The San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) is seeking a scientist or engineer with an interest in environmental field studies and excellent organizational skills to join our interdisciplinary team investigating nutrient biogeochemistry and ecosystem responses in San Francisco Bay. This work will be carried out in support of the San Francisco Bay Nutrient Management Strategy (NMS; see http://sfbaynutrients.sfei.org), a multi-year science program studying the impacts of nutrient loads to San Francisco Bay and evaluating potential management actions. Working with regional, state, federal and academic collaborators, we study the Bay’s biogeochemistry, water quality, and habitat condition using ship-based sampling, high-frequency in situ sensors, and coupled hydrodynamic-biogeochemical modeling. 

This is a full-time position for a candidate who will play a key role in maintaining a network of water quality sensors and assist with the analysis of ecological and biogeochemical data collected by the NMS. The candidate should have a Bachelor’s degree in a pertinent scientific field and experience with water quality, estuarine ecosystems, or a related area. They must be able to: (1) coordinate logistics and carry out field work in an estuarine environment; (2) collect, review, and synthesize scientific data and information from various sources; (3) work well in teams as well as independently with general direction from senior scientific staff; and (4) communicate findings effectively in presentations, reports, memoranda, and scientific journals.

Typical Duties

• Contribute to the management of a distributed network of water quality sensors in South San Francisco Bay.

• Coordinating, preparing for, and carrying out field work on a boat.

• Conducting verification/validation (QA/QC) of NMS data and working with laboratories to troubleshoot analyses and reporting issues as needed. 

• Servicing and calibrating water quality instruments in the lab.

• Analyzing and synthesizing data collected by the NMS.

• Assisting with project management and operations tasks for the NMS field programs (e.g., budget tracking, task management, and coordination with external collaborators).

• Assisting with writing technical reports and journal articles, and contributing to the development of posters and presentations for meetings and conferences.

• Occasionally lifting or carrying heavy field equipment for short durations.

• While SFEI prioritizes a work/life balance, this role involves working 2-3 long field days per month in varying weather conditions.

If you’re excited about this role, but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this, or one of our other roles.

Required Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, civil/environmental engineering, geology, ecology, oceanography, chemistry, biology, or another related scientific field. 

• Familiarity with environmental chemistry or environmental science, particularly field work, data analysis, and report writing.

• Ability to lead or participate in boat or ship-based field work, and to coordinate field and lab logistics.

• Experience processing, analyzing, and visualizing data using Python or R (or similar) would be considered an asset.

• Excellent communication, presentation and writing skills, and ability to synthesize information.

• Ability to work well in teams as well work independently with general direction from senior scientific staff.

• Valid Driver’s License.

About Clean Water

SFEI’s Clean Water Program is one of the nation’s premier water quality science programs. It anticipates and meets the water quality data needs of policy-makers, resource managers, and the public. It helps the public, regulators, and those who discharge into our waters create more effective policies to ensure the health of our waters. 

About SFEI

San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which has a 25-year track record of providing robust and innovative science to decision-makers, policy-makers, practitioners, and community members to measurably improve the health and resiliency of Bay-Delta ecosystems. As a boundary organization, SFEI operates at the interface between science and policy, recognized nationally for our ability to build consensus to support effective environmental decision-making and policy. Our mission is to deliver visionary science that empowers people to revitalize nature in our communities. 

SFEI employs an interdisciplinary staff of more than 70. Our operations and IT staff are the backbone of our organization and keep everything running smoothly. SFEI has three major programs: Clean Water, Environmental Informatics, and Resilient Landscapes. Our program staff represent numerous scientific and technological fields, including chemistry, modeling, ecology, wildlife biology, landscape planning, historical ecology, geomorphology, geospatial analysis, and web development. 

For more information on our mission, values, programs, and staff, visit the San Francisco Estuary Institute website.  

Benefit highlights

• Matching contributions to retirement plan (403B)

• Medical Insurance: health, vision, dental

• 12 paid holidays, plus vacation daysng at 3 weeks

• Hybrid workplace with exact balance depending on the specifics of the position (field and laboratory work require in-office presence)

Equal Opportunity & Affirmative Action Employer

At SFEI, we celebrate the diversity of our staff and the places we serve, and recognize the value and strength of diversity. We are committed to growing together and creating a more diverse and inclusive workplace. In 2022, SFEI developed and adopted mission and vision statements for DEIJ within and beyond our organization. We also created an action plan which is currently underway. We strongly encourage applications from women-identified people, people of color, and people with other identities commonly under-represented in environmental science. We invite you to share what you like about your professional experience as well as about yourself personally. 

San Francisco Estuary Institute is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. We are committed to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment of any kind. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, physical or mental disability, family or parental status, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Accommodations Statement 

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you have the right to request an accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our website or application portal as a result of your disability. To request an accommodation, contact us at 510-746-7355 or admin@sfei.org.

Please note that SFEI cannot sponsor an employment visa (e.g., H-1B) to fill this position.

In the spirit of a fair hiring process, no phone calls please.