Title Closure Hydrogeologist (Senior-Level) Position Number 39587 Company WA River Protection Solutions City/State Richland, WA Location 2505 Garlick/RCHN Posted 10/31/2024 Closes 11/14/2024 Regular/Temporary Regular Full/Part-Time Full-Time Job Responsibilities/Duties Washington River Protection Solutions (WRPS) manages one of the most challenging radioactive waste cleanup projects in the country. Our focus is reducing the environmental risk posed by 56 million gallons of radioactive and chemical waste stored in 177 underground tanks on the Hanford Site located in Richland, WA. Join us today and be a part of history! The Closure and Interim Measures (C&IM) organization at WRPS performs waste management area closure activities for the Hanford tank farms in accordance with Site-wide integrated closure strategies. The C&IM organization is in search of a Senior-level Hydrogeologist with experience in subsurface site characterization and contaminant fate and transport assessments needed to assure State and Federal regulators and other stakeholders that corrective actions, interim measures, and final closure selected and implemented in SST WMAs will be conducted in a manner that is protective of human health and the environment for current and future generations. The individual selected for this position will become an important technical member of multi-disciplinary teams developed within the C&IM organization and other supporting WRPS groups that are focused on a variety of tank-farm closure activities. The candidate will provide technical leadership and support to the hydrogeologic aspects of the interpretation of site characterization data and information, and it use in the development and implementation of modeling approaches used to human health and environmental risk assessments and performance assessments for tank farm waste facilities and the subsurface environment. These interpretations and assessments generally focus on supporting subsurface characterization, risk evaluations, and remediation activities for contaminated waste sites in the Hanford Site tank farm areas. Risk evaluations and modeling activities implemented within the C&IM are being performed in support of technical analyses and regulatory documentation needed to support waste cleanup, corrective measures, and closure activities for tank farm areas. These analyses are being performed in accordance with the requirements of Department of Energy Order 435.1 (Radioactive Waste Management), Washington Administrative Code 173-340 (Model Toxics Control Act - Cleanup), and RCRA Corrective Action and CERCLA Guidance. The individual selected for this senior hydrogeologist will lead a team involved with: * Interpretation of site characterization of the hydrogeology and radiological and hazardous chemical contamination of backfill and vadose zone sediments that have been impacted by past tank waste losses and releases or will be impacted by future releases from wastes left in tanks and ancillary equipment at closure in single-shell tank farm areas, * Development and use of one-, two-, and three-dimensional numerical models to simulate subsurface flow and contaminant fate and transport from radiological and chemically dangerous waste sites associated with the Hanford tank farms, * Preparation of regulatory documents reporting the results of site characterization and the fate and transport modeling with a specific emphasis on clear communication of activities supporting conceptual and numerical model development, model verification, model execution, and reporting simulated impacts to human health and the environment over prolonged durations, * Planning, collection, and interpretation of field characterization data, laboratory analyses, in RCRA Facility Investigations and/or CERCLA remedial investigations to develop a detailed understanding of the nature and extent of radioactive and hazardous chemicals in subsurface vadose zone soils that have been impacted by past leaks and releases from tank farm facilities and waste sources and to determine if corrective action is needed within the tank farm areas, * Technical support to detailed corrective measure studies of contaminated backfill and vadose zone sediments to evaluate and determine final remediation alternatives of this type of contamination in Hanford Site tank farm areas, * Hydrogeologic support to the design, evaluation, and construction of interim measures, including the use of interim surface barriers, identified to mitigate the impacts from water infiltration and from past tank waste releases until more permanent solutions can be implemented, and * Hydrogeologic support to the development of final plans that provide configurations for eventual landfill closure of residual wastes left in tanks and ancillary equipment after waste retrieval has been completed in all tank farm areas. These final closure plans incorporate a number of supporting analysis of the performance assessment of the landfill-closed tank farms areas that include the long-term impacts to human health and the environment from radiological and hazardous chemical constituents eventually left in tanks and ancillary equipment after closure. The individual selected for this senior-level scientist position will be responsible for performing the following duties and responsibilities: * Lead efforts to interpret site characterization data and its use in the development of numerical models supporting environmental fate and transport assessments of radiological and chemical constituents contained in past tank waste losses or in future releases of such waste left in tanks and ancillary equipment at closure. * Lead efforts for routine data compilation and analysis using industry standard applications associated with site characterization and the development and implementation of fate and transport modeling analyses supporting regulatory assessments of risk and dose assessments. * Lead the identification of technical issues and problem-solving approaches for efficient and effective collection of site characterization and the implementation of human health and environmental risk assessments and performance assessments needed for remediation and closure of tank farm areas. * Support the collection and interpretation of site characterization of backfill and vadose zone sediments to assist in the identification and implementation of potential corrective measures and/or closure configurations implemented in tank farms area. * Lead the development and implementation of graphical tools and visualization techniques of site characterization data and information to communicate results to regulators and stakeholders. * Participate as a subject matter expert with other multi-disciplinary team members to plan, implement and document site characterization, and modeling assessment activities needed to support required regulatory documentation. * Support the development of schedules and budgets to perform risk assessment/performance assessment activities within the context of broader waste cleanup, interim measures, and closure projects within tank farm areas. Required Qualifications Grade 20: Bachelor's degree (BS) in Hydrogeology, Hydrology, Geophysics, Geology, Geologic Engineering, or related discipline and ten (10) years directly related experience. Grade 21: Bachelor's degree (BS) in Hydrogeology, Hydrology, Geophysics, Geology, Geologic Engineering, or related discipline and twelve (12) years directly related experience. Note the essential duties for this grade level are like that of the previous grade level, however the scope of responsibility is larger, and the expected level of performance is increased. Grade 22: Bachelor's degree (BS) in Hydrogeology, Hydrology, Geophysics, Geology, Geologic Engineering, or related discipline and fifteen (15) years directly related experience. Note the essential duties for this grade level are like that of the previous grade level, however the scope of responsibility is significantly larger, and the expected level of performance is greatly increased. Desired Qualifications * The candidate must excel in critical thinking, have an inclination toward problem-solving, and the mathematical knowledge to develop an approach to solving the problem. * Must possess excellent verbal communication skills and be able to convey technical concepts, ideas, and information with peers, management, regulators, and stakeholders. * Master's degree or higher is preferred with coursework inclusive of data science mathematics (e.g., linear algebra, matrix algebra, differential equations, calculus, statistics, and probability). * Highly proficient with scientific data analysis, data analytics, spreadsheets, data reporting, and data visualization. * Demonstrated expertise in general hydrogeologic principles needed to support subsurface site characterization of radiological and hazardous chemical wastes sites and working knowledge of the planning and interpretation of subsurface site characterization in the vicinity of radiological and hazardous chemical wastes sites and the use of this characterization data and information in contaminant fate and transport assessments to support development and application of subsurface flow and contaminant transport in detailed numerical process-level and/or system-level software. * Knowledge of regulatory RCRA/CERCLA requirements for site characterization and analyses of the nature and extent of subsurface contamination is desired, but not required. Compensation & Benefits In accordance with the company's philosophy on compensation for exempt and salaried non-exempt employees, WRPS takes into consideration a variety of factors when determining initial salary to include assigned job scope and responsibility, a candidate's qualifications as compared to internal comparators performing in a similar role, and the external labor market. A salary offer will be made within the targeted hiring range posted. Note a candidate's prior salary history will not be taken into consideration. Hiring Range Minimum: $126,025 Hiring Range Maximum: $204,775 Depending on the nature of your employment with WRPS, you can expect the following: *A business casual dress work environment: jeans are permissible (restrictions may apply). *Opportunity for work/life balance: a standard 4 x 10 work schedule, allowing more personal time to enjoy life outside of the office (other schedules and/or shift work may be required). *Many positions (non-bargaining) that allow for a hybrid work environment, a combination of in-office and telework (restrictions may apply). WRPS offers a comprehensive benefits package to include medical/dental/vision, short-and long-term disability, life insurance, 401(k) with employer match, and paid time off. For a full list of benefits please visithttps://hmis.hanford.gov/hr/page.cfm/HEWTBenefits Relocation Funding Provided Yes U.S. Citizenship Required Yes Clearance Required No Job Classification Exempt Shift Work Required No This contractor shall abide by the requirements of 41 CFR §§ 60-1.4(a), 60-300.5(a) and 60-741.5(a). These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities, and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin. Moreover, these regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability. Applicants and employees have rights under Federal Employment Laws and are protected under federal law against discrimination. To view information regarding these rights, please click on these links: + Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal (https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/OFCCP/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/22-088\_EEOC\_KnowYourRights.pdf) + Pay Transparency Policy Statement + Family Medical Leave Act (https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/WHD/legacy/files/fmlaen.pdf) + Employee Polygraph Protection Act + WA State Paid Family Medical Leave (https://paidleave.wa.gov/app/uploads/2021/12/2021.12.Six-things-to-know-about-Paid-Leave.pdf)