Chemist I - Water Services Department

About This Position

The City of Phoenix Water Services Department, one of the nation¿s largest potable water utilities, treats and delivers safe, reliable drinking water to 1.5 million customers across approximately 540 square miles. Phoenix Water Services also manages the sewer collection system and treats wastewater for 2.5 million residents in metropolitan Phoenix.

The Water Services Department is seeking a Chemist I. The Chemist I will conduct analytical tests, interpret results, write comprehensive analytical reports and documents, and maintain compliance with policies and procedures as required under state and federal regulations in order to maintain analytical quality, conduct routine analysis and special chemical and microbiological studies of raw and treated drinking water, wastewater, and solid wastes.

General Job Duties Include

• Compliance testing in support of various regulatory programs and special studies for the City of Phoenix Water Services Department.
• The use of Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) for retrieving, tracking and entering analytical data.
• Analysis of water and wastewater samples for compliance and process control requirements using approved Laboratory Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Compliance with safety requirements in the course of routine analysis.
• Use of Quality Assurance Plan (QAP) in the course of routine analysis.
• Archival of analytical data per SOPs and QAP requirements.
• Develop and update methods and procedures used in the examination of environmental samples.
  
  

IDEAL CANDIDATE

• Knowledge of water treatment plant operation and/or process control principles.
  
  

SALARY

Pay Range: $26.18 - $44.77 per hour.

Hiring Range: $26.18 - $33.41 per hour.

Pay Range Explanation

• Pay range is the entire compensation range for the position classification.
• Hiring range is an estimate of where you can receive an offer. The actual salary offer will carefully consider a wide range of factors, including your skills, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, training, and internal equity.
• Promotions occur when the last two digits of the pay grade increase.
• Demotions occur when the last two digits of the pay grade decrease.
• Lateral transfers occur when there is no change to the last two digits of the pay grade.
• When there is a change in the first digit of the pay grade, there may also be a change to your classification or unit.
  
  

Your job classification can be found in eCHRIS > Personal Details under your name, located in the top left section of the page.

The pay grade and classification/unit of your current position may be found by looking up your job title on the job description page.

Benefits

A comprehensive benefits package is offered which includes:

• Traditional pension with employer and employee contributions, click here for more details: Pension Information
• 401(a) and 457 plans with employer contributions
• Choice of generous medical HMO, PPO, or HSA/HDHP plans
• Medical enrollment includes a monthly $150 City contribution to a Post-Employment Health Plan
• Wellness incentive of up to $720 annually
• Dental, vision, and life insurance options
• Employer paid long-term disability
• Free Bus/light rail pass
• Tuition reimbursement program up to $6,500 per year
• Paid time off includes 13.5 paid holidays, 12 vacation days, and 15 sick days and personal leave days
• Paid Parental Leave for eligible employees up to 480 hours (12 weeks) of paid leave for the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child during a 12-month period
• Federal Student Loan Forgiveness offered through Savi
  
  

For more details, visit: Unit 007 Benefits

Minimum Qualifications

• Two years of professional level experience in chemical and microbiological analyses in the public health or chemical laboratory field.
• Bachelor's degree in chemistry, microbiology or a related field.
• Other combinations of experience and education that meet the minimum requirements may be substituted.
• All finalists for positions are subject to a criminal background check applicable to the department or position.
• Some positions require the use of personal or City vehicles on City business. Individuals must be physically capable of operating the vehicles safely, possess a valid driver's license and have an acceptable driving record. Use of a personal vehicle for City business will be prohibited if the employee is not authorized to drive a City vehicle or if the employee does not have personal insurance coverage.
• For information regarding pre-screening and driving positions, click here.
• The City job description can be found here.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

The minimum qualifications listed above, plus one year experience with/in the following:

• Wet Chemistry (BOD/CBOD, COD, TSS, TS, TDS, volatile solids, pH, alkalinity, Titrations, Turbidity, Chlorine, Hach Methods, Specific Gravity, etc.)
• Training others in a professional or academic environment (leadership role, training operators, training new hires, etc.).
• Process control/quality control in water or manufacturing/production/pharmaceutical/ nutraceutical lab.
• Lab Data Entry, utilizing Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS)/Databases, etc.
• Reviewing data beyond basic data entry (reviewing data packets, reporting, etc.).
• Multi-tasking (high work load, special studies, ordering/inventory, safety tasks).
• Instrumental analysis (IC, TOC, GC, Flow Analyzer, HPLC, ICP, AA).
• Laboratory instrument maintenance/troubleshooting.
• Laboratory in an environmental setting.
• SOP/method development.
  
  

RECRUITMENT DATES

Recruitment closes May 10, 2026. All materials must be received by 11:59 p.m. on this date.

This is a position-based recruitment and will not result in any ongoing eligibility list. This recruitment and any selection processes resulting from this recruitment may be used to fill other related vacancies within the organization now or in the near future.

How To Apply

Apply online by completing the required information and attaching, as one document, your cover letter and resume. Please include your experience as it relates to the qualifications stated above. Only the highest qualified may be posted to the eligible to hire list. The results of the resume screening process will be sent to your primary email address.

WE ARE HERE TO HELP

• Job interviews may be held by video or audio conference.
• If you are in need of computer resources, click here for free options.
• Arizona at Work has frequent classes to help with resume writing, interviewing skills, and general career guidance. Click here for more information.
• Explore other Employment Opportunities with the City of Phoenix.
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• If you require assistance at any stage of the application process due to an accessibility issue, please contact the Human Resources Department by phone at (602) 495-5700 or by text at (800) 367-8939. You may also fill out and submit a Reasonable Accommodation Request Form.
  
  

REFERENCE

Chemist I, JC:23410, ID# 61429, 04/27/2026, USM, JG, Benefits:007

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City of Phoenix is an equal opportunity employer. AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other national service alumni who meet the required qualifications are encouraged to apply.