Environmental Soil Scientist

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

Environmental Soil Scientist
Recruitment #25-20003660-002

Date Opened: 8/1/2025 12:00:00 AM
Close Date: 8/15/2025 11:59:00 PM
Qualification Date: August 15, 2025
Job Type: Original Entrance
Salary: Starting Annual Salary (TAM 15): $93,516.54

How to Apply: Go to http://districtjobs.org to submit an application by August 15, 2025.

Duties: Under immediate supervision, conducts research, provides technical assistance on processing, regulatory monitoring and reporting, and supervises staff engaged in support of beneficial reuse of biosolids.

Salary/Pay Plans

The salary listed above is Step 1 in a structured pay plan. At 6 months of employment with the District, the salary will increase to Step 2: $99,634.08. At 18 months, the salary will increase to Step 3: $105,752.40. There are 9 total steps for TAM 15 of the pay plan (view full pay plan). These increases are based on service time in the job classification and require a 'Meets Standard' performance rating.

Original Entrance - Examination

Minimum Requirements: A master’s degree in soil science or agronomy from an accredited college or university.

Examination: The examination will consist of a Training & Experience (T&E) evaluation weighted 100%. The minimum passing score on the T&E test will be 70% unless determined otherwise by the Director of Human Resources. Candidates must achieve a passing score to have their names placed on the eligible list.

The T&E test will assess candidates' knowledge, skill and ability in areas such as: field sampling and laboratory techniques and the associated understanding of biology, chemistry, agriculture, and agronomy; developing, implementing, and managing research projects; analyzing, synthesizing and preparing technical and/or peer-reviewed publications related to research project outcomes; analyzing, synthesizing, preparing and communicating complex scientific information into non-technical documents; and supervisory concepts.

Examination Process: All applicants will be advised by email if they have been admitted to the examination process. Applicants who do not receive a response to their application by Friday, August 22, 2025 should contact the Employee Selection Office at (312) 751-5100.

Each candidate whose application is approved, will be emailed a link which will contain the Training and Experience (T&E) evaluation form for completion and return to the Employee Selection Office as specified in the T&E evaluation instructions.

Original Entrance - Appointments

Appointments will be made from an eligible list with three categories: A (Exceptionally Well Qualified), B (Well Qualified) and C (Qualified). Candidates in the highest category will be given first consideration for appointment. This examination is also being given on a Promotional basis. In instances where both Original Entrance and Promotional eligible lists result from an examination process, it is the District's practice to appoint only from the Promotional eligible list until all names from that list have been considered. The eligible list has a duration of three years.  Appointment is subject to successfully passing a physical examination, a drug test and a criminal history background investigation.