Senior Laboratory Technologist

Red Deer; Red Deer; On-site; CAD 60,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Red Deer Municipal Government is seeking a senior Laboratory Technologist to perform ISO 17025 accredited analyses and guide day-to-day lab activities.

You will support QA/QC, validate methods, train staff, and ensure safe, compliant operations, reporting technical results and maintaining continuity.

Qualifications

• Grade 12 or equivalent.
• Two-year Chemical Technology program or equivalent.
• Four years of experience in a related laboratory, environmental, wastewater, water, industrial, or regulated testing environment.
• LIMS experience is an asset.
• Auditing experience is an asset.
• One year of experience providing technical guidance, training, work coordination, or delegated leadership support in a laboratory, operational, or regulated environment.

Responsibilities

• Conduct and oversee complex laboratory analyses ensuring accurate, reliable, and compliant results.
• Maintain and support QA/QC programs, ISO 17025 accreditation, and regulatory compliance requirements.
• Provide senior technical support and operational coordination for laboratory activities.
• Train, mentor, and guide laboratory staff while coordinating daily work assignments.
• Lead safety, risk management, and corrective action activities within the laboratory environment.
• Prepare technical reports and provide expert customer and stakeholder support.
• Drive continuous improvement of laboratory methods, procedures, and quality systems.

Skills

LIMS

QA/QC

ISO 17025

Auditing

Leadership

Communication

Safety

Laboratory testing

Education

Two-year Chemical Technology program

Grade 12 or equivalent

Tools

Laboratory information system (LIMS)

Job description

About Red Deer

Red Deer sits at the heart of Central Alberta along the QEII corridor, perfectly positioned between Calgary and Edmonton. With more than 100,000 residents and a regional reach of over 300,000, it’s a growing hub for business, services, and opportunity.

Here, big-city amenities meet small-city ease. Enjoy abundant parks and trails, vibrant arts and culture, excellent recreation and education, and a strong sense of community.

With easy access to lakes, outdoor adventures, and the mountains, plus a thriving economy and high quality of life, Red Deer is an inviting place to live, work, and grow.

About The City of Red Deer Municipal Government

The City of Red Deer is a dynamic municipal organization with a $480M operating budget, a $60M capital program, and a workforce of nearly 1,700 employees. It is focused on growing with purpose by attracting talented, community-minded people who want to make a difference.

Guided by the vision “Our City, One Voice,” Red Deer is building a thriving, inclusive, and connected community, with priorities centered on a vibrant economy, community wellbeing, and strong engagement.

At its core, the City values its people, embracing diverse perspectives and fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and shared success.

The Opportunity:

Performs the full scope of technical laboratory analysis required for the effective and reliable operation of the ISO 17025 accredited laboratory. Provides senior-level technical support to the Lead Laboratory Technologist by coordinating assigned day-to-day laboratory activities, supporting QA/QC practices, assisting with method validation and troubleshooting, training and guiding Laboratory Technologists, and helping ensure work is completed safely, accurately, and in accordance with applicable regulations, policies, procedures, and accreditation requirements. This position supports the Lead Laboratory Technologist in maintaining laboratory continuity, but does not hold final accountability for laboratory programs, staffing decisions, budget, contracts, discipline, recruitment, formal schedule approval, or overall laboratory outcomes.

Top Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct and oversee complex laboratory analyses ensuring accurate, reliable, and compliant results.
• Maintain and support QA/QC programs, ISO 17025 accreditation, and regulatory compliance requirements.
• Provide senior technical support and operational coordination for laboratory activities.
• Train, mentor, and guide laboratory staff while coordinating daily work assignments.
• Lead safety, risk management, and corrective action activities within the laboratory environment.
• Prepare technical reports and provide expert customer and stakeholder support.
• Drive continuous improvement of laboratory methods, procedures, and quality systems.

As our preferred candidate, you will have:

• Grade 12 or equivalent.
• Two-year Chemical Technology program or equivalent.
• Four (4) years of experience in a related laboratory, environmental, wastewater, water, industrial, or regulated testing environment.
• LIMS experience is considered an asset.
• Auditing experience is considered an asset.
• One (1) year of experience providing technical guidance, training, work coordination, or delegated leadership support in a laboratory, operational, or regulated environment.
• Demonstrated knowledge of respectful and inclusive workplace practices is required.
• Laboratory quality course related to ISO 17025 is considered an asset.
• LIMS training is considered an asset.
• Well-developed verbal and written communication skills and strong interpersonal skills.
• Strong computer aptitude, including demonstrated proficiency with City-based computer programs, databases, spreadsheets, word-processing software, and laboratory information systems.
• Ability to work independently, cooperate with colleagues as part of a team, understand and follow instructions, and provide technical guidance and instruction to Laboratory Technologists.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, business owners, customers, contractors, consultants, vendors, and other departments.
• Ability to respond to new, unusual, or urgent situations in a logical and reasoned manner, including troubleshooting, critical thinking, and recommending appropriate solutions.
• Ability to interpret and apply rules, regulations, standards, policies, and procedures within established authority.
• Knowledge of laboratory techniques, terminology, equipment, materials, and principles and practices of chemical, biological, and physical testing and analysis.
• Ability to compute test results, interpret analytical results, verify data, identify anomalies, and support QA/QC requirements.
• Knowledge of ISO 17025 standards and detailed knowledge of QA/QC practices, quality documentation, data validation, control charts, corrective actions, and method support.
• Ability to recognize personal legal responsibilities and liabilities associated with environmental, regulatory, safety, and quality requirements.
• Business administration and data management skills sufficient to support standards, measures, reporting, information systems, inventory needs, and documentation requirements.
• Understanding of objective setting, service levels, asset management, quality monitoring, and the role of laboratory services in supporting wastewater operations.

Specific Demands of the Job:

• Exposure to toxic chemicals, unhygienic bacterial hazards, and malodorous conditions.
• Errors could significantly disrupt service levels and programs, require expenditures to correct, result in loss of customer confidence, and damage the public image of the City. Errors could also create personal liability exposure in the event of environmental contamination.
• Good eyesight and manual dexterity are required for laboratory manipulative techniques and accurate analytical work.
• Good knowledge of a municipal government operating environment, including the Approval to Operate.
• Hepatitis A and B inoculation is recommended prior to employment.
• Must comply with regulations, policies, procedures, safety requirements, and laboratory quality requirements, and must immediately report non-compliant situations.

Affiliation:

Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 417

Status:

Regular Full-time

Remuneration:

$43.90 to $46.22 per hour

Hours of Work:

80 hours biweekly; Monday to Friday. Some evening and weekend work may be required.

The City of Red Deer does not permit the use of unauthorized internet resources or Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools (for example, Copilot, ChatGPT or any other form of AI) during interviews or any supervised or timed assessments. Any violation may be investigated and result in serious consequences, including the rejection of your application.

We thank you for your application. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.