CLOSING DATE & TIME: March 28, 2024 at 4:00PM Pacific Time
SALARY:
- Range 227: $75.28 - $93.75 Hourly; $13,048.53 - $16,250.00 Monthly
GENERAL PURPOSE
Under administrative direction, plans, organizes, and directs laboratory personnel, manages the operation of the District laboratory and Laboratory Information Management Systems to provide services in support of water and wastewater operations, engineering services, and District programs and projects as defined; and performs related duties as assigned.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
This is a management classification responsible for planning, organizing, reviewing, and evaluating all District laboratory services, including water and wastewater analysis, data management, the evaluation and incorporation of new laboratory technology, and contracted laboratory services. Incumbents are responsible for performing diverse, specialized and complex work involving significant accountability and decision-making responsibilities, which include developing and implementing policies and procedures for assigned programs, budget administration and reporting, program evaluation, maintaining laboratory accreditation program certification. Incumbents serve as a professional-level resource for organizational, managerial, and operational analyses and studies, and are expected to communicate effectively and timely with all applicable stakeholders to ensure data-driven decision making is carried out. Performance of the work requires the use of considerable independence, initiative, and discretion within broad guidelines.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
Receives administrative direction from the Director of Environmental and Regulatory Compliance. Exercises direct supervision over professional, technical, and administrative support staff.
BENEFITS: For an overview of EMWD's excellent benefits package please click on the following link: EMWD Benefits Summary
To learn more about working at EMWD, view our Join EMWD video by clicking here.
EMWD’s mission is to deliver value to our diverse customers and the communities we serve by providing safe, reliable, economical and environmentally sustainable services. EMWD is a leader in sustainability efforts that provide long-term benefits to the environment and establishes EMWD as an industry front-runner in adapting to climate change. We have invested in solar energy programs that provide significant environmental benefits, are modernizing our fleet vehicles to be further reliant on clean energy, and have a long-term strategic priority to further reduce our carbon footprint while reducing financial impacts to customers.
Required Skills
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Knowledge of:
- Method validation and proficiency testing as required through the Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (ELAP).
- Principles and practices of employee supervision, including work planning, assignment review and evaluation, discipline, and the training of staff in work procedures.
- Principles and practices of leadership.
- Organization and management practices as applied to the development, analysis, and evaluation of programs, policies, and operational needs of the assigned area of responsibility.
- Principles and techniques for working with groups and fostering effective team interaction to ensure teamwork is conducted smoothly.
- Administrative principles and methods including goal setting, program development and implementation.
- Principles and practices of budget preparation and administration.
- Principles and practices of chemical and bacteriological characteristics of water, wastewater, and solids including biosolids and soils.
- District facilities and treatment processes in water, wastewater, and biosolids.
- Water chlorination and disinfection.
- Distribution systems and delivery of water.
- Theories of biology, chemistry, and microbiology.
- Standard methods of analysis, laboratory equipment and its uses.
- Water and wastewater sampling techniques.
- Principles and practices of budgeting, planning, training, and scheduling.
- Applicable federal and state regulations governing water, wastewater, and biosolids.
- Laboratory safety practices including chemical storage and handling office and records management practices and procedures.
- Principles and practices of sound business communication.
- District personnel rules, policies, and procedures.
- District and mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols.
- Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and District staff.
- The structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions and program, project, and task coordination, including computers and software programs relevant to work performed.
Continuous Improvement Knowledge:
- The core values, concepts, and framework of continuous improvement criteria, including the principles of management by fact, and organizational and personal learning.
- The means of developing alignment between strategic goals and individual performance standards.
- Practices of process mapping (control).
- Practices of structured problem-solving.
- The Strategic Planning Cycle and the various responsibilities within that cycle.
Ability to:
- Maintain ELAP certification and gain approval for new analytical methods through meeting ELAP requirements.
- Select and supervise staff, provide training and development opportunities, ensure work is performed effectively, and evaluate performance in an objective and positive manner.
- Develop and implement goals, objectives, practices, policies, procedures, and work standards.
- Provide administrative and professional leadership and direction for Laboratory Division and the District.
- Use tact, discretion and diplomacy in dealing with sensitive situations and concerned people and customers, both internal and external.
- Prepare, administer and monitor a division/department budget.
- Demonstrate effective leadership and problem-solving skills.
- Promote teamwork, interpret laboratory and plant operating data, prepare clear, complete, and concise reports and correspondence.
- Effectively resolve conflicts.
- Anticipate future laboratory resource needs.
- Interpret data and evaluate degree of compliance and conformance.
- Oversee and manage commercial laboratory contracts.
- Understand, interpret, and apply all pertinent laws, codes, regulations, policies and procedures, and standards relevant to work performed.
- Effectively represent the department and the District in meetings with governmental agencies; community groups; various business, professional, and regulatory organizations; and in meetings with individuals.
- Independently organize work, set priorities, meet critical deadlines, and follow-up on assignments.
- Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines.
- Effectively use computer systems, software applications relevant to work performed, and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks.
- Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, using appropriate English grammar and syntax.
- Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
Continuous Improvement Abilities:
- Effectively evaluate areas of improvement, taking into account both internal and external department needs, and creating sound solutions to resolve any identified deficiencies.
- Develop a systems perspective for managing department operations and its key processes to achieve results.
- To use the continuous improvement strategies and the core values as building blocks for department operations.
- Define and explain key processes and process requirements within the department.
- Develop and deploy strategic plan elements and key performance measures consistent with District goals.
- Develop and maintain continuous improvement in all areas of operations.
- Develop and monitor performance standards for all divisions within the department.
- Ensure department goals and objectives are aligned with other departments, branches, and the District as a whole.
- Track and monitor department performance.
- Make sound decisions based on departmental performance indicators.
Required Experience
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Experience:
Any combination of experience and education that provides the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying, along with the specific licenses/certifications as outlined below:
- Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in water or wastewater laboratory services, preferably in a government or utility environment, one (1) year of which should be in a supervisory or lead capacity.
Education:
- Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in chemistry, bacteriology, biology, environmental science, engineering, or a related field.
Licenses/Certifications:
- A valid California driver’s license and the ability to maintain insurability under the District’s Vehicle Insurance Policy.
- Certification by the California Water Environment Association (CWEA) or American Water Works Association (AWWA) as a Grade IV Laboratory Analyst.
- A State of California Water Treatment Operator Certificate, Grade II and a State of California Distribution Operator Certificate, Grade II is desirable.