Environmental Scientist Senior

Salary Range: $33.9368 - $43.2817/hour. Salary reflects Step 1 and Step 6 of a 7-step pay scale. Salary at hiring will be dependent upon the applicant's education, experience, and training. 

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Job Summary:
Responsible for the microbiological and chemical examination of water and wastewater samples. Coordinates compliance monitoring schedules for the drinking water and water reclamation plants. Maintains records and submits reports to remain in compliance with local, state and federal regulatory agencies. Serves as the Quality Assurance Officer (QA) in the laboratory operation.  Provides technical assistance to drinking water and water reclamation personnel.

Scope of Responsibility:
Sets precedent within limits and/or administers operating rules and procedures under management guidance, where positive and negative impact directly or indirectly affects the function and output of the work unit or team, with limited financial impact.  Performs advanced troubleshooting or analysis; uses judgment to select from multiple known alternatives.  Failures and successes impact the department or functional operations, with moderate financial impact on the overall organization.
Requires frequent interaction to provide basic information and/or occasional interaction requiring detailed procedural explanations or technical responses, where relationships involve cooperation within the overall organization and/or directly interfacing with individual customers or vendors.Supervision

• Coordinate laboratory work projects ensuring that adequate materials and supplies are available for proper performance of laboratory work.
• Schedule sample collection and analysis to maintain compliance with monitoring schedules for the drinking water and water reclamation plants.  
• Provide technical support and training for laboratory personnel.
• Serve as the Laboratory QA Officer. Validate and evaluate data produced by laboratory personnel to ensure that method specific quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) parameters are met. 
• Initiate and implement required performance evaluations studies for laboratory personnel to maintain method and laboratory certification with regulatory agencies.

Department Operations

• Perform a variety of complex chemical, physical, and microbiological analysis on water and wastewater samples for regulatory compliance and process control requirements. Maintain and submit appropriate records and reports as required by state and federal regulatory agencies.  
• Prepare analytical standards, solutions, culture media and quality control check samples. Maintain and operate laboratory equipment and instruments for laboratory analyses including incubators, hoods, autoclaves, ovens, microscopes, analytical balances and various meters and analytical instrumentation. 
• Follow EPA and Standard Method analytical methods and guidelines to ensure that data produced meets quality control requirements.
• Collect laboratory and operational process water and wastewater samples as necessary.
• Evaluate and develop new analytical methods and procedures to ensure compliance with EPA and DEQ approved method requirements and water quality standards.
• Conduct analysis on various process chemicals utilized in water and wastewater treatment to determine degree of effectiveness.
• Evaluate and interpret laboratory test results, compile data, maintain records, and prepare reports as required.
• Conduct research concerning water and wastewater treatment as directed. Prepare special reports as required. Provide technical support for drinking water and water reclamation facility staff.
• Respond to public inquiries regarding water quality issues, complaints or requests for general information. Investigate customer complaints involving both chemical and microbiological issues related to water. 
• Prepare and maintain water quality control reports to ensure compliance with all applicable state and federal regulations.
• Maintain, clean and care for laboratory facility, equipment and material. Perform minor servicing and maintenance work on laboratory instrumentation.
• Participate in the Laboratory's in-service training and safety programs.

Performs other duties as assigned.Required Qualifications/Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, biology or related field.
• Five years of relevant laboratory and quality assurance experience.
• Must be able to pass a pre-employment drug test and a State and Federal criminal background check

Preferred Qualifications/Skills:

• Possession of a Montana Water or Wastewater Operator’s License

Working conditions require moderate physical effort, moving between 5 and 25 pounds, where effort is intermittent, less than 15% of the time.  Working conditions require high attention to detail or deadlines occasionally (between 15% and 45% of the time).  A typical workday requires exposure to multiple disagreeable elements, none of which are of greater than moderate intensity, on an intermittent basis (less than 15% of the time).

Some requirements in this job description may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees.   All requirements are subject to modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.

Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills, and experience required.   To perform this job successfully, the worker must possess the abilities and aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently.

This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise.  The City retains the discretion to add duties or change the duties of this position at any time.

Salary : $34 - $45