Organization
Heal the Bay
Job Description
About the Organization
Heal the Bay stands out as the most recognized environmental nonprofit group in LA for a reason: since 1985, we have been dedicated to maintaining the safety, health, and cleanliness of Southern California’s coastal waters and watersheds, both for people and marine life. Through the combined efforts of education, science, advocacy, and community action, we strive to raise awareness and implement practical solutions to address complex water quality issues.
Every year, we organize hundreds of beach and community cleanups, actively engaging individuals and informing them about the root causes of pollution along shorelines and in their neighborhoods. Additionally, we offer easily accessible water quality data for over 700 beaches along the West Coast, as well as local freshwater recreation sites.
Advocating for stringent water quality regulations is a crucial part of our mission, aimed at safeguarding the health of both humans and the diverse array of animals that inhabit local creeks, rivers, and the Santa Monica Bay.
Moreover, we proudly operate the award-winning Heal the Bay Aquarium at the Santa Monica Pier, inspiring visitors to become stewards of our most vital natural resource: clean water.
About the Role
Heal the Bay is looking for a full-time Water Quality Data Specialist with data management and coding experience to join the Science and Policy Team. This is an excellent opportunity to work in a dynamic and unique work environment with a reputable environmental advocacy organization. The primary duties will be to guide the day-to-day aspects of Heal the Bay’s Beach Report Card, Nowcast, and River Report Card programs, including spearheading modeling efforts, maintaining websites and mobile apps, and aiding the Summer Stream Team field and laboratory work. The Associate Specialist will also have opportunities to work closely with other Heal the Bay staff on inter-departmental projects and programs.
Expectations & Responsibilities
Manage the day-to-day aspects of the Beach Report Card (BRC), NowCast, and River Report Card (RRC) programs
- Understand historical and technical aspects of all programs including sampling methodology, field and lab work, modeling;
- Update quality assurance project plan (QAPP) and implement QA/QC procedures;
- Collect data and manage databases necessary to calculate weekly BRC and RRC grades and calibrate and manage NowCast models;
- Calculate weekly BRC and RRC grades;
- Provide technical and writing expertise for annual BRC and RRC reports, and other technical reports;
- Support preparation of data reports and analyses for seasonal reports, advocacy, grant applications, and in other written materials;
- Provide technical assistance needed for programmatic decisions, such as NowCast expansion, improving program automation, improving methodologies, data migration and more;
- Develop and complete research projects such as investigating trends in bacteria levels, sewage spills, and compliance;
Manage BRC web and mobile app platform and RRC website
- Publish regular BRC grades on the BRC platforms and RRC grades on Heal the Bay’s River Report Card website;
- Monitor beach closures, sewage spills, rain advisories, and other alerts at beaches/rivers around California, and update alerts on the website;
- Monitor website and mobile app for correct display of data and bugs;
- Aid in transitioning the BRC and NowCast programs to a new web-based data platform;
- Assist with implementing a new methodology for RRC and BRC grades;
Lead NowCast Program and modeling efforts
- Build and calibrate NowCast models (summer and winter swim seasons);
- Ensure the automated system for daily NowCast models is functioning;
- Fix errors that occur and update the automated system as necessary;
Assist with summer Stream Team/River Report Card Program
- Help hire, train and mentor summer student water quality monitors;
- Ensure safety of field and lab work, as well as data quality;
- Conduct day to day oversight, review of documents, ensuring goals and deliverables are met;
- Help set Stream Team work schedules and ensure shift coverage;
- Conduct occasional field and laboratory work to assess bacteria levels in freshwater areas during summer months, as needed;
FT/PT
Full Time
Application Deadline