Water Quality Monitoring Technicians

Do you like to work outside? Are you interested in conducting water quality sampling for Montana’s streams, lakes, rivers, and wetlands? The Water Quality Monitoring Technician is responsible for assisting pre-field work, such as calibration and maintenance of monitoring devices, inventory and requisition of field season equipment; field work, such as assisting in various chemical, biological and physical sampling procedures; and non-field work efforts such as data entry, transporting samples, and gathering supplies. This position requires extensive travel across the state of Montana to various watersheds with overnight stays, sometimes working and camping in remote areas. Driving and navigating to sampling sites is required. Training on sampling methods will be provided to the successful candidates; however, knowledge of surface water sampling methods is a plus. Successful candidates will collect nutrient, metals, sediment, E.coli, algae, and macroinvertebrate samples as well as monitor flow and the current conditions of wetlands. Project opportunities may include water quality and pollution source assessments, harmful algal bloom response monitoring, wetland effectiveness monitoring, and restoration project effectiveness monitoring. The Water Quality Monitoring Technician may also assist with education and outreach related to monitoring results and promoting voluntary water quality improvement practices.