Environmental Scientist

The Hudson Valley Regional Council (HVRC) is seeking applicants for a full-time Environmental Scientist. HVRC is an organization of county governments comprising Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester counties. It is one of 650 such councils in the United States. HVRC helps municipalities access and understand information and grants from the state and federal level and provide technical assistance on environmental and sustainability programs, economic development, materials management, and water resources. Our programmatic areas are funded by the US Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration, US Environmental Protection Agency, New York Department of Environmental Conservation and its Hudson River Estuary Program, and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. HVRC also receives support from the county governments of the Mid-Hudson Region.

HVRC has been awarded an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant to mitigate emissions from closed landfills using biofilters. Adding biofilters to closed landfills is a low-cost method to remove methane from landfill gas (LFG). Biofilters will be used for passive gas collection to capture escaping emissions at older landfills past peak gas production and at landfills where gas collection is no longer economically or technically feasible.

Working under HVRC’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) from the EPA, the successful applicant will assist in measuring and monitoring landfill emissions in the seven-county Mid-Hudson Region. This team member will be involved in both field and office work, including, but not limited to, data analysis and report writing.

Duties of the Environmental Scientist will primarily include:

• Work with Project Manager to complete EPA-required documents, such as Quality Management Plan (QMP) and a Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP).
• Complete on the ground baseline and ongoing monitoring of methane emissions at landfills; help determine the LFG flow rate and the concentration of methane being emitted from each gas vent.
• Work with NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to ensure each landfill’s site management plan is updated to meet DEC land-use change requirements.
• Help determine the number, location, and sizes of the biofilters for each landfill.
• Assist in the design, installation, and maintenance of the landfill biofilters.
• Assist municipalities in potentially pursuing solar and/or battery storage on landfills, and ecologically restoring the landfills. (For example, assist with the publishing of a Request for Proposal (RFP) and selection of vendor(s) that will lease the land for installation of solar and/or battery storage.)
• Participate in regional, county, and landfill meetings to support ongoing work.
• Prepare and submit administrative documents, including quarterly reports and reimbursements per HVRC’s contractual obligations for the grant.
• Identify communities with eligible landfills to potentially participate in the program at a later date, funding permitting.
• Communicate with project manager and municipalities and collaborate with regional partners as needed.
• Other project and organizational tasks as assigned.

The minimum qualifications are a Bachelor's degree in environmental science or related field, and two years’ field monitoring experience, with LFG monitoring preferred. Experience in data analysis and report writing, specific experience with quality control and assurance plans preferred. The successful candidate will have the ability to work independently and as part of a team, engage various types of stakeholders (state agencies, local governments, and NGOs), and handle multiple tasks effectively and efficiently. The successful candidate must have a strong understanding of social-ecological systems. The position requires high levels of creativity, persistence, flexibility, compassion, and humor.

The successful candidate must be able to travel to landfill sites at low barometric pressure events. A valid driver’s license is required. The candidate will use and maintain their own vehicle for this frequent field work throughout the seven-county Mid-Hudson Region. Mileage will be reimbursed based on the federal mileage reimbursement rate. The candidate will communicate with the project manager and stakeholders and regularly report any changes, updates, or discrepancies. The successful candidate must possess high level of proficiency in Microsoft Office suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook, Teams; proficiency in Access a plus) and other web-based project management and tracking systems, with the ability to learn new applications. Assessment of these skills will be part of the final stage in the application process. Preferred qualifications include an understanding of and experience with LFG collection as well as experience with drafting quality control and assurance plans.

The estimated starting salary range for this full-time exempt position is $50,000 - $60,000 and will be commensurate with experience.Benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance, 14 paid holidays, and PTO, including sick, personal, and vacation. In 2025, HVRC expects to enroll in the New York State and Local Retirement System, making employees eligible for the New York State public pension plan. HVRC staff must live in the seven-county Mid-Hudson Region of New York. HVRC staff work on a hybrid schedule with two to three days per week in the Newburgh office. This position reports to the Climate Action Planning Manager.

HVRC is an equal employment opportunity employer.HVRC employs, retains, promotes, and otherwise treats all employees and job applicants on the basis of merit, qualifications, and competence. This policy shall be applied without regard to any individual's sex, race, color, religion, national origin, age, genetic predisposition, marital status, military status, sexual orientation, disability or status as a victim of domestic violence.

HVRC shall not discriminate against any applicant or employee with a sensory, physical, or mental impairment, unless the impairment cannot be reasonably accommodated and prevents proper performance of the essential duties and responsibilities of the job.

Employees with physical or mental health conditions that may qualify as disabilities as defined by federal or state law should make HVRC aware of their need for an accommodation as soon as it arises. HVRC will work with each individual to define their job-related needs and to try to reasonably accommodate those needs.

Please email your cover letter, résumé, and relevant writing sample to the attention of Manager Mary Lambert at mlambert@hudsonvalleyrc.org by December 13, 2024. Interviews will be scheduled immediately thereafter. Is this for a second round of monitoring?Haven't the LFs already been determined?