Senior Coastal Scientist and Unit Supervisor (Natural Resource Scientist 4); WA Department of Ecology

May 16, 2025 Margaret Myszewski

You will join Washington’s Applied Coastal Research and Engineering (ACRE) team, which delivers high-quality data, science-based information, technical expertise, and innovative solutions to support Washington’s coastal communities and Tribes. Through monitoring, research, and collaboration, ACRE bridges the gap between data, decision-makers, and the public to advance informed coastal management decisions that promote resilient shorelines and nearshore habitat functions.

In this role, you will lead the state’s Coastal Monitoring and Analysis Program (CMAP), which has been seasonally monitoring Washington’s shorelines for nearly 27 years, amassing one of the longest continuous datasets of its kind in the world. As the agency’s designated expert in coastal morphology, monitoring, and processes, you will oversee a team of scientists, geologists, and engineers conducting applied research along Washington’s Pacific Ocean Coast and throughout the Salish Sea. You will lead CMAP’s efforts to document and understand physical changes along Washington’s beaches, bluffs, and nearshore zones. You will collaborate with a shoreline mapping team documenting indicators of nearshore habitat health, coastal hazards, and other shoreline conditions, and support a coastal engineering team providing technical assistance, guidance, and assessment of approaches for coastal resilience and process-based restoration. Your expertise in coastal processes, geomorphology, quantitative data analysis, and scientific methods will be key to advancing ACRE’s work and helping solve some of Washington’s most pressing coastal challenges.

What you will do:

Collect and analyze coastal data: Lead coastal monitoring work to study coastal morphodynamics and the performance of natural and nature-based features, applying analytical approaches to interpret physical processes and geomorphic change.
Develop and refine coastal morphology data analysis techniques: Coordinate with Coastal Geomatics Scientists to adapt specialized methods and create workflows for coastal data collection and analysis using topo-bathymetric surveys, boat-based and aerial lidar, sonar, photogrammetry, and RFID rock tracking technology.
Report and present scientific findings: Lead and guide publications, technical reports, conference presentations, and data products, translating complex science for diverse audiences, including coastal managers and policymakers.
Lead and manage the CMAP Unit: Plan and prioritize workloads, assign tasks, and coordinate communications within and outside the Unit.
Supervise staff and oversee hiring: Evaluate staff needs, conduct performance reviews, support professional development, and manage personnel actions.
Oversee budgets and expenditures: Oversee timekeeping, leave approvals, and financial tracking in coordination with ACRE Section Manager.
Manage contracts and projects: Ensure deliverables meet quality standards, coordinate team roles, and serve as the primary point of contact for clients.
Mentor and support CMAP staff: Conduct regular check-ins, meetings, and professional guidance.
Develop funding proposals and research initiatives: Identify grant opportunities, propose research to advance our understanding and management of coastal systems, and negotiate contracts to support program growth and technical capacity.

Qualifications

A total of ten years of combined education and/or professional experience in coastal morphology, coastal monitoring, coastal processes and geomorphology, coastal engineering, or related work aligned with the essential functions of this position.

Experience must include at least two of the following:

Developing and applying methods to analyze topographic and bathymetric datasets to assess coastal change.
Planning and executing research campaigns to inform science-based decision making.
Performing field data collection activities, including walking or navigating challenging terrain in coastal environments and working in varying weather conditions.
Publishing peer-reviewed publication(s) focused on coastal processes, morphology, and/or engineering.

Experience must include demonstrated competence in the following skill sets:

Experience writing technical reports and scientific publications, presenting at scientific conferences, and presenting technical topics to the public.
Guiding and mentoring staff or students.
Managing projects to maintain alignment with specified scope, schedule, and budget.
Developing proposals, budget estimates, and scopes of work. Developing and managing contractual agreements.

Examples of how to qualify:

Ten years of related experience.
Nine years of related experience AND 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter college credits.
Eight years of related experience AND 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter college credits (Associate’s degree).
Seven years of related experience AND 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter college credits.
Six years of related experience AND a Bachelor’s degree in a related field of study.
Four years of related experience AND a Master’s degree in a related field of study.
Two years of related experience and a Ph.D. involving major study related to coastal mapping, GIS, GNSS surveying, imagery interpretation, or coastal science

Desired Qualifications:

Academic or professional experience with survey-grade GNSS, topographic LiDAR, hydrographic survey equipment, processing topo-bathymetric data, or conducting geospatial analyses using MATLAB or specialized survey software.
Knowledge of coastal processes, waves, sediment transport, geomorphology, sedimentology, geospatial analysis, and applied math.
Familiarity with Washington’s diverse shorelines, from the high-energy Pacific Ocean Coast to the more protected Salish Sea, including composite beaches, bluff-backed beaches, and the connections between nearshore habitat and state-wide environmental initiatives.
Experience in a supervisory and/or team leadership role.

If you are excited about this role but not sure if your experience aligns perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply. Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At the Department of Ecology, we are dedicated to building a diverse and authentic workplace centered in belonging. You may just be the needed candidate for this or other roles.

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license.

Application Process

Ecology seeks diverse applicants: We view diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect through a broad lens including race, ethnicity, class, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, immigration status, military background, language, education, life experience, physical disability, neurodiversity, and intersectional identities. Qualified job seekers from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

How to Apply

Click “Apply” . Complete the entire application, including full work history and responses to all supplemental questions, and attach:

Cover letter, describing your interest in and qualifications for this position
Resume

Because we base our selection on the information you provide, it is in your best interest to complete the application thoroughly. A resume will not substitute for the “work experience” section of the application or vice versa. Applications with blank fields or supplemental question responses with comments such as “see resume” may be considered incomplete.
For detailed application information, please visit our Recruitment website.

Questions?

For specific questions about the position location options, schedule, or duties, please contact George Kaminsky at: George.kaminsky@ecy.wa.gov
If you need assistance applying for this job, are inquiring about the status of your application, would like to request the full position description, or have any other questions, please contact the Recruitment Team at careers@ecy.wa.gov