SR Water Systems Chemist

County of San Luis Obispo; San Luis Obispo (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

County of San Luis Obispo seeks a Senior Water Systems Chemist to supervise staff and oversee complex analyses of drinking water and wastewater. The role provides technical guidance on regulations, monitoring, reporting, and QA/QC within an ELAP-accredited and TNI-compliant lab environment.

The ideal candidate brings senior-level water quality experience, strong leadership, and a commitment to regulatory compliance and data integrity.

Qualifications

• Requires degree in chemistry, biology, bacteriology, chemical engineering, or related field.
• Two years as Water Systems Chemist II or equivalent for the Senior role.

Responsibilities

• Supervise assigned staff in drinking water and wastewater analyses.
• Provide technical guidance on regulations, monitoring, reporting, QA/QC.
• Act as technical resource to laboratory, operations, management, and regulators.
• Support ELAP/TNI-compliant laboratory operations and documentation.

Skills

Leadership

QA/QC

Regulatory compliance

Data integrity

Analytical chemistry

Mentoring staff

Regulatory reporting

Education

Bachelor's degree in chemistry/biology/related

Job description

The Senior Water Systems Chemist supervises assigned staff and oversees complex chemical and biological analyses of drinking water and wastewater. This position provides technical guidance on water and wastewater regulations, compliance, monitoring, reporting, and quality assurance/quality control.

The Senior Water Systems Chemist also assists with special projects and serves as a technical resource to laboratory, operations, management, and regulatory personnel. As assigned, the position acts on behalf of the Water Quality Manager during their absence.

The ideal candidate is an experienced water quality professional with a strong background in drinking water and wastewater analysis, regulatory compliance, and laboratory operations. They bring sound scientific judgment, strong leadership skills, and a commitment to maintaining the highest standards of data quality and regulatory compliance.

The successful candidate will have experience working within an ELAP-accredited and TNI-compliant laboratory environment, with a thorough understanding of laboratory quality systems, QA/QC requirements, analytical methods, data integrity, documentation, and regulatory reporting.

They will be a confident leader who can supervise, train, and mentor staff, while effectively coordinating with laboratory, field, operations, management, and regulatory personnel. The ideal candidate will be proactive in identifying compliance issues, interpreting regulatory requirements, improving processes, and developing practical solutions.

Most importantly, this individual will be committed to using their scientific expertise and leadership skills to ensure regulatory compliance, support reliable water and wastewater operations, maintain the integrity of analytical data, and protect our community’s water resources.

Education and Experience

A combination of education, training, and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. A typical qualifying background includes:

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in chemistry, biology, bacteriology, chemical engineering, or a closely related field.
• Senior Water Systems Chemist: Two years of experience as a Water Systems Chemist II or in an equivalent position.

If you have questions or would like to discuss the opportunity further, please contact Human Resources at [e-mail]. Confidential inquiries are welcomed.

For further information regarding the County of San Luis Obispo, visit our website at www.slocounty.ca.gov.