Job Description

Requisition Id: 4363

Salary: $20.08 - $24.54

Salary Grade: H6

Job Location: Central Reg Office & Research Ctr (COLUM2)

Closing Date: February 22, 2026

Our Culture: The Missouri Department of Conservation supports a culture of trusted professionals that is dedicated to our mission, responsible stewards, and believe in One MDC.

To learn more about the job, feel free to contact the hiring supervisor,Jessi L Urichich at Jessi.Urichich@mdc.mo.gov or at573 9053553x2972, during regular business hours. We would love to hear from you!

Objective

The Water Quality Assistant supports an emergency response program to aquatic health issues like fish kills and harmful algal blooms among internal and external partners. The Assistant aids the Scientist in managing information in several large databases, provides technical support and training to regional staff, and participates in program research for investigating water quality issues. The Assistant manages shared lab space and automated water quality equipment for monitoring projects.

Essential Job Duties

• Maintain Data Sonde fleet, which includes: pre- and post-deployment calibrations, cleaning instruments after deployment, routine maintenance, coordinating service repairs with contractor, ordering supplies and reagents, and working with the Scientist to establish future contracts.

• Construct deployment platforms and cages to deploy Data Sondes and other deployable field equipment.

• Manage fish kill investigation cases with natural causes (non-regulated cases), including ensuring data is accurate by communicating with the investigator, maintaining accurate correspondence records and evidence across several databases, and answering questions from investigators when needed.

• Responsible for upholding MDC's part of the multi-agency Harmful Algal Bloom Monitoring Team by ensuring that HABs on MDC-owned properties are properly responded to and by maintaining these cases in a shared database.

• Assists Scientist with monitoring and research of aquatic health issues, including lab and field studies, by serving as crew leader and coordinating data collection across branches and regions.

• Supports peer-reviewed research and communications, such as poster and verbal presentations, summary reports, and manuscripts.

• Providing training to regional staff on maintenance, calibration, and deployment of automated water quality equipment.

• Participate in reviewing applications, conducting interviews, and recommending hires for seasonal and part-time employees, and interns.

• Interact with internal and external customers through telephone, virtual, and in-person discussions.

• Review and update standard operating procedures for fish kill investigations, water quality lab, equipment, and applications.

• Ensure chemical safety protocols are being followed in the water quality lab, and safety protocols are being followed in the field.

• Vehicle and boat maintenance and coordination.

• Assists in creating and providing procedural training materials to internal or external partners in response to events such as fish kills, aquatic animal mortality events, health investigations, water quality, etc.

• Assist other Health Unit initiatives when time permits, which may include assisting Conservation Health Section with field and lab monitoring efforts including collecting and processing biological and environmental samples, and accurately aging otoliths and spines; assisting with hatchery fish health projects; assisting with updating monetary damages of fish and wildlife.

Ancillary Job Duties

• Other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s in Fisheries, Biological Sciences, Limnology, Environmental Science, or related field.
• One or more years of experience with water quality equipment is highly desirable.
• Previous experience leading others in field and lab work, highly desired.
• Excellent communication skills.
• One or more years of experience working with large datasets
• One or more years of field season experience with fish sampling, taxonomic identification and laboratory processing of samples
• Must maintain a valid, current driver’s license.
• Ability to pass an approved boating safety course and obtain a Missouri Boating Safety Certification Card within 6 months of employment.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to work independently and act decisively on the determined course of action.
• Knowledge of basic water quality, limnology, and stream ecology.
• Ability to work with and communicate with internal and external partners, organizations, and individuals in a timely and professional manner.
• Knowledge of maintaining and operating YSI, EXO, datasondes, or other equipment used for monitoring water quality.
• Ability to work in cave ecosystems in tight and dark conditions.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Access, Excel, R, and other database management techniques is desired.
• Ability to coordinate and successfully lead teams in a professional manner in the field and lab.
• Ability to operate boats, outboard motors, trucks with trailers, and commonly used sampling gear for fishes, macroinvertebrates, algae, and water quality.
• Knowledge to identify Midwestern fish species.
• Ability to work irregular hours and weekends with the possibility of extended travel during seasonal sampling periods.
• Ability to maintain accurate and organized records.
• Ability to operate office equipment, such as printer, copier, and phone.

Work Environment

• Regularly work in office and lab environments.
• Regularly work in field environments with adverse conditions.
• Occasionally exposed to loud noises which may require the use of hearing protection.

Physical Abilities

• Remain stationary up to 70% of the time.
• Move about grounds, both inside and outside of buildings.
• Regularly operate tools and other machinery and relocate machinery to other areas.
• Frequently communicate and exchange accurate information.
• Clarity of vision, three-dimensional vision, precise hand-eye coordination, and the ability to identify and distinguish colors.
• Regularly lift up to 30 pounds, correctly lift up to 75 pounds.
• Concentrated attention is required at all times.
• Regular attendance is a necessary and essential function.

Disclaimer

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; an employee will also perform other reasonably related job responsibilities as assigned by immediate supervisor and other management as required. The Missouri Department of Conservation reserves the right to revise or change job duties as the need arises. This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment. Management reserves the right to change job descriptions, job duties, functions, and requirements.

Exemption Status/Special Notes

This position has been determined to be Nonexempt according to the Fair Labor Standards Act. Employees must agree to accept compensatory time in lieu of cash payments in accordance with the Department's Compensatory Time Off and Overtime Policy.

Salaried and hourly employees are expected to use a mobile device-cellular phone for Department business, as needed.

MDC promotes a Tobacco-Free (smoke and smokeless) working environment.

The Department of Conservation will only hire United States citizens and aliens authorized to work in the United States. All new employees will be required to complete an "Employment Eligibility Verification" (Form I-9) and produce requested documentation after employment.

Candidates seeking initial employment or re-employment must submit to a drug screen following offer of employment.

All persons employed with the state of Missouri shall file all state income tax forms and pay all state income taxes owed.