Water Sampling Technician – Hurlburt Field, FL
Water Sampling Technician – Hurlburt Field, FL
Location: Hurlburt Field / Fort Walton Beach, Florida
Position Type: Part-Time / On-Call, Project-Based
Position Summary
We are seeking a reliable Water Sampling Technician to support drinking water and recreational water sampling at Hurlburt Field, Florida.
This position will primarily perform scheduled compliance sampling and provide local emergency/short-notice sampling support. Because emergency events may require response within two hours of notification, candidates should be located within reasonable driving distance of Hurlburt Field.
This position is focused on sample collection only. Laboratory testing will be performed separately by a certified laboratory.
Primary Responsibilities
The technician will collect water samples at designated locations on Hurlburt Field in accordance with applicable Florida DEP sampling procedures, proper preservation requirements, chain-of-custody procedures, and required holding times.
Scheduled sampling may include:
- Nitrate/Nitrite: Collect approximately 5 drinking water samples annually, generally between April and June.
- Fluoride: Collect approximately 5 drinking water samples annually during April.
- TTHM/HAA5: Collect approximately 8 samples annually during the warmest part of the year, typically July through September.
- Natural Bathing Area: Collect 2 marine-water samples from the Hurlburt Field Soundside Beach area approximately every other week from February through October.
- Triennial Compliance Sampling: Assist with periodic collection of VOC, SOC, inorganic, radionuclide, Lead/Copper, and other required compliance samples during applicable contract years.
- Lead and Copper: Periodically collect first-draw tap samples from designated locations when required under the triennial monitoring program.
- Emergency/Short-Notice Sampling: Respond to emergency sampling requests or pick up Government-collected samples within 2 hours of notification.
- Perform required follow-up/resampling when directed, including sampling associated with positive bacteriological results.
- Properly label, preserve, package, and prepare samples for laboratory transport.
- Complete and maintain accurate chain-of-custody and field sampling documentation.
- Protect samples from contamination and ensure coolers, sampling equipment, and vehicles used for sampling remain clean.
- Coordinate sampling activities with Hurlburt Field Bioenvironmental Engineering personnel and the project management team.
The specific scheduled collection requirements are established in the project PWS.
Schedule
This is not a traditional full-time daily sampling position. Scheduled work will occur throughout the year, with more frequent activity during the February–October recreational-water sampling season.
Candidates must also have flexibility to support occasional after-hours, weekend, holiday, and emergency sampling, including the project's two-hour emergency response requirement.
Qualifications
- Experience collecting drinking water, environmental water, wastewater, or similar regulatory samples preferred.
- Ability to follow applicable Florida DEP sampling Standard Operating Procedures.
- Familiarity with sample preservation, proper bottle selection, chain-of-custody procedures, and laboratory holding times.
- Strong attention to detail and ability to complete field documentation accurately.
- Reliable transportation and ability to travel to Hurlburt Field sampling locations.
- Ability to maintain availability for scheduled and occasional emergency sampling.
- Ability to obtain and maintain required Hurlburt Field installation access/identification credentials.
- Professional appearance and ability to work independently in a military installation environment.
The PWS requires sampling technicians to follow applicable DEP SOPs and requires contractor personnel working on the installation to comply with identification and appearance requirements.
Important Availability Requirement
Applicants should be local to the Hurlburt Field / Fort Walton Beach area or close enough to reliably meet the project's requirement to arrive on-site or pick up samples within two hours of notification during emergency events.