Water Quality Analyst
City of Spokane
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Job summary
The City of Spokane is seeking a Water Quality Laboratory Specialist to organize the daily operation of the drinking water laboratory and perform professional sampling and analyses. You will monitor quality, interpret results, collect field samples, and maintain equipment, contributing to state/federal regulatory compliance and lab accreditation.
Responsibilities include QA/QC, developing testing procedures, and providing technical expertise to city staff.
Qualifications
- Education: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in chemistry, bacteriology, or closely related laboratory or environmental science.
- Experience: Three years of experience performing environmental field sampling and related laboratory analysis.
- Equivalency: We may accept different combinations of education and experience.
Responsibilities
- Monitors water quality and ensures testing complies with standards.
- Interprets data and evaluates regulatory compliance.
- Collects weekly samples at field locations and prepares specimens for analysis.
- Conducts standardized lab tests and analyses on water samples.
- Develops and maintains lab quality assurance and proficiency testing.
- Maintains and calibrates laboratory instrumentation and procedures.
- Plans the operating schedule of the water quality lab and supports reporting.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
Organizes the daily operation of the water quality laboratory in the Water and Hydroelectric Services Department, and performs professional sampling and analysis of the drinking water supply.
This description was prepared to indicate the kinds of activities and levels of work difficulty required of positions in this class. It is not intended as a complete list of specific duties and responsibilities.
- Monitors water quality and ensures that water quality and water quality testing is in compliance with established standards. Performs advanced, specialized scientific and/or instrumental analyses utilizing both standard and non-routine methodologies and procedures.
- Interprets data and evaluates compliance with federal, state, and local regulatory requirements.
- Collects weekly samples at numerous field locations; isolates, identifies, and prepares specimens for examination from multiple layers within tanks.
- Conducts standardized biological, microbiological, and biochemical tests, and laboratory analyses on water samples. Conducts difficult analyses where independent decisions for proper procedures may be required. Develops, implements, and incorporates new and complex analytical and instrumental techniques and procedures.
- Conducts analyses that rely on advanced instrumentation and complex computer software. Gathers, evaluates, and interprets analytical and environmental data to determine regulatory compliance, ambient conditions, and process control trending. Compiles reports and makes recommendations on appropriateness of data for release. Investigates questionable test results.
- Develops, performs, and evaluates all lab quality assurance, quality control activities, and proficiency tests in compliance with state mandates for Department of Ecology lab certification and accreditation. Integrates technical knowledge of regulatory requirements and applicable standards into all laboratory practices and procedures.
- Troubleshoots and maintains sophisticated analytical instrumentation, performing day-to-day routine care and more complex periodic maintenance, as well as investigating, correcting and documenting serious instrumental malfunctions and problems. Monitors testing procedures to ensure that all tests are performed according to established item specifications, standard test methods, and protocols.
- Develops, implements and documents sampling and testing procedures, including coliform monitoring program. Keeps detailed logs of all work-related activities. May review analytical data produced by other department staff, following established standards and requirements; evaluates data for integrity and validity of the results.
- Plans the operating schedule of a water quality lab for chemical and bacteriological analysis.
- Contributes to development and implementation of short-range and long-range laboratory plans and objectives.
- Provides technical expertise to City staff and other local agencies.
- Creates informative materials and training, and provides educational services, including formal class instruction for City construction staff involved in water sampling.
- Conducts home visits to customers in response to questions, problems, and complaints. Samples water at customer sites and tests samples.
- Manages special projects and assignments related to assigned specialized areas. Participates in proficiency studies to demonstrate analytical competency, to examine and investigate problematic areas, and to research and develop improved preparatory and/or analytical techniques. Recommends adjustments in processes and methods of abating or controlling sources of water pollutants. Assists in determining plant methods and operations through evaluation of lab analysis.
- Keeps up to date on the technological advancements in assigned specialized areas, and advises supervisor and management on adoption and implementation of these technologies.
- Coordinates and performs special state and federal testing events.
- Sets up, adjusts, calibrates, cleans, maintains, and troubleshoots laboratory, field sampling, and other equipment.
- Designs, develops, and maintains analytical data reports and/or databases; creates spreadsheets, word processing documents, and/or database forms and reports when needed for intermediate and final data processing.
- Performs related work as required.
- Education: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in chemistry, bacteriology, or closely related laboratory or environmental science.
- Experience: Three years of experience performing environmental field sampling and related laboratory analysis.
- Equivalency: We may accept different combinations of education and experience. We welcome job seekers with relevant backgrounds to apply.
- Possession of a valid driver’s license, to be maintained throughout employment.
- Job offer is contingent on passing a lift test.
- Lift, carry, push and pull objects up to 45 lbs.
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity within our organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, familial status, genetic information, veteran/military status, or disability status. As a Fair Chance Employer, City of Spokane does not conduct initial background screening for non-public safety positions.
In addition to a salary, The City of Spokane provides a generous benefits package valued between $24,902 - $34,218.
Coverage begins for new hires and their dependents on the first day of the month following 30 consecutive days of employment.
Spouse or Domestic Partner, birth, adopted children or children placed for adoption, Domestic Partner's children, step-children who live with employee, and any child for whom employee is legal guardian or for whom coverage is required by a Qualified Medical Support Order. Adult children under age 26 are eligible.
Qualified employees may select from two health carrier options; a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) administered by Kaiser Permanente or a Preferred Provider Option (PPO) administered by Premera Blue Cross. The monthly premium varies dependent upon plan and coverage level selected.
Vision coverage is included in the medical plan selected. Costs for eye exams and hardware; lenses, frames or contacts varies depending on the medical plan selected.
Dental insurance is provided by Delta Dental of Washington. The City pays the monthly premium in full for employee and eligible dependents.
Basic Term Life Insurance is provided at one-and-a-half times the employee's annual base salary to a maximum of $150,000. The City pays the monthly premium in full.
Basic Term Life Insurance is provided at $5,000 for spouse/domestic partner and $2,000 for each child. The City pays the monthly premium in full.
The City offers two optional Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) - Health Care FSA and Dependent Care FSA. The Health Care FSA allows an employee to use pre-tax dollars to receive reimbursement for eligible medical, dental, and vision expenses. The Dependent Care FSA allows an employee to receive reimbursement for eligible daycare expenses for dependent children up to age 13 and other eligible dependents as defined by IRS Code.
Supplemental insurance is optional and is provided by AFLAC to help pay benefits that major medical insurance does not cover. The employee pays 100% of the monthly premium.
AudioNet Hearing Aid Benefit is optional. The City of Spokane has partnered with AudioNet America to offer a discounted Hearing Aid Program with fixed out-of-pocket costs.
Prepaid legal services and/or prepaid identity theft programs are optional. These programs pay for a limited number of documents to be reviewed, limited trial defense representation, the preparation of a standard will, identity theft consultation, restoration and monitoring according to terms of contract.
Get cash back on the everyday care your pet needs to stay healthy! Nationwide/Voluntary Pet Insurance is an optional plan in which City of Spokane Employees can enroll.
Voluntary Term Life Insurance is optional and is provided through The Standard Insurance Company and is subject to application review and approval. Additional coverage up to $300,000 is available for employees and their spouse/domestic partner. Dependent children can be insured for up to $10,000 each. The employee pays 100% of the monthly premium.
Employees separating from City service have the option to continue medical and/or dental insurance benefits in accordance with the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA). The employee pays 100% of the monthly premium in addition to a small monthly administrative fee.
The Spokane Employees' Retirement System (SERS) is a defined benefit pension plan covering non-uniformed, permanent employees. As a participant, you contribute 11% of your salary toward your retirement. Contributions and earnings are tax-deferred. The City also contributes 11% of your salary toward your retirement. Employees hired on or after January 1, 2015 become vested (eligible for a monthly benefit at retirement age) at seven years of service.
Enrollment in the City-sponsored 457 Deferred Compensation Plan administered by MissionSquare Retirement allows participants, on a voluntary basis, to defer a portion of their salary on a before or after tax basis. Contributions and associated earnings contributed on a before tax basis are eligible to receive City matching contributions and are tax deferred (not taxed until taken out). You can also choose to participate in the 457 Roth (after tax) contribution option. You may enroll in the 457 plan or change your contribution at any time. Minimum contribution is $15 per paycheck up to and is subject to the IRS annual limitations. The City will match employee contributions up to $120/month.
The City observes seven official holidays as paid. An official holiday that falls on a Saturday will be observed on the preceding Friday. An official holiday that falls on a Sunday will be observed on the Monday immediately following. The City observes Martin Luther King Jr's birthday but has not declared that day as an official holiday. For this reason, employees hired before the third Monday of January receive an additional eight hours of floating holiday time to be used in accordance with Local 270 Collective Bargaining Agreement provisions.
Up to 48 hours administered throughout the year. Floating holiday hours may not be carried over into the next year and any unused hours will not be paid at termination.
Employees must be in paid status for 80% of that pay period to accrue vacation leave. The amount of vacation earned depends on the employee's length of service - from 12 days per year for a new employee to 27 days per year after 20 years of employment. Unused vacation hours carry over each year.
Sick leave accrues at a rate of six (6) hours per biweekly pay period. Employees must be in paid status for 80% of that pay period to accrue sick leave. There is no maximum accumulation and unused sick leave hours carry over each year.
The City also provides several other paid and unpaid leaves, such as: bereavement leave, Family and Medical Leave, maternity leave, jury duty, and military duty leave.
The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a referral and counseling service administered by Deer Oaks. It provides a myriad of services to employees and their household members. Services include receiving confidential assistance for personal issues, such as managing stress, depression, parenting, alcohol/drugs, grief, etc. Each household member is eligible to receive up to eight counseling sessions per issue per year at no charge. There is also a benefit relating financial or legal concerns in addition to Worklife/Convenience services and online tools.
The City of Spokane encourages employees to use alternatives to driving alone to work and participates in the ESBP Program offered by Spokane Transit Authority (STA). The program provides a bus pass for unlimited rides free of charge.
Revised March 15, 2022
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