City of New York
Scientist (Water Ecology), Bureau of Environmental Sciences and Engineering
City of New York, San Francisco, California, United States, 94199
The Office of Building Water System Oversight (BWSO) within the Bureau of Environmental Sciences and Engineering (ESE) is responsible for conducting inspections to ensure compliance with various rules and regulations aimed at improving the operating conditions of engineered systems such as cooling towers, water tanks, evaporative condensers, internal plumbing, and wastewater systems in order to prevent risks associated with these systems.
SCIENTIST (WATER ECOLOGY) - 21538 Duties
Conduct investigations of building water supply and distribution systems including cooling towers, evaporative condensers, internal plumbing, and wastewater systems.
Perform environmental sampling of building water supply and distribution systems for water quality analysis including collection of water quality measurements.
Review building maintenance programs and plans for cooling tower systems to ensure compliance.
Conduct compliance inspections to selected facilities to ensure corrective actions and documentation were done to mitigate potential risks to the public.
Review building cooling tower systems operational records to ensure compliance.
Prepare reports pertaining to the findings of the field investigation including the preparation of electronic inspection reports using software developed for BWSO to implement inspection protocols.
Educate building owners and managers in best practices for managing cooling towers, evaporative condensers, internal plumbing, and wastewater systems.
Counsel facility/premises/owner‑operator regarding regulations and remedial measures when necessary.
Issue Notice of Violations and Tribunal summons for non‑compliance with NYC Health Code and NYS Sanitary Code.
Participate in the development of standard operating procedures for the field and conduct field surveys associated with building water supply and distribution systems.
Review plans, drawings, and specifications for building water supply and distribution systems.
Provide recommendations and take corrective actions based on findings of the field investigation as needed or directed by supervisor.
Assist the ESE in related Public Health Engineering tasks including water and sewage complaints, beach inspections and sampling and pool inspections and sampling as needed.
Preferred Skills
Academic background in environmental or chemical engineering, limnology, environmental science, marine science, geology, biology, earth science, chemistry, physics, or health science.
Prefer to work in the field including travel throughout the five boroughs.
Must be able to climb ladders and work in confined spaces, and at high altitudes (building roofs) in order to perform field inspections and water testing.
Pass medical clearance and FIT testing for wearing proper PPE respirators. Must complete and pass agency required trainings and be in compliance with the position related certificates and licenses.
Strong interpersonal and customer service skills.
Proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, Access).
Benefits & Work Arrangements
Benefits: City employees are entitled to unmatched benefits such as:
A premium‑free health insurance plan that saves employees over $10K annually, per a 2024 assessment.
Additional health, fitness, and financial benefits may be available based on the position’s associated union or benefit fund.
A public sector defined benefit pension plan with steady monthly payments in retirement.
A tax‑deferred savings program.
A robust Worksite Wellness Program that offers resources and opportunities to keep you healthy while serving New Yorkers.
Work from Home Policy: Depending on your position, you may be able to work up to two days during the week from home.
Job Security: You could enjoy more job security compared to private sector employment and be able to contribute to making NYC a healthy place to live and work.
Minimum Qualifications
A master’s degree from an accredited college or university in one of the following areas of study: environmental or chemical engineering, limnology, environmental science, marine science, geology, biology, earth science, chemistry, physics, or health science; or a baccalaureate degree with 24 semester credits in one or a combination of the above areas, at least 12 of which must have been in one of these areas, and at least one year of satisfactory full‑time experience in water quality planning, management, research, environmental laboratory analyses, or environmental field sampling of water.
An associate degree from an accredited college or university including or supplemented by 24 semester credits in one or a combination of the areas described in item 1, at least 12 of which must have been in one of these areas, and at least three years of satisfactory full‑time experience as described in item 2.
For Assignment Levels II or III, a baccalaureate degree with the additional year of experience described in item 2, for a total of two years of experience. A master’s degree may be substituted for up to two years of the required experience.
55‑a Program This position is also open to qualified persons with a disability who are eligible for the 55‑a Program. Please indicate at the top of your resume and cover letter that you would like to be considered for the position through the 55‑a Program.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at
https://studentaid.gov/pslf/ .
Residency Requirement New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City employees in certain titles who have worked for the city for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.
The City of New York is an inclusive equal‑opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.
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SCIENTIST (WATER ECOLOGY) - 21538 Duties
Conduct investigations of building water supply and distribution systems including cooling towers, evaporative condensers, internal plumbing, and wastewater systems.
Perform environmental sampling of building water supply and distribution systems for water quality analysis including collection of water quality measurements.
Review building maintenance programs and plans for cooling tower systems to ensure compliance.
Conduct compliance inspections to selected facilities to ensure corrective actions and documentation were done to mitigate potential risks to the public.
Review building cooling tower systems operational records to ensure compliance.
Prepare reports pertaining to the findings of the field investigation including the preparation of electronic inspection reports using software developed for BWSO to implement inspection protocols.
Educate building owners and managers in best practices for managing cooling towers, evaporative condensers, internal plumbing, and wastewater systems.
Counsel facility/premises/owner‑operator regarding regulations and remedial measures when necessary.
Issue Notice of Violations and Tribunal summons for non‑compliance with NYC Health Code and NYS Sanitary Code.
Participate in the development of standard operating procedures for the field and conduct field surveys associated with building water supply and distribution systems.
Review plans, drawings, and specifications for building water supply and distribution systems.
Provide recommendations and take corrective actions based on findings of the field investigation as needed or directed by supervisor.
Assist the ESE in related Public Health Engineering tasks including water and sewage complaints, beach inspections and sampling and pool inspections and sampling as needed.
Preferred Skills
Academic background in environmental or chemical engineering, limnology, environmental science, marine science, geology, biology, earth science, chemistry, physics, or health science.
Prefer to work in the field including travel throughout the five boroughs.
Must be able to climb ladders and work in confined spaces, and at high altitudes (building roofs) in order to perform field inspections and water testing.
Pass medical clearance and FIT testing for wearing proper PPE respirators. Must complete and pass agency required trainings and be in compliance with the position related certificates and licenses.
Strong interpersonal and customer service skills.
Proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, Access).
Benefits & Work Arrangements
Benefits: City employees are entitled to unmatched benefits such as:
A premium‑free health insurance plan that saves employees over $10K annually, per a 2024 assessment.
Additional health, fitness, and financial benefits may be available based on the position’s associated union or benefit fund.
A public sector defined benefit pension plan with steady monthly payments in retirement.
A tax‑deferred savings program.
A robust Worksite Wellness Program that offers resources and opportunities to keep you healthy while serving New Yorkers.
Work from Home Policy: Depending on your position, you may be able to work up to two days during the week from home.
Job Security: You could enjoy more job security compared to private sector employment and be able to contribute to making NYC a healthy place to live and work.
Minimum Qualifications
A master’s degree from an accredited college or university in one of the following areas of study: environmental or chemical engineering, limnology, environmental science, marine science, geology, biology, earth science, chemistry, physics, or health science; or a baccalaureate degree with 24 semester credits in one or a combination of the above areas, at least 12 of which must have been in one of these areas, and at least one year of satisfactory full‑time experience in water quality planning, management, research, environmental laboratory analyses, or environmental field sampling of water.
An associate degree from an accredited college or university including or supplemented by 24 semester credits in one or a combination of the areas described in item 1, at least 12 of which must have been in one of these areas, and at least three years of satisfactory full‑time experience as described in item 2.
For Assignment Levels II or III, a baccalaureate degree with the additional year of experience described in item 2, for a total of two years of experience. A master’s degree may be substituted for up to two years of the required experience.
55‑a Program This position is also open to qualified persons with a disability who are eligible for the 55‑a Program. Please indicate at the top of your resume and cover letter that you would like to be considered for the position through the 55‑a Program.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at
https://studentaid.gov/pslf/ .
Residency Requirement New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City employees in certain titles who have worked for the city for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.
The City of New York is an inclusive equal‑opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.
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