Laboratory Technician - Regional Wastewater Reclamation

Laboratory Technician

Pima County Wastewater Reclamation Department is seeking talented people to assist in our Compliance and Regulatory Affairs Laboratory team. If you have experience in laboratory analysis or a bachelor's degree in science (for example: chemistry, biology, environmental science, or similar), we can use your skills to assist us in protecting human health and the environment. We have a state-of-the-art environmental laboratory here in Pima County.

Typical work assignments include collecting samples from Water Reclamation Facilities, and analysis of water samples by methods including titration, spectroscopy, gravimetric, and others. If this sounds interesting to you, come and join our team.

Work hours are 6:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The lab operates 365 days a year. Working some holidays, weekends, and other schedule changes are required.

Essential Functions:

• Collects water, solid waste, and wastewater effluent samples for laboratory testing;
• Performs various standardized laboratory tests such as Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Bacteriological Examination, Alkalinity, Hardness, pH, Chlorine, Solids Testing, and other related tests as required by regulatory agencies;
• Analyzes
  
  E. coli, Total Coliform, and other microbiological organisms;
• Operates, calibrates, and maintains laboratory equipment and instruments such as Ultraviolet-Visible (UV/VIS) Spectrophotometers, Analytical Balances, DO meters, pH meters, and computer-controlled BOD robotic instruments;
• Performs and properly documents Acid Neutralization, Thermometer Calibrations, and Safety Equipment Checks;
• Prepares laboratory waste for off-site disposal in accordance with proper procedures;
• Maintains inventory records for laboratory equipment, chemicals, supplies, and hazardous materials;
• Maintains physical facilities and equipment in accordance with departmental and professional standards;
• Adheres to safety procedures in accordance with the laboratory and chemical plan, ensuring that current safety data sheets are incorporated into the proper database or binders;
• Maintains manual and automated laboratory records and logbooks on testing and quality control measures as required by regulatory standards;
• Records test results in spreadsheets and automated information management systems for analysis and records maintenance;
• Reviews and recommends revisions to the standardized operating procedures used for analytical testing;
• Assists Wastewater laboratory chemists and laboratory supervisors in training new laboratory support staff;
• Performs routine quality assurance/quality control procedures and prepares documentation to comply with licensure requirements from the Arizona Department of Health Services;
• Participates in annual state audits and performance evaluation studies.

Minimum Qualifications:

Associate's degree from an accredited college or university in chemistry, biology, microbiology, environmental science or a closely related field as defined by the department head AND two (2) years of experience performing standard laboratory tests or instrumental laboratory analyses.

(Relevant experience and/or education from an accredited college or university may be substituted)

Qualifying education and experience must be clearly documented in the "Education" and "Work Experience" sections of the application. Do not substitute a resume for your application or write "see resume" on your application. Preferred Qualifications : (Be specific in describing your experience in your application. Ensure the descriptions provided illustrate your competencies, specifically addressing the required and preferred qualifications.):

• Experience, within the last five (5) years, performing laboratory analyses on water or wastewater.
• Experience, within the last five (5) years, collecting water, wastewater, soil, or bio-solids samples.
• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite or PowerPoint, Word & Excel.
• Experience calibrating and maintaining laboratory equipment.
• Experience, within the last five (5) years, of at least six (6) months of professional experience working in a laboratory setting.
• Experience with data entry and review.
• E…