Catchment News

Home News The EPA is hiring… would you like to work on with us on environmental data science and modelling?

The EPA is hiring… would you like to work on with us on environmental data science and modelling?

September 14, 2023 by EPA Catchments Unit | in 3rd Cycle 2022-2027, Catchment Management, Get involved, Science, Stories, Water Framework Directive

The EPA’s Evidence and Assessment team is currently hiring people to work on data science and modelling, and other key roles in the Water Programme. There are two data science and modelling roles open in the Catchments Unit, and one in Environmental Analytics.

The successful candidates will fulfil the role of Scientific Officer I (Level 3). In addition to data science and modelling, two other roles in the EPA Water Programme are also currently open:

  • Scientific Officer I (Level 3) – Ecological Monitoring and Assessment
  • Scientific Officer I (Level 3) – Hydrometric Regional Lead

Data Science and Modelling

Initial vacancies arise in the Environmental Analytics Team and in the Catchment Science and Management Unit in the Office of Evidence and Assessment (OEA) and will be based in Wexford or Dublin. A panel will be formed from which future Scientific Officer I (Level 3) Environmental Data Science and Modelling vacancies may be filled in EPA Headquarters Wexford or EPA Regional Inspectorate Dublin.

The Office of Evidence and Assessment (OEA) is the primary source of integrated assessment and evidence-based scientific advice on Ireland’s environment.

The OEA strives to be a trustworthy champion for the environment by providing timely, accurate and tailored environmental data, information and assessment to the public and other stakeholders to help them make informed decisions. Specifically, this requires the application of environmental data science and modelling skills in the following areas:

  • Integrated assessment of the impacts of different environmental pressures to determine environmental status, diagnose environmental threats and model possible scenarios
  • Identification of environmental risk to create risk maps or models
  • Understanding of the potential for earth observation and remote sensing techniques as sources of environmental evidence, and how this information can be accessed and interpreted to provide environmental evidence
  • Perform integrated catchment assessments using multiple datasets from different sources
  • Preparation of data to facilitate science communication including the development of online data visualisation solutions

The successful candidate(s) will be responsible for leading the development of spatial modelling and assessment tools to evaluate the pressures impacting on the environment. The role(s) will have a strong emphasis on the use of spatial data science to assess the interrelationships between human activities and the environment, in space and time. The ideal candidate(s) will have an aptitude for spatial analysis and programming, and an ability to conceptualise, develop and implement innovative data science approaches to evaluating the pressures impacting the environment. Strengths in, and a commitment to, significant collaboration with colleagues and stakeholders will be important.

Catchments Unit

The Catchment Science and Management Unit role is to assess the risks and pressures impacting on the water environment and assess changes in water quality. All the work is carried out within an integrated catchment management framework.

A key role of the team is to develop and maintain a suite of tools, models, maps and other outputs for assessing the sources and impacts of excess nutrients in the water environment and the contribution of
physical changes to the ecological health of rivers. These assessments provide the scientific evidence base needed to inform policy and action to improve water quality and overall aquatic ecosystem health.

Environmental analytics

The Environmental Analytics Team role is to provide data analysis and data science expertise via four main services:

  1. Point in time analytics, that combines spatial and non-spatial data to arrive at new environmental evidence or insights
  2. Self-service insights, helping EPA teams to develop and visualise metrics and trends via self-service reports or dashboards
  3. Statistics and analytical capability, using and applying statistical processes and methods to verify the trustworthiness of EPA evidence and coaching staff on statistical methods
  4. Creating graphics for science communication.

Spatial data science is a core skill of the Environmental Analytics team, across these four analytics services.

Learn more:

Data science and modelling: https://www.epa.ie/publications/corporate/careers/scientific-officer-i–environmental-data-science-and-modelling.php

You can view all vacancies on the EPA website: Current Vacancies | Environmental Protection Agency (epa.ie)

This includes current vacancies in the EPA Water Programme in Ecological Monitoring and Assessment and Hydrometrics.

Related Posts

About author

EPA Catchments Unit

EPA Catchments Unit

 Administrator

The EPA Catchments Unit is based in Dublin, and the team is involved with catchment science, chemistry, ecology, hydromorphology, modelling, Geographic Information Systems and planning. We work with the wider EPA, all of our local authorities, the Local Authority Waters and Communities Office, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, and other public bodies and Departments to ensure we have the best available data and information about our catchments.

Who is involved?

Quite simply, everyone in Ireland has a role to play. This can be from something as simple as making sure you don’t pollute your local stream, or a local community working together to establish a Rivers Trust to enhance the rivers and lakes in their area, to a Government Department or Agency helping a Minister implement a new policy to help protect and enhance all our water bodies.

This website has been developed and is maintained by the Environmental Protection Agency, and is a collaboration between the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Local Authority Waters Programme.

LAWCO

Local Authority Waters Programme

The Local Authority Waters Programme coordinates the efforts of local authorities and other public bodies in the implementation of the River Basin Management Plan, and supports local community and stakeholder involvement in managing our natural waters, for everyone’s benefit.

EPA

Environmental Protection Agency

The EPA is responsible for coordinating the monitoring, assessment and reporting on the status of our 4,842 water bodies, looking at trends and changes, determining which waterbodies are at risk and what could be causing this, and drafting environmental objectives for each.

DECLG

Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The Department is responsible for making sure that the right policies, regulations and resources are in place to implement the Water Framework Directive, and developing a River Basin Management Plan and Programme of Measures to protect and restore our waters.