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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Water Quality Analyst

💰 $ - $

Environmental ScienceWater QualityLaboratory AnalysisEnvironmental Compliance

🎯 Role Definition

The Water Quality Analyst is responsible for designing, executing and interpreting environmental water monitoring programs to ensure regulatory compliance, protect public health and support resource management decisions. This role combines field sampling, laboratory coordination, data QA/QC, regulatory reporting, and technical communication to internal stakeholders and regulators. The ideal candidate brings strong analytical chemistry or environmental science knowledge, hands-on field and lab experience, proficiency with data systems and reporting, and a demonstrated track record of maintaining quality assurance standards in water and wastewater contexts.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Environmental Technician or Field Technician (water/wastewater monitoring)
  • Laboratory Technician (analytical chemistry or microbiology)
  • Graduate (M.S.) in Environmental Science, Hydrology, Chemistry, or related field

Advancement To:

  • Senior Water Quality Analyst / Project Scientist
  • Water Quality Specialist / Regulatory Affairs Specialist
  • Environmental Scientist / Water Resources Scientist
  • Water Quality Program Manager or Environmental Compliance Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Environmental Data Scientist / GIS Analyst
  • Laboratory Manager or Quality Assurance Officer
  • Permit Coordinator / NPDES Compliance Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Develop, implement and manage routine and special water quality monitoring programs (surface water, groundwater, stormwater, effluent) including sampling plans, sampling schedules, chain-of-custody procedures, and site-specific safety protocols to meet regulatory and client requirements.
  • Conduct field sampling for chemical, biological, and physical parameters (nutrients, BOD, TSS, metals, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, pH, E. coli/coliforms, temperature, conductivity) using standardized techniques and calibrated field instruments; ensure representative sample collection under varying hydrologic conditions.
  • Coordinate and oversee sample logistics including preservation, filtration, temperature control, sample custody documentation, and dispatch to certified laboratories to preserve sample integrity and comply with permit requirements.
  • Perform and document laboratory analyses either in-house or via contract labs for parameters such as metals (ICP-MS/ICP-OES), nutrients (ion chromatography, colorimetry), organic pollutants (GC/MS, LC/MS), and microbiological indicators; verify analytical methods and detection limits are appropriate for monitoring objectives.
  • Implement and maintain laboratory and field QA/QC programs including preparation and analysis of blanks, spikes, duplicates, matrix spikes, calibration checks, and laboratory control samples; investigate and resolve QA anomalies and document corrective actions.
  • Review, validate and flag laboratory analytical data, perform data quality assessments against method detection limits and QA/QC criteria, and prepare validated datasets for analysis and reporting.
  • Analyze time-series and spatial water quality data using statistical methods to identify trends, anomalies, exceedances, and potential sources; apply data visualization and summary techniques to support interpretation and decision-making.
  • Prepare regulatory compliance reports, discharge monitoring reports (DMRs), NPDES permit reports, and other submissions to federal, state and local agencies; ensure timely and accurate reporting in formats required by regulators (e.g., NetDMR).
  • Develop technical memoranda, sampling plans, data management plans and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for field and laboratory operations; update SOPs to reflect method changes, regulatory updates, or improvements in QA practices.
  • Manage vendor and laboratory relationships including scopes of work, bid evaluation, performance monitoring, and review of laboratory data packages and chain-of-custody forms to ensure contracted services meet project needs and quality standards.
  • Use GIS and spatial analysis to map sampling locations, watershed boundaries, land-use influences, and pollutant source areas; integrate spatial data with monitoring results to support watershed assessments and BMP planning.
  • Apply hydrologic and water quality modeling or load estimation approaches (e.g., pollutant load calculations, mass-balance assessments) to quantify pollutant sources, evaluate BMP effectiveness, and support TMDL or remediation planning.
  • Maintain and administer Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) or environmental databases; ensure accurate metadata capture, secure storage, and traceability of sample and analytical information.
  • Support permit development and technical inputs for environmental impact assessments by synthesizing monitoring data, interpreting results against criteria, and recommending monitoring or mitigation strategies.
  • Lead or participate in field crews, providing training, supervision and mentorship to junior staff and technicians on sampling techniques, safety procedures, and QA/QC expectations.
  • Respond to water-quality-related incidents, spills or emergency sampling requests with rapid field mobilization, contamination control measures, and expedited reporting to stakeholders and regulators.
  • Conduct method development and validation for emerging contaminants (e.g., PFAS, microplastics, pharmaceuticals) or novel analytical approaches, including cross-validation with reference labs and documentation of method performance.
  • Prepare and present clear technical reports, slide decks and executive summaries for internal teams, clients, community stakeholders and regulatory agencies; translate complex analytical results into actionable recommendations.
  • Manage project budgets and schedules related to monitoring campaigns, laboratory services, equipment purchases and data analysis tasks; ensure deliverables are completed on time and within budget.
  • Provide expert support during inspections, audits and litigation support by preparing technical exhibits, validating monitoring data, and testifying to data collection and QA/QC procedures when necessary.
  • Continuously monitor regulatory and scientific developments in water quality (e.g., new standards, analytical methods, state and federal rulemaking) and incorporate changes into monitoring programs and compliance strategies.
  • Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams (engineers, ecologists, public health officials, planners) to align monitoring objectives with broader watershed management, restoration and public health initiatives.

Secondary Functions

  • Assist with grant writing, proposal preparation and development of scopes of work for monitoring or research projects to secure external funding.
  • Maintain inventory, calibration logs and procurement of field instruments, laboratory supplies and personal protective equipment; recommend equipment upgrades and cost-effective lab solutions.
  • Support internal data requests and ad-hoc analyses for stakeholders, including executive summaries and tailored visualizations for non-technical audiences.
  • Participate in community outreach events, stakeholder meetings and public information sessions to explain monitoring results and water quality initiatives in plain language.
  • Provide training sessions and create training materials for junior staff, interns and partner agencies on sampling methods, QA/QC, LIMS usage and data interpretation.
  • Help coordinate cross-agency monitoring efforts and data-sharing initiatives to improve regional water quality assessments and avoid duplicate efforts.
  • Develop and maintain emergency response sampling kits and protocols for rapid deployment during spills, algal blooms or other acute water quality events.
  • Support laboratory accreditation and proficiency testing activities by coordinating participation, compiling results and implementing corrective actions where needed.
  • Assist environmental engineers and remediation teams by providing monitoring data and analytical interpretation that guide remedial design and post-construction monitoring.
  • Contribute to the development of environmental policy recommendations and best management practices based on empirical monitoring results and scientific literature.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Water quality sampling and field instrumentation: proficient with multi-parameter sondes (YSI), portable spectrophotometers (HACH), dissolved oxygen meters, turbidimeters, and autosamplers.
  • Analytical laboratory methods and instrumentation experience (ICP-MS/ICP-OES, GC/MS, LC/MS, ion chromatography, TOC analyzers) and familiarity with method detection limits and reporting conventions.
  • Microbiological monitoring techniques for indicator organisms (membrane filtration, IDEXX, colilert) and safe handling of bio-samples.
  • Strong QA/QC knowledge: method blanks, field blanks, duplicates, calibration procedures, control charts, and corrective action documentation.
  • Regulatory permitting and compliance knowledge: NPDES, SDWA basics, TMDLs, state-specific water quality standards and discharge reporting (e.g., NetDMR).
  • Data management and LIMS proficiency: experience with environmental databases, chain-of-custody, and electronic data deliverables (EDDs).
  • Data analysis and visualization: statistical analysis (trend analysis, non-parametric tests), software such as R, Python (pandas, matplotlib), Excel (pivot tables), and visualization tools (Tableau, Power BI).
  • GIS and spatial analysis: ArcGIS/QGIS for mapping sampling networks, watershed delineation and spatial interpolation of water quality parameters.
  • Familiarity with hydrology and pollutant transport concepts, load calculations, mass-balance approaches and simple water quality modeling.
  • Sampling plan development and SOP creation: writing clear, defensible SOPs for field and lab operations, method validations and chain-of-custody procedures.
  • Laboratory accreditation and regulatory audit support: understanding of ISO/IEC 17025 principles, proficiency testing and documentation for audits.
  • Experience with emerging contaminants (PFAS, microplastics) and approaches to analyze and interpret low-level detection data.

Soft Skills

  • Strong written and verbal communication skills tailored for technical and non-technical audiences.
  • Detail-oriented with excellent organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects and prioritize tasks under deadlines.
  • Critical thinker with strong problem-solving skills to investigate data anomalies and implement corrective actions.
  • Team player with demonstrated ability to collaborate across disciplines and mentor junior staff.
  • Adaptability and ability to work safely in variable field conditions, including harsh weather and remote sites.
  • Client-facing professionalism: experience interacting with regulators, clients and community stakeholders with tact and clarity.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Chemistry, Biology, Hydrology, Environmental Engineering or related scientific field.

Preferred Education:

  • Master's degree in Environmental Science, Water Resources, Environmental Engineering, Chemistry, or related field with emphasis on water quality.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Environmental Science
  • Chemistry (analytical emphasis)
  • Biology / Microbiology
  • Hydrology / Water Resources
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Geosciences

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 2–6 years of progressive experience in water quality monitoring, environmental laboratory analysis, or related field roles.

Preferred: 4–8 years of experience including demonstrated project leadership, regulatory reporting (NPDES/DMR), LIMS/data management, and experience with both field sampling and laboratory methods. Experience with state-specific permitting and working knowledge of EPA analytical methods is strongly preferred.

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