Ocean Job Board
0
Organizations
0
Jobs
Water Quality Associate Specialist
Heal the Bay
Quality Assurance
Santa Monica, CA, USA
USD 23-27 / hour
Posted on Jun 6, 2025
Water Quality Associate Specialist
Heal the Bay is the most recognized environmental nonprofit group in Los Angeles for a reason: since 1985, we have been dedicated to protecting the health, safety, and cleanliness of Southern California’s coastal waters and watersheds for both people and marine life. Through education, science, advocacy, and community action, we raise awareness and implement practical solutions to address complex water quality issues.
Each year, we organize hundreds of beach and community cleanups, engaging individuals and educating them on the root causes of pollution in coastal and inland areas. We also provide easily accessible water quality data for over 700 beaches along the West Coast, as well as local freshwater recreation sites.
Advocating for strong water quality regulations is central to our mission—protecting public health and local ecosystems. We also 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.
Position Summary:
The Associate Specialist is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of Heal the Bay’s Stream Team and River Report Card Programs. The Stream Team is a community science initiative that trains local students in field and laboratory techniques to prepare them for STEM careers. Monitoring occurs at 12 sites in Malibu Creek State Park and the L.A. River Watershed, with additional storm drain testing in the Elysian Valley. The River Report Card provides free, weekly water quality grades for 35 freshwater recreation sites across Los Angeles County, offering essential information to safeguard public health, including the 12 sites monitored by the Stream Team. These grades are based on analyses of fecal indicator bacteria levels, which can indicate the presence of harmful pathogens. The program also releases an annual report each summer, summarizing water quality trends and findings. These initiatives aim to equip the public with the information they need to protect themselves from harmful pollution in freshwater recreational waters, and to identify and address potential sources of contamination that could impact water quality in the L.A. River and surrounding environments.
The Associate Specialist will also support the Beach Report Card by collaborating with the Water Quality Data Associate Specialist, who leads the program. This includes obtaining and analyzing bacteria data, updating water quality grades, and supporting the annual reports for each program as needed.
The Associate Specialist is also responsible for tracking, analyzing, commenting on, and advocating for water quality protection and improvements related to recreational waterbodies, at the state and local levels, focused on bacterial pollution, sewage spill protocols and notifications, and riparian habitat. The Associate Specialist represents Heal the Bay’s positions at public meetings, hearings and other forums and participates in recreational water quality stakeholder groups and coalitions. The Associate Specialist develops and maintain relationships with beach managers, agencies, government staff, advocacy groups, scientific researchers and other environmental stakeholders.
In addition, the Associate Specialist will participate in Heal the Bay campaigns, and education & outreach work. The Associate Specialist position will report to Heal the Bay’s Associate Director of Science & Policy.
Essential Job Functions Include:
- Manage the day-to-day aspects of the Stream Team and River Report Card programs;
- Hire, train, and mentor summer student water quality monitors as part of the Stream Team.
- Coordinate sampling schedules and field activities, ensuring data quality and compliance with established methods.
- Update the Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) and implement QA/QC procedures.
- Oversee data collection and analysis for bacteria monitoring and water quality grading at freshwater recreation sites, including the 12 Stream Team sites.
- Manage databases and calculate weekly River Report Card grades.
- Conduct occasional field and laboratory work to assess bacteria levels in freshwater areas.
- Lead the writing of the annual River Report Card report.
- Manage the River Report Card website;
- Publish weekly River Report Card grades and updates on Heal the Bay’s River Report Card website.
- Ensure accurate display of grades, historical data, and site information, collaborating with the communications and technology teams to maintain data accuracy and accessibility.
- Explore opportunities to improve the website’s functionality, user experience, and data presentation.
- Support outreach and education efforts by updating content, sharing stories of the Stream Team’s work, and promoting public engagement with freshwater quality monitoring data.
- Support the Beach Report Card program in collaboration with the Water Quality Data Associate Specialist:
- Assist with obtaining and analyzing bacteria data and calculating weekly grades.
- Aid in maintaining and updating the website and mobile app platforms for BRC and RRC grades and alerts.
- Contribute technical expertise and writing support to the annual Beach Report Card and other technical documents.
- Lead on policy and advocacy work for recreational water quality
- Track, analyze, comment on, and advocate for water quality protection and improvements related to recreational waterbodies, focused on bacterial pollution, sewage spill protocols and notifications, and riparian habitat;
- Represent Heal the Bay’s positions at public meetings, hearings and other forums; participate in water quality workgroups, TACs, watershed and river coalitions, including LA River;
- Maintain, cultivate and establish relationships with recreational water quality monitoring agencies for freshwater sites in Los Angeles County;
- Create and maintain relationships with government staff, advocacy groups, scientific researchers and other environmental stakeholders;
- Engage in AB 1066 (Bloom, 2021) implementation by making recommendations to the California Water Quality Monitoring Council for a definition of a priority freshwater recreation area and elements of a statewide monitoring program; work towards new legislation to require that inland recreational waters are regularly monitored;
- Participate in inter-departmental projects and Heal the Bay campaigns:
- Collaborate with other staff on education, outreach, and policy initiatives.
- Participate in Science & Policy department meetings.
- Coordinate with the communications team for public outreach, updates, and media requests related to the River Report Card, Stream Team, and Beach Report Card.
Preferred Experience and Skills:
- Passion for Heal the Bay’s mission and for protecting environmental and public health in Southern California’s freshwater and coastal environments.
- Bachelor’s degree or above in Environmental Science, Biology, Public Policy, or a related discipline.
- Background in water quality monitoring, environmental field and lab methods, and policy advocacy, with familiarity with relevant laws, regulations, and policies (e.g., Clean Water Act, AB 1066).
- Team leadership experience, including mentoring or supervising staff, interns, or volunteers, and experience working with community science programs, public engagement, or STEM mentorship.
- Familiarity with the L.A. River and local watershed issues or similar urban watershed challenges.
- Strong interpersonal, oral communication, and public speaking skills.
- Strong writing skills, with experience in technical writing, data analysis reporting, or policy analysis.
- Excellent organizational, analytical, and project planning skills, with strong problem-solving abilities and attention to detail.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and familiarity with CRM systems like Salesforce and/or basic coding experience (Python, R) a plus.
- Ability to travel throughout Los Angeles County and beyond; some evening and weekend work required; must have reliable transportation.
Compensation:
This is a full-time, non-exempt position $23.00-$27.00/hour depending on experience, with appropriate state and federal taxes withheld.
Benefits:
Dental, medical, health insurance, and vacation benefits are included as part of employment. Heal the Bay will cover 90% of benefits. In accordance with California Labor Law, employee will be eligible to receive up to 72 hours of paid sick leave per calendar year, after completing 90 days of employment. All Heal the Bay recognized Holidays will be compensated in accordance to time worked.
Schedule:
Participation in some weekend and evening events, as well as regional and statewide travel, may be necessary. We are currently working on a hybrid schedule with some remote and some in-person requirements. Heal the Bay offers a dynamic work environment with highly motivated colleagues including other staff and volunteers.
Physical Demands:
The employee is occasionally required to work in outdoor conditions, reach with hands and arms, and talk or hear.
Review of applications will be on a rolling basis with position to be filled as soon as possible.
Heal the Bay is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status and we strongly encourage applications from individuals that reflect the diversity of Los Angeles County.
Heal the Bay complies with AB 1008, the Fair Chance Act, during the hiring process. Once a conditional job offer has been made the candidate will be asked to complete a Live Scan criminal background check. A thorough assessment of conviction history will be considered including: the nature and gravity of the criminal history, the time that has passed since the conviction, and the nature of the job the candidate is seeking.