Water Quality Monitoring Technician

Do you like to work outside? Interested in water quality? DEQ’s Water Quality Planning Bureau is seeking qualified and motivated people to collect water quality data in Montana’s watersheds this summer. Field technicians are based in Helena and travel and work across Montana. You will learn and apply the State’s monitoring protocols to collect data for water quality assessments and wetland evaluations.

The term of these positions is a maximum 1 year, or from mid-May to October.

Duties include

• Data collection using established field protocols, including a variety of chemical, physical and biological parameter methods and use of instruments and sampling equipment
• Extensive travel to monitoring sites statewide (overnight stays for up to 5-6 days at time, lodging and camping coordination, driving and navigation responsibility, equipment packing)
• Data organization, various office tasks.

Qualifications 

• One field season of environmental data collection and an interest in water quality monitoring
• Flexible schedule (schedule is subject to change with minimal notice so this position does not accommodate extended periods of time off during the summer; limited time off may be negotiated)
• Willingness to work long hours (often 10+ hours per day) and potentially on weekends, to work outside in unfavorable weather conditions, carry up to 40 lbs, and to sometimes hike and camp overnight
• Effective communication skills (typically crews of 1-2 people working daily together for a week)
• Take initiative to assist DEQ staff with all day-to-day activities;
• Ability to follow technical monitoring protocols (training provided)
• Valid driver’s license

Benefits

• Pays approximately $19/hr + benefits with health insurance
• Meal per diem while in travel status
• Compensatory time (1.5) earned for overtime worked > 40 hours/week
• State vehicle and reimbursements of expenses provided for travel