Research Specialist, Advanced, Water Quality Project Coordinator

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The Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Virginia (CBNERR-VA), administered by William and Mary’s Batten School of Coastal and Marine Sciences and Virginia Institute of Marine Science, is seeking a senior-level Research Specialist to serve as Water Quality Project Coordinator within its Water Programme. The postholder assumes technical and co-leadership responsibility for CBNERR-VA’s surface water quality mapping programme (DataFlow), a high-spatial-resolution programme used to assess water quality criteria protecting aquatic life, human health, and public recreation, and provides senior technical support across the broader CBNERR-VA water quality monitoring and research portfolio.

DataFlow responsibilities include sensor calibration and maintenance, serving as scientist-in-charge during field surveys, downloading and quality-controlling primary and secondary measurements, and processing grab samples for physical and biological constituents including total suspended solids and chlorophyll. Broader Water Programme duties encompass deployment and retrieval of water quality, hydrologic-oceanographic, and meteorological instrumentation; collection and analysis of multi-medium samples; data management using Python-based quality control tools; and contributions to scientific reports, peer-reviewed manuscripts, and grant progress reports. The postholder also provides limited supervision of one part-time direct report and supports interns and volunteers.

Candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree in marine science, environmental science, biological science, chemical science, resource management, or a related field, along with a valid driver’s licence and CPR/First Aid certification (or willingness to obtain within 90 days). Working knowledge of multiparameter water quality data sondes, GPS, weather monitoring equipment, and aquatic field sampling procedures is required. A US Coast Guard Captain’s Licence or VIMS Trailerable Vessels Operators Certification is preferred, as is multi-year experience with YSI instrumentation and environmental monitoring programmes.