Statistician jobs in Olympia, WA

In this role, you will serve as a senior staff scientist and data expert in the Marine Monitoring Unit (MMU) supporting long-term sediment and water monitoring efforts in Puget Sound. You will play a pivotal role in designing, implementing, and applying data science and statistical methodologies to describe, identify trends, and address a multitude of pressures affecting the health of Puget Sound. Integrating the latest data science and analytic techniques, you will interpret complex environmental data collected from multiple media including water, sediment, and living organisms. There will be a balance of independent work with collaborative projects, showcasing your initiative, flexibility, and excellent communication skills among groups with varied backgrounds and perspectives.

Agency Mission: Ecology's mission is to protect, preserve and enhance the environment for current and future generations.  

Program Mission: The mission of the Environmental Assessment Program is to measure, assess, and communicate environmental conditions in Washington state. 

Tele-work options for this position: This position will be eligible for a tele-work schedule. It is expected that this position will work both remotely and in the office as determined by business needs. Applicants with questions about position location options, tele-work, and flexible or compressed schedules are encouraged to reach out to the contact person listed below in “other information.” Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.  

Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled, we will review applications on December 6, 2023. In order to be considered, please submit an application on or before December 5, 2023. If your application isn't received by this date, it may not be considered. The agency reserves the right to make a Hire any time after the initial screening date. 

Please Note: We will review all applications received before the date above. Additional reviews after this date typically only occur if we have a small applicant pool, or if a successful Hire was not made.

About the Department of Ecology

• A healthy life/work balance by offering flexible schedules and telework options for most positions.
• An Infants at Work Program that is based on the long-term health values of infant-parent bonding and breastfeeding newborns.
• Continuous growth and development opportunities. 
• Opportunities to serve your community and make an impact through meaningful work.

Our commitment to DEIR
Diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect (DEIR) are core values central to Ecology’s work. We strive to be a workplace where we are esteemed for sharing our authentic identities, while advancing our individual professional goals and collaborating to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment for current and future generations.

What makes this role unique? 

You will be a technical specialist for conducting statistical analysis of Marine Monitoring Unit (MMU) data, including marine sediment data collected as part of the Puget Sound Ecosystem Monitoring Program (PSEMP) long-term sediment monitoring program. This research requires great ingenuity and resourcefulness in the application of techniques where precedents are limited, and objectives and scope are only broadly defined.  

What you will do: 
 

• Lead statistical analyses by determining appropriate statistical and graphical methods and staying current on emerging techniques, as well as interpret results, develop and test programs for analysis and display, collaborate with other unit staff with statistical analyses, and produce data summaries and visuals. 
• Conduct statistical analysis of marine data collected from Puget Sound and Washington’s coastal estuaries.  
• Develop and maintain the Marine Benthic Index and other multivariate indices and products for the Puget Sound Partnership Dashboard Indicators. 
• Perform review, reduction, and analysis of sediment toxicity, chemistry, and benthic infauna data which includes comparison of PSEMP data with other existing Washington coastal and Puget Sound data. 
• Maintain and update the PSEMP sediment component database as well as coordinate the upload of data to the agency Environmental Information Management System.  
• Prepare scientific reports, publications, and other documents examining ambient conditions and spatial patterns in sediment quality. 
• Collect, process, and preserve sediment and benthos samples onboard research vessels, applying expertise in the operation of sediment sampling gear.

Note: The position is allotted a budget to purchase protective field gear.

Required Qualifications:

Years of required experience indicated below are full-time equivalent years. Full-time equivalent experience means that any experience where working hours were less than 40 hours per week will be prorated in order to meet the equivalency of full-time. We would calculate this by looking at the total hours worked per week, divide this by 40, and then multiply by the total number of months worked. Examples of the proration calculations are:
 

• 30 hours worked per week for 20 months: (30/40) x 20 months = 15 months full-time equivalent
• 20 hours worked per week for 12 months: (20/40) x 12 months = 6 months full-time equivalent

Experience for both required and desired qualifications can be gained through various combinations of formal professional employment, education, and volunteer experience. See below for how you may qualify.

Option 1:

A Bachelor of Science degree with major study in statistics, marine ecology, zoology, environmental science, or one of the natural sciences, or other closely allied field.

AND

Four (4) years of professional research work experience conducting statistical analysis of environmental data.

Option 2:

A Master’s degree with major study in statistics, marine ecology, zoology, environmental science, or one of the natural sciences, or other closely allied field.

AND

Two (2) years of professional research work experience conducting statistical analysis of environmental data.

Option 3:

A Ph.D. with major study in statistics, marine ecology, zoology, environmental science, or one of the natural sciences, or other closely allied field.

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment: 

Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license.

Desired Qualifications:
We highly encourage you to apply even if you do not have some (or all) of the desired experience below.
 

• Knowledge of principles, practices, and methods of environmental or resource management; methods and techniques of estuarine sampling, data gathering and analysis, technical writing methods; sediment and benthic infauna monitoring methods.
• Experience conducting statistical analysis of environmental data.

Note: Having some (or all) of this desired experience may make your application more competitive in a highly competitive applicant pool.

Ecology seeks diverse applicants: We view diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect through a broad lens including race, ethnicity, class, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, immigration status, military background, language, education, life experience, physical disability, neurodiversity, and intersectional identities. Qualified candidates from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
 
 Need an Accommodation in the application and/or screening process or this job announcement in an alternative format?
 

• Please call: (360) 407-6186 or email: careers@ecy.wa.gov and we will be happy to assist.
• If you are deaf or hard of hearing you can reach the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.
• If you need assistance applying for this job, please e-mail careers@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not send an email to this address to follow-up on the status of your application. You can view the latest status of your application on your profile's main page.
• If you are reading this announcement in print format, please enter the following URL to your search engine to apply: https://ecology.wa.gov/About-us/Get-to-know-us/Jobs-at-Ecology.   

Application Instructions:
 
 It's in the applicant's best interest to submit all of the documents listed below. Applications without these documents may be declined.
 

• A cover letter describing why you are interested in this position.
• A resume outlining your experience and education (if applicable) as it relates to the minimum qualifications of this position.
• A list of three professional references.

Note: References will only be contacted during the final steps of the recruitment process for candidates selected as finalists. References will not be contacted without the candidate’s formal authorization.

Please do NOT include your salary history. Wage/salary depends on qualifications or rules of promotion, if applicable.  
  
For Your Privacy:
When attaching documents to your application (such as Resume, Cover Letter, Transcripts, DD-214, etc.):
 

• Please be sure to remove private information such as your social security number, date of birth, etc. 
• Do not attach documents that are password-protected, as these documents may not be reviewed and may cause errors within your application when downloaded. 

Additional Application Instructions for Current Ecology Employees:
Please make sure to answer the agency-wide questions regarding permanent status as a classified employee within the Washington General Service or Washington Management Service. Do not forget to select Department of Ecology as a response to question 2, and type your personnel ID number for question 3. If you are not sure of your status or do not know your personnel ID number, please contact Human Resources.
 

Application Attestation:
 
The act of submitting application materials electronically is considered affirmation that the information is complete and truthful. The state may verify this information and any untruthful or misleading answers are cause for rejection of your application or dismissal if employed.
 

Other Information:

If you have specific questions about the position, please email Julianne Ruffner: julianne.ruffner@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Julianne to inquire about the status of your application.
 
To request the full position description: email careers@ecy.wa.gov. 

Why work for Ecology?
 
As an agency, our mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington's environment for current and future generations. We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, effective resource management, teamwork, professionalism, and accountability.
 
Joining Ecology means becoming a part of a team committed to protecting and restoring Washington State's environment. A career in public service allows you to help solve some of the most challenging problems facing our state, while keeping your health and financial security a priority. We combine one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation with a strong commitment to life/work balance.
 
To learn more about The Department of Ecology, please visit our website at www.ecology.wa.gov and follow, like or visit us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or our blog.

Collective Bargaining: This is a position covered by a bargaining unit for which the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) is the exclusive representative.   

Equal Opportunity Employer: The Washington State Department of Ecology is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, veterans, military spouses or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply. Persons needing accommodation in the application/testing process or this job announcement in an alternative format may call (360) 407-6186. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.

Note: This recruitment may be used to fill other positions of the same job classification across the agency. Once all the position(s) from the recruitment announcement are filled, the recruitment may only be used to fill additional open positions for the next sixty (60) days.