Environmental Laboratory Manager

Job Summary

Manages, oversees, and optimizes all technical, administrative, and financial operations of the MFWQTC and DRGWQTC Environmental Laboratories. Ensures compliance with federal, state, and local environmental regulations while driving efficiency, data integrity, and safety in all laboratory functions.

• Manages and mentors a diverse team of laboratory professionals, fostering technical growth, safety awareness, and a culture of quality.
• Leads the laboratory team utilizing applicable laboratory Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and regulatory methodologies in accordance with permit requirements (KPDES, MS4, Pretreatment) and other applicable water and waste regulations.
• Leads the Quality Assurance Program to ensure legally defensible, high-precision analytical data under the umbrella of the Kentucky Laboratory and Field Certification Programs (KLCP).
• Leads statistical evaluation, validation, and continuous improvement processes for all laboratory outputs for all MSD Water Quality.
• Designs and implements workflow improvements, including custom hardware, software, or process related solutions to consistently improve data management and reporting for regulatory submissions.
• Develops, manages, and communicates to Treatment leadership the laboratory operating budget, ensuring cost-effective procurement, resource allocation, and equipment maintenance.
• Provides technical consultation to MSD personnel and other stakeholders for special projects, emergency responses, and operational decision-making.
• Leads the Laboratory Safety Program, ensuring all staff follow OSHA and MSD safety protocols.
• Leads laboratory support for 24-hour environmental incidents, including rapid sample analysis, chain-of-custody maintenance, and technical reporting.
• Designs, validates, and implements analytical methods for environmental compliance while adhering to the KLCP standard, or equivalent (A2LA, TNI, ISO 17025).
• Cultivates cross-departmental relationships with applicable departments across MSD (Operations, Industrial Waste, MS4 and IT) to meet MSD’s transformational initiatives.
• Represents the MSD laboratory in community outreach activities.
• Actively investigates best practices in industry related to Laboratory management.

• Knowledge of chemistry principles and practices;
• knowledge of environmental laboratory practices;
• knowledge of wastewater/water quality analysis;
• knowledge of regulatory permitting requirements for wastewater and solid waste;
• skill in data interpretation, problem solving and implementation of corrective actions;
• skill in oral and written communication;
• skill in exercising tact and diplomacy;
• skill in operating a PC and associated Windows environment software (e.g. Microsoft Office Suite);
• skill in operating laboratory information management systems (LIMS);
• ability to resolve problems;
• ability to supervise a diverse workforce;
• ability to manage, train, and delegate work effectively;
• ability to handle multiple priorities;
• ability to establish goals and priorities;
• ability to exercise judgment and discretion;
• ability to analyze problems and initiate solutions;
• ability to work effectively under heavy, unpredictable surges in workload.

• Bachelor Degree in Chemistry or a related field;
• eight or more years of laboratory experience;
• an equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted;
• Must have three or more years of supervisory experience.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license.
• Must have safe work and driving habits.