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Job Description

Inframark is Hiring!

We’re looking for a Laboratory Manager in our Burbank facility. The Laboratory Manager manages the City of Burbank Water Reclamation Plant (BWRP) Laboratory Department.

Salary range $80-95K depending on level of experience.

This individual plans, supervises, assigns, reviews and participates in the work of staff responsible for providing laboratory services in support of wastewater treatment operations, of regulatory and process control chemical, physical, and biological testing in support of the BWRP treatment plant and Industrial Source Reduction and Control Program (ISRCP).

The individual ensures work quality and analytical results meet high quality standards and adheres to established policies and procedures, provides training on proper laboratory sample collection and testing procedures, and performs the more technical and complex tasks relative to assigned areas of responsibility.

The position functions as the Laboratory Manager of a laboratory accredited by the State Water Resources Control Board Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (ELAP) and requires all Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) documentation be maintained according to the most current regulations in order to retain laboratory accreditation.

_Dimensions:_

+ Manages a staff of Laboratory Technicians and reports directly to the Project Manager.

+ Has fiscal responsivity for the department’s budget planning, forecasting, and purchasing practices and procedures.

+ Has responsibility to understand and effectively execute all BWRP environmental compliance requirements and deliverables stipulated in its NPDES and Recycled Water permits; except for any permit requirements specifically required by the Industrial Source Reduction and Control Program (ISRCP).

+ Oversees all aspects of environmental compliance monitoring and reporting for the BWRP and Laboratory operations.

+ Interacts directly with BWRP operations and maintenance staff, ISRCP staff, and administrative staff.

+ Must maintain respectful and effective relationships with the client, direct staff, other managers and staff, plant visitors, vendors, and contractors.

+ Must have a valid California driver’s license and maintenance of an acceptable driving record.

• **_Nature & Scope-Principal Areas of Responsibilities:_** ·

+ Supervises staff including but not limited to: prioritizing and assigning work/ conducting performance evaluations; ensuring staff is trained; making hiring, termination and disciplinary recommendations.

+ Manages, directs, and implements laboratory services conducting analysis of residential and industrial wastewater. Develops laboratory goals and objectives, policies, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and administrative systems.

+ Prepares technical reports and correspondence as required by the client, company, National Pollution Discharge Elimination Systems (NPDES), DMR permits and State and Regional Water Resources Boards; includes preparation and uploading of NPDES, Recycled Water reports to the California Integrated Water Quality System (CIWQS).

+ Maintains ELAP accreditation and quality assurance programs to meet all regulatory and permit requirements.

+ Establishes staffing schedules, monitors staff performance and work quality, and ensures staff successfully perform analytical demonstration of capability requirements prior to performing analysis on samples collected for environmental compliance purposes.

+ Has overall responsibility for the materials, supplies, and equipment/instrument budget needs; prepares justifications and support documentation for capital improvement projects, and prepares the annual budget for laboratory and specifications for contract laboratory services.

+ Develops and maintains monitoring and reporting schedules based on regulatory permits and treatment plant needs.

+ Maintains, reviews annually, updates as needed, and trains staff on the laboratory Quality Manual.

+ Implements safe laboratory practices/policies and enforces them; annually reviews and updates the Chemical Hygiene Plan as needed; maintains records and compliance with Fire Department and hazardous waste inspections.

+ Represents the City and company on laboratory or the treatment plant in public and private meetings, seminars/workshops, on matters relating to analytical procedures, and performs other duties of a similar nature or level.

+ Reviews and/or approves final analytical data in the LIMS database and is responsible for ensuring reported data is of the highest quality and meets appropriate quality assurance and quality control specifications per each analytical method.

**_Education/Equivalent:_** ·

+ Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in chemistry, biology, or physical science is required.

+ Possession of a California Water Environment Association (CWEA) Laboratory Analyst Grade III certificate within 12 months of hire and Grade IV certification within 24 months.

_Work Experience Needed:_

+ This is a seasoned professional position requiring at least 7 years of increasingly responsible experience working in an environmental laboratory performing wastewater analysis and at least two years of supervisory or management experience. The position requires experience with:

+ Principles and practices of employee supervision, including understanding staff members and creating an effective team.

+ Work planning, assignment and delegation, review and evaluation of beginning, intermediate, and final results.

+ Training staff in work procedures and the chemical, biological and physical characteristics of wastewater. Principles, practices, equipment and materials required for physical, chemical, and bacteriological wastewater analysis.

+ Sampling techniques and related statistical analysis techniques.

+ Laboratory and wastewater treatment plant safety procedures and equipment.

+ Principles of wastewater treatment and applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations.

+ Principles and practices of safety policy management and application.

+ Technical report writing, proper record keeping procedures.

+ Modern office practices, methods, computer equipment, and applications related to the work.

_Special Skills/Abilities Needed:_

·

+ Know and understand current technological developments in laboratory operations, wastewater treatment and control, principles and practices as applied to the treatment and disposal of treated wastewater; Knowledge of the chemistry and environmental fate of pollutants.

+ Know federal, state and local laws and regulations applicable to the laboratory, analytical procedures, and monitoring and reporting relative to NPDES and Recycled Water permits.

+ Have practical knowledge of wastewater treatment, be able to interpret plant process data and draw conclusions on treatment effectiveness, and use data to identify potential or current treatment deficiencies that may negatively affect the plant’s current or future environmental compliance. Train laboratory staff to recognize unusual or out of control plant data and immediately report the data to management.

+ Have extensive knowledge of analytical and sampling techniques, equipment, procedures, methods of statistical analysis and data processing as applied to laboratory data management.

+ Have practical experience in the setup, operation, and maintenance of a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) database.

_Essential Functions:_

Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

+ Ensures compliance with applicable regulatory regulations and quality control standards, including compiling and preparing various reports and records related to water quality regulatory monitoring, process control requirements, developing, implementing and enforcing in-house quality assurance programs, updating and reviewing standard operating procedures, and performing corrective action(s) when required.

+ Implements effective standard work and safety procedures and ensures proper operation and safe use of any laboratory equipment.

+ Monitors operations and activities of the laboratory, makes improvements and modifications as necessary, and prepares various reports on its operation and activities.

+ Determines and recommends equipment, materials, and staffing needs for laboratory operations; participates in the annual budget preparation; prepares detailed cost estimates with appropriate justifications, as required; maintains a variety of records and prepares routine reports of work performance.

+ Monitors and controls supplies and equipment; orders supplies and tools as necessary; prepares documents for equipment procurement; conducts informal and formal bid processes for professional services; maintains records of purchase orders; Develops the laboratory annual department Capital Improvement and Materials, Supplies, and Services budgets.

+ Provides plant operation technical assistance regarding sampling and chemical analysis as needed. Assists in training staff in laboratory analysis and safety procedures and in the operation and use of equipment;

+ Conducts annual employee performance evaluations, recommends employees for promotion, performs or assigns retraining as needed including employee counseling, and makes recommendations to plant management for any disciplinary action deemed as warranted.

+ Receives, investigates, and responds to problems and complaints in a professional manner; identifies and reports findings and takes necessary corrective action. Is able to effectively communicate thoughts and ideas, work standing for long periods of time, and has the ability to lift up to 49 lbs; performs other duties as assigned.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and/or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and smell. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and have the ability to lift up to but not exceeding 49 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close and distance vision as well as the ability to distinguish color and shades. Technical dexterity is required in performing chemical and instrumental analytical procedures.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work is performed mainly in the central lab with occasional excursions to treatment plant structures and other related facilities. While in the lab, they may be exposed to toxins, carcinogenic compounds, hazardous waste and unpleasant odors. While on plant excursions, will be exposed to all kinds of weather conditions, noise, dirt and machinery. The employee may be occasionally exposed to some noise, silica, dust, fumes, smoke, gases, greases, oils, electrical energy, solvents and vibrations while in the lab. Incumbents may periodically work on slippery/uneven surfaces, around machinery with moving parts, moving objects/vehicles, ladders, and may be exposed to wastewater.

This position description is intended for the purpose of position evaluation and salary positioning and is not a contract setting forth the full scope of employment. The employer retains the right to deviate from the description at its discretion, without notice.

Requirements

An Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.