.g., wetland delineations, habitat classification, threatened and endangered species surveys, seagrass surveys, and water quality monitoring etc.).
- Maintain quality control standards and procedures for accurate and precise measurements, statistical analysis, and reporting.
- Generate complete, accurate, and concise documentation of fieldwork using electronic systems (e.g., GPS) and fieldwork site notebook.
- Comply with safety guidelines and site-specific procedures which include but are not limited to, the maintenance of sample collection, location data, laboratory documentation, and logbooks.
- Utilize the latest technologies and techniques in performing studies and analysis of organic and inorganic compounds to determine their composition.
- Research environmental databases regarding historical property land uses.
- Prepare tables, charts, reports, and illustrations for the interpretation or presentation of data, findings, or analyses.
- Prepare and implement site Health and Safety Plans (HASPs).
- Interact with regulatory agencies, subcontractors, landowners, and clients in a confident and professional manner
- Exercise responsible and ethical decision-making regarding company funds, resources, and conduct, and adhere to WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.
- Under the guidance of WSP project managers or other qualified professionals, complete training on assigned tasks.
- Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.
Who You Are
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Geology, Biology, Ecology or an equivalent field of study.
- 0 to 1 years of relevant post-education experience.
- Willingness to learn and take initiative, as well as be mentored.
- Willingness to perform a variety of tasks as needed to complete an assignment and satisfy project needs.
- Excellent research skills with an analytical mindset and positive and can-do attitude.
- Demonstrated time management and organizational skills and ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
- Comfortable working in a variety of work settings (e.g., remote and urban areas), temperatures, and weather conditions with ability to lift 50 lbs. of field equipment.
- Competent interpersonal and communication skills when interacting with others, and ability to express ideas effectively and professionally to both scientific and non-scientific audiences.
- Proficient self-leadership with attention to detail, multi-tasking, and prioritization of responsibilities in a dynamic work environment.
- Strong work ethic to ensure job requirements are completed (safety first).
- Ability to work independently under general supervision, as well as part of a team to meet business objectives.
- General familiarity with the concepts of reducing and eliminating the use or generation of hazardous substances, processes, or products.
- General familiarity with relevant environmental laws, regulations, compliance practices, and record-keeping requirements.
- Basic proficiency with technical writing, office automation, general office software (i.e., MS Word and Excel, and PowerPoint), spreadsheets, technology, and tools.
- Ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.
- Ability to work schedules conducive to project-specific requirements that may extend beyond the typical workweek.
- Domestic travel will be required depending on project-specific requirements and could include one to two weeks of travel per month.
- Possess a valid driver’s license and be capable of driving work vehicles (i.e., vans and trucks).
- Must successfully complete and pass WSP’s Motor Vehicle screening.
- Must be able to pass a HAZWOPER physical and be medically able to wear a tight-fitting respirator / Fit for Duty Exam / Medical Exam.
- Capable of passing 40-hour OSHA HAZWOPER 40-hour training course.
Preferred Qualifications: - Ability to swim, if supporting coastal restoration jobs.
#LI-AB2
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.
www.wsp.com
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.
