Science & Data Manager

The Science & Data Program Manager leads Anacostia Riverkeeper's environmental monitoring and applied science programs, ensuring that high-quality environmental data inform advocacy, restoration, recreation, and public understanding of the Anacostia River. This position manages multiple science initiatives from planning through implementation, reporting, and evaluation while serving as the organization's technical lead for water quality monitoring, environmental data management, and community science.

The ideal candidate is equally comfortable collecting samples from a boat, managing a community laboratory, maintaining advanced monitoring equipment, analyzing environmental datasets, and communicating scientific findings to decision makers and the public. This position supervises the Restoration Coordinator and works collaboratively across all organizational programs to ensure that science supports Anacostia Riverkeeper's advocacy, restoration, education, and community engagement efforts.

Duties are as follows:

Water Quality Monitoring & Laboratory Management – This role manages Anacostia Riverkeeper's in-house water quality laboratory and community science bacteria monitoring program, coordinating weekly sampling, laboratory analysis, quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) procedures, equipment maintenance, and timely public communication of recreational water quality data. Responsibilities include collaborating with academic researchers, government agencies, community scientists, and technical partners to ensure high-quality environmental monitoring.

Environmental Monitoring & Instrumentation – This role leads the operation, maintenance, calibration, and deployment of Anacostia Riverkeeper's real-time water quality monitoring network. Responsibilities include managing environmental sensors and data loggers, overseeing technical partnerships including the organization's collaboration with Xylem, troubleshooting equipment, evaluating emerging monitoring technologies, and ensuring reliable long-term environmental datasets.

Data Management & Analysis – This role serves as the steward of Anacostia Riverkeeper's environmental datasets, ensuring scientific information is collected, stored, analyzed, and communicated with accuracy and consistency. Responsibilities include maintaining environmental databases, developing data management systems and QA/QC procedures, analyzing long-term trends, creating maps, figures, dashboards, and visualizations, and translating complex datasets into information that supports advocacy, restoration, grant reporting, and public engagement.

Trash Monitoring & Data Analaysis– This role oversees the scientific components of Anacostia Riverkeeper's trash monitoring initiatives by developing monitoring protocols, ensuring data quality, maintaining databases, analyzing trends, and communicating findings to partners, policymakers, and the public. Working closely with the Restoration Coordinator, this role ensures field data collected during trash trap maintenance and community cleanups are scientifically rigorous and support advocacy and restoration decision-making.

Applied Science & Program Development – This role identifies emerging scientific questions and develops monitoring strategies that strengthen Anacostia Riverkeeper's science program. Responsibilities include designing new monitoring initiatives, developing partnerships with academic institutions and technical organizations, evaluating innovative monitoring technologies, and expanding the organization's scientific capacity to address emerging watershed issues.

Project Management & Technical Leadership – This role independently manages multiple science projects from initiation through completion, including project planning, partner coordination, grant reporting, invoicing, and contract management. Responsibilities include supervising the coordinators or interns supporting science initiatives, developing technical work plans, and ensuring projects are completed safely, on schedule, and in accordance with organizational and funding requirements.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in environmental science, biology, ecology, environmental engineering, watershed science, or a related field (Master's degree preferred)
• Minimum of 3-5 years of experience managing environmental science, restoration, or monitoring projects
• Demonstrated experience with water quality monitoring, environmental sampling, laboratory procedures, and QA/QC protocols
• Experience managing complex projects with multiple partners, deadlines, and deliverables
• Experience analyzing environmental datasets and communicating scientific information to technical and non-technical audiences
• Strong organizational, project management, and problem-solving skills with the ability to work independently
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and/or Google Workspace
• Ability to lift approximately 50 pounds, work outdoors in varying weather conditions, and safely conduct field work by boat and on foot
• Valid driver's license & access to a vehicle
• Living within the immediate DMV region for quick response time to emergency situations (within the Anacostia Watershed preferred) 
• Previous boating experience

Preferred:

• Experience maintaining and troubleshooting environmental monitoring equipment (YSI/Xylem sondes or similar instrumentation)
• Experience managing environmental databases, in Airtable or similar online platforms.
• ArcGIS experience
• Familiarity with green infrastructure, stormwater BMPs, invasive plant management, and urban watershed restoration
• Experience working with nonprofit organizations or community science programs
• USCG captain's license; or ability to get the DC Safe Boating Certificate

Compensation

• Salary of $70,000+ a year, commensurate with experience
• Health Plan & Liberal Time off
• Employer-sponsored retirement plan with matching contributions following six months of employment