Local recruitment: Laboratory Manager

City of Palo Alto

Palo Alto, CA, USA 🇺🇸

Laboratory Manager (WQCP) description image

Join our dynamic team at the forefront of environmental stewardship!
The Opportunity
The Public Works Department’s Regional Water Quality Control Plant (RWQCP) is seeking an experienced laboratory manager to plan, organize, coordinate, direct, and control all aspects of the Plant’s laboratory services and analytic testing activities. As the Laboratory Manager at the RWQCP, you will be responsible for lab testing services for the wastewater treatment plant, pretreatment program, municipal potable water supply, and maintenance of Laboratory Accreditation/QA Programs to meet USEPA and State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) regulations.

This is a unique opportunity to be a leader in the recent adoption of SWRCB Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (ELAP) regulations. Meeting ELAP regulations will require ongoing training and evaluation of efficiency improvements. The lab manager may need to implement a new document management system to track the extensive ELAP training and SOP documentation. The lab manager will also be responsible for working with others to reconfigure the HachWIMS when new permits are reissued.

Ideal Candidate
  • CWEA Laboratory Analyst Grade IV Certification
  • Master’s degree with supplemental training in water and wastewater treatment
  • Seven (7) years work experience in an analytical laboratory
  • Two (2) years prior supervisory experience
  • Experience utilizing Promium LIMS and HachWIMS or similar software
  • Experience with GCMS and ICPMS instruments and implementing ELAP’s TNI regulations

The Regional Water Quality Control Plant

The mission of the RWQCP is to protect San Francisco Bay by cleaning and treating wastewater before it is discharged to San Francisco Bay. Owned and operated by the City of Palo Alto, the RWQCP treats wastewater for the communities of Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Stanford University, and the East Palo Alto Sanitary District. For more information about the Regional Water Quality Control Plant, click HERE.

Essential Duties:

Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following: 

  • Supervises staff to include prioritizing and assigning work; conducting performance evaluations; ensuring staff are trained; and making hiring, termination and disciplinary recommendations.
  • Manages, directs, controls, and implements laboratory services conducting analysis of wastewater, potable water and industrial wastewater. Develops laboratory goals, objectives, policies, and administrative systems.
  • Prepares and approves technical reports and correspondence on various matters as required by the National Pollution Discharge Elimination Systems (NPDES), DMR permits and State Water Resources Board and RWQCB.
  • Oversees and maintains the laboratory accreditation and quality assurance programs to meet EPA, SWRCB, and other regulatory requirements.
  • Establishes staffing, supplies and equipment/instrument budget needs for the laboratory; prepares justifications and support documentation.  Compiles annual budget for laboratory and specs for contract laboratories.
  • Approves and releases all laboratory data; implements training of laboratory staff and operations personnel on sampling.
  • Implements and enforces safety and the Chemical Hygiene Plan; maintains records and compliance with Fire Department and hazardous waste inspections.
  •  Represents City and treatment plant in public and private meetings, seminars/workshops on matters relating to analytical procedures.

View full job description HERE.

Minimum Qualifications:

Sufficient education, training and/or work experience to demonstrate possession of the following knowledge and skills, which would typically be acquired through:

Bachelor of Science degree with additional training in water and wastewater treatment, and seven (7) years experience in the operation of an analytical laboratory associated with wastewater or water treatment facility, including two (2) years of prior supervisory experience.

  • Master’s degree (highly desirable)

Licensing Requirements:

  • Valid California Driver’s License
  • CWEA Laboratory Analyst Grade IV Certification (highly desirable)

Supplemental Information:

Working Conditions / Physical Requirements

Work in an office and laboratory environment; sustained posture in a seated position for prolonged periods of time. Positions in this class typically require:  reaching, standing, walking, lifting, fingering, grasping, talking, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions. Light Work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.  If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for Sedentary Work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for Light Work.  Adequate corrected vision to read reports, view analytical and QA/QC charts and work with laboratory and administrative computer systems.
Selection Process 
Applications will be accepted until June 26, 2024, and reviewed over the course of the following 2-5 business days. Candidates can expect to receive advance notice of approximately one-week if invited to interview. The first interview will be held virtually using Microsoft Teams, and the second interview will be in-person at the RWQCP. Pre-employment background check and paperwork may take up to three weeks.
The City of Palo Alto is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer. 

POSITION TYPE

ORGANIZATION TYPE

EXPERIENCE-LEVEL

DEGREE REQUIRED

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