New 
SOURCE WATER SCIENTIST
 Western Virginia Water Authority | |
 United States, Virginia, Roanoke | |
 Sep 08, 2026 | |
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JOB POSITION: SOURCE WATER SCIENTIST
Division: Administration Status: Exempt Grade: 111 Job Code: 277 Reports to: Chief Strategy Officer Date: 08-31-26 Revised Date: 08-31-26 Last Reviewed Date: 08-31-26 SUMMARY OF JOB Responsible for planning, managing, and administering the Authority's source water monitoring, hydrologic analysis, and source water protection programs covering its surface water and groundwater drinking water supplies. Develops and applies hydrologic and water supply models to forecast reservoir levels and supply availability, supports drought monitoring and response, and analyzes source water quality data to protect public health and inform treatment operations. Maintains the Authority's Source Water Protection Plans and coordinates regulatory reporting and planning with the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Requires a master's degree in hydrology, environmental science or engineering, watershed science, or a related field plus three (3) or more years of related experience, or a doctoral degree (Ph.D.) in a related field with demonstrated applied experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Include the following. Other duties may be assigned or scheduled. * Develop, implement, and manage source water monitoring programs for the Authority's surface water and groundwater supplies. Design sampling plans, deploy and maintain continuous monitoring equipment (sondes, stream gauges, weather stations), including reservoir sedimentation surveys and nutrient loading assessments, and ensure data quality and integrity. * Design, implement, and manage a real-time source water early-warning and predictive monitoring system, integrating telemetered multi-parameter sondes, stream gauges, and weather data into SCADA and automated alerting. Apply anomaly-detection and predictive methods to give treatment staff advance warning of raw water quality events and additional lead time to optimize treatment. * Develop and manage a harmful algal bloom (HAB) and cyanotoxin monitoring and response program for the Authority's reservoirs, including seasonal visual inspections, phycocyanin/chlorophyll and toxin sampling, satellite and remote-sensing surveillance, and coordinated response protocols with water treatment staff to protect finished water quality. * Develop, calibrate, maintain, and apply hydrologic and water supply models, including watershed yield, reservoir water balance, and safe yield analyses. Forecast reservoir levels, streamflow, and supply availability under normal, wet, and drought conditions using statistical, probabilistic, and scenario- based methods, and quantify uncertainty in projections. * Lead technical support for drought monitoring and response. Track precipitation, streamflow, groundwater levels, and reservoir storage; prepare supply outlooks and projections; and recommend drought stage declarations and operational responses in accordance with the Authority's water supply and drought response plans. * Lead source water climate-adaptation and long-range supply resilience analysis, including evaluation of climate variability and change, growth and demand scenarios, and integrated water resource planning, to inform the Authority's long-term supply reliability and infrastructure decisions. * Assess and plan for wildfire and post-fire watershed risks to source water, including evaluation of post-fire runoff, erosion, sediment, and nutrient loading; support forest-health, fuels-reduction, and watershed-restoration partnerships; and develop monitoring and operational response strategies for burned or high-risk watersheds. * Analyze water quality data and trends in source waters, including algal blooms, taste-and-odor compounds, turbidity, nutrients, and emerging contaminants (e.g., PFAS). Provide early warning to water treatment staff of raw water quality events and support treatment process decisions and optimization. * Develop and maintain the Authority's Source Water Protection Plans and support an active source water protection committee in accordance with Virginia Department of Health, Office of Drinking Water (VDH-ODW) guidance. Conduct and update contaminant source inventories and watershed sanitary surveys. * Evaluate potential impacts of proposed land uses, development, discharges, and water withdrawals on source water quantity and quality within the Authority's watersheds and wellhead areas, and prepare review comments and recommendations. Support watershed land and forest management partnerships, conservation easements, agricultural and stormwater best management practices, and cost-share programs to protect source water quality and quantity. * Manage, analyze, and interpret large hydrologic and water quality datasets using programming languages such as R or Python and machine-learning and predictive-analytics methods. Develop reproducible workflows, dashboards, visualizations, remote-sensing and satellite-imagery analyses, and automated reporting tools for use by staff, management, and the public. * Manage the Authority's hydrologic data collection networks and cooperative monitoring agreements, including coordination with the U.S. Geological Survey and other agencies on stream gauging and groundwater monitoring. * Represent the Authority in regional and interstate technical workgroups, river basin planning efforts, and stakeholder forums related to water supply, drought, and source water protection. Serve as technical liaison with VDH, DEQ, USGS, localities, and academic partners. * Support emergency preparedness and response for spills or contamination events within source water watersheds, including assessment of potential impacts to intakes and coordination of response monitoring. * Prepare technical reports, standard operating procedures, grant applications, and presentations, and communicate findings to management, the Board, regulatory agencies, and the public. Pursue grant funding and partnership opportunities for source water protection and monitoring. SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES This position does not have formal supervisory responsibilities over other employees. May provide technical direction, training, and oversight to technicians, interns, or contractors supporting monitoring programs and studies. QUALIFICATIONS To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. * Knowledge of hydrology, hydrogeology, limnology, and watershed processes as they relate to public drinking water supplies. * Knowledge of hydrologic, water supply, and/or water quality modeling software applications, theories, and data requirements. * Knowledge of statistical analysis, time-series analysis, forecasting, and uncertainty quantification methods. * Knowledge of harmful algal bloom and cyanotoxin dynamics, monitoring methods, and source water and treatment response strategies. * Knowledge of wildfire and post-fire watershed impacts, forest and watershed management practices, and source water resilience strategies. * Knowledge of machine-learning, predictive-analytics, remote-sensing, and real-time monitoring/early-warning system design as applied to source water. * Knowledge of federal and Virginia drinking water and water resources regulations, including Safe Drinking Water Act source water provisions, VDH Waterworks Regulations, and VDEQ water withdrawal permitting and water supply planning requirements. * Knowledge of good data management practices, data transformation, quality assurance/quality control, and data review. * Proficiency in a scientific programming language such as R or Python and knowledge of geographic information systems (GIS) operational use and principles. * Skill in field data collection methods, including water quality sampling, continuous monitoring instrumentation, and streamflow measurement. * Ability to think logically, analyze an extensive variety of technical data, and apply mathematical concepts for trend analysis and forecasting. * Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. * Ability to communicate technical concepts to technical and non-technical audiences. * Ability to write reports, correspondence, and procedure manuals in a clear, concise manner. * Ability to effectively present information to management, public groups, and/or employees as necessary. * Ability to respond to inquiries or complaints from employees and customers orally or in writing as necessary. * Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co- workers, employees, other Water Authority departments, regulatory agencies, and the general public. * Ability to work with minimal supervision and exercise independent technical judgment. * Ability to work alone or in a team environment. * Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, maps, plans, and procedure manuals. * Must possess and maintain a good work ethic concerning attendance, punctuality, positive attitude, meeting deadlines, being a team player and encouraging teamwork among employees. * Understands and fully supports the Authority's vision, mission and strategic goals. * Anticipates long-term impact when making decisions. EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE Master's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in hydrology, hydrogeology, environmental science or engineering, watershed science, or a related field plus three (3) or more years of related experience in hydrologic modeling, water resources, water quality monitoring, or source water protection; or a doctoral degree (Ph.D.) in a related field with demonstrated applied experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. CERTIFICATE, LICENSE, REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS * Must possess a valid Virginia driver's license or have the ability to obtain one within 60 days of employment date. No more than six (6) demerit points on driving record if required to drive Water Authority vehicles. * Possession of, or ability to obtain, a professional license or certification pertaining to the field, such as Professional Hydrologist (P.H.), Professional Geologist (P.G.), or Professional Engineer (P.E.), is preferred. PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. * While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to walk, stand, and sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk and hear. * While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch, bend, climb, balance, crawl or reach overhead. * The employee is occasionally required to perform field work, including traversing uneven terrain, wading streams, and working from boats and docks on reservoirs. * Specific vision abilities required by this job include ability to adjust focus. If corrective lenses are noted on driver's license, the lenses must be worn when operating Authority vehicles. * Repetitive movement using keyboard and/or office equipment is involved. * Employee must be able to sit for an extended amount of time at a desk or workstation. * Employee must regularly lift, carry and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally 50 pounds. Assistance is required on weight amounts above those listed. WORK ENVIRONMENT ENCOUNTERED IN THIS JOB The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. * The noise level in the work environment is usually low. * Employee is subject to normal work conditions as required in an office setting. * Employee will occasionally be subject to exposure to moderate or high noise level, extreme outside weather conditions, uneven, steep, slippery terrain conditions, dusty conditions and wet and/or humid conditions while conducting field work at reservoirs, streams, springs, and wells. GENERAL STATEMENT AND SELECTION GUIDELINES The above statements describe the general nature and level of work assigned to in this job position. They should not be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties or tasks performed by personnel so classified. The following will identify the selection guidelines for job placement: * WVWA application * Rating of education, experience, training and qualifications * Reference checks * Interview with WVWA management team * Applicant must pass a pre-employment physical and drug/alcohol test * A criminal background check and social security number verification will be performed. The results must match information provided by the applicant on the WVWA application * Job related test might be required and would be administered to all applicants applying for the position | |