Wastewater Treatment Plant Lab Technician

City of Hutchinson, Kansas; Hutchinson (KS); On-site; USD 28,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Flexible Spending Accounts

KPERS & 457 Retirement Savings Plan

Disability Insurance

Life Insurance

Death Benefit

Vacation Leave & Holidays

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

The City of Hutchinson, Kansas is seeking a Laboratory Technician to monitor and analyze water quality and the performance of both the Water Treatment Center and the Wastewater Treatment Facility. The role requires strong communication, organizational, and technical skills, with a schedule of 6:00am–2:30pm, Monday–Friday.

Responsibilities include sampling, testing, and documenting results, maintaining lab certifications, and coordinating with field staff.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED, with technical biology/chemistry coursework.
• Minimum of one year related experience is required.
• Ability to obtain Class I Kansas Wastewater Operator Certification within one year.
• Must possess a valid Kansas Driver's License.

Responsibilities

• Perform sampling, testing, and documenting water quality and wastewater performance.
• Conduct compliance monitoring analyses on collected samples using approved methods.
• Maintain lab records and ensure quality control and certification requirements.
• Prepare reports of findings and corrective actions; respond to alarms and coordinate with operators.
• Assist with community outreach and education on storm water, wastewater, and drinking water issues.

Skills

Communication

Organizational skills

Technical skills

Mechanical skills

Public relations

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tech degree or college credit in biology/chemistry

Job description

Imagine if you were given an opportunity to connect with others who work to keep our community the most livable and safe it can possibly be. If you possess strong communication, organizational, technical, mechanical, and public relation skills, you may be a great addition to our Utilities team. Make a difference with the City of Hutchinson! The Laboratory Technician is responsible for sampling, testing, and documenting the water quality and performance of both the Water Treatment Center and the Wastewater Treatment Facility. This employee must possess strong communication, organizational, technical, mechanical, and public relations skills. Work schedule: 6:00am – 2:30pm, Monday - Friday. a Day In The Life

• Perform compliance monitoring analysis on collected wastewater samples using approved methodology.
• Collect and analyze daily water samples from the Water Treatment Center for process control, as well as daily wastewater samples for process control.
• Collect composite samples and grab samples from permitted industries using portable samplers; collect total coliform samples each month for shipment to KDHE laboratory; collect water samples for compliance.
• Collect and analyze Fun Valley lagoons once per quarter; collect and analyze samples from Deep Disposal Wells weekly.
• Perform inspections of construction sites and other facilities for compliance with their individual storm water pollution prevention plans and construction storm water permits.
• Prepare reports of findings and/or corrective actions, contacts responsible persons to achieve compliance, perform follow-up investigations to determine that remedial action has been completed.
• Participate in community outreach and education programs concerning storm water regulations and requirements, wastewater, and drinking water education.
• Participate in stream testing, dry weather, and rainfall event inspection and testing programs.
• Maintain and update various records on sampling and testing results; calculate and record test results; Input data into computer spreadsheets.
• Clean and maintain laboratory areas; maintain laboratory equipment including samplers, autoclaves, and refrigerators; wash glassware, sample containers, and tubing.
• Perform microbiological testing on water and wastewater samples, sample various test water wells.
• Perform and document all required quality control analysis.
• Maintain laboratory certification from the state and EPA by performing analysis on quality control samples.
• Prepare reagents when needed.
• Respond to telemetry system alarms and alert operators; assist with industrial inspections.
• Ability to occasionally work beyond normal working hours, including nights and weekends, in order to respond immediately to complaints, collect samples during rain events, or facilitate public facing events.
• Assist other departments as the need arises; perform other duties as deemed necessary or assigned.

What You'll Need To Be Successful

• EDUCATION: A high school diploma or GED, and a technical degree or some college credit in biology, chemistry, or related field is required. Experience and training may be accepted in lieu of college credit if deemed appropriate by management.
• EXPERIENCE: Minimum of one year of similar or related experience is required. Employee is expected to have acquired the necessary information and skills to perform the job reasonably well within six months to one year of employment.
• CERTIFICATIONS: This employee must be able to obtain a Class I Kansas Wastewater Operator Certification and a Class I Wastewater Laboratory Technician Certification within one year of employment. This employee must possess a valid Kansas Driver's License.

Benefits

• Health, Dental & Vision Insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts: Medical & Dependent Care
• Retirement: KPERS & 457 Retirement Savings Plan
• Insured Disability
• Life Insurance & Optional Voluntary Life Insurance
• Death Benefit
• Service Connected Death
• Vacation Leave, Sick Leave, Floating Holidays & City Designated Holidays
• Employee Assistance Program

The City of Hutchinson employs over 400 employees that serve our community every day. City employees make Hutchinson a great place to live, work, and play. We take pride in our work and it shows. Come be a part of a workforce that makes a difference! We're always looking for talented, self-motivated individuals to join our team. City of Hutchinson is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits and hires qualified candidates without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, or veteran status. Salary: $20.10 - $30.15 per hour