DRINKING WATER LABORATORY MANAGER

City of Columbia,SC • Columbia, SC

37d

About The Position

The Drinking Water Laboratory Manager is a professional with supervisory and technical expertise. This professional is responsible for ensuring ALL water quality testing meets federal and state regulatory standards with the ultimate goal of protecting public health. This position supervises the operation and process laboratory functions of the Drinking Water Compliance Division. Under general direction of the Drinking Water Compliance Manager, the Drinking Water Laboratory Manager plans, coordinates, directs, and supervises the daily operations of the certified water treatment plant laboratories. Ensures compliance with all applicable agency policies and procedures, and federal/state/local laws and regulations pertaining to the treatment and distribution of the public water supply. This person is responsible for the overall technical quality of the work performed in the Laboratory and for assuring the use and adherence of standard methods and safe laboratory practices; trains plant personnel in laboratory procedures; and performs other technical work as required. The incumbent works within broad policy and organizational guidelines and does independent planning and implementation, reporting progress of major activities through periodic conferences and meetings. The work is considered light-to-medium in nature and involves walking or standing virtually all of the time and also involves exerting between 20 and 50 pounds of force on a recurring basis, or considerable skill, adeptness and speed in the use of fingers, hands or limbs in tasks involving close tolerances or limits of accuracy. The work requires the following physical abilities to perform the essential job functions: fingering, grasping, handling, mental acuity, reaching, repetitive motion, speaking, standing, talking, visual acuity, and walking. Work environment may involve exposure to bright/dim light, dusts and pollen, extreme heat and/or cold, wet or humid conditions, extreme noise levels, vibration, fumes and/or noxious odors, traffic, moving machinery, electrical shock, heights, toxic/caustic chemicals, confined spaces; and is dynamic that requires sensitivity to change and responsiveness to changing goals, priorities, and needs.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in chemistry, biology, environmental science, chemical engineering, or a closely related natural or physical science field required
• Four (4) years of relevant prior experience.
• Valid South Carolina Class "D" Driver's License.
• Knowledge of mathematics involving the practical application of fractions, percentages, ratios and proportions; or measurements, logarithmic or geometric construction. May use algebraic solutions of equations and inequalities; descriptive statistics; deductive geometry, plane and solid, and rectangular coordinates; mathematical classifications or schemes.
• Thorough knowledge of analytical, organic, and inorganic chemistry principles, microbiological methods, water treatment processes, and all applicable federal and state regulations.
• Ability to plan or direct others in the sequence of major activities and reporting on operations and activities, which are very broad in scope.
• Ability to supervise or lead others by determining work procedures, assigning duties, completing employee evaluations, maintaining harmonious relations and promoting efficiency.
• Ability to handle or use machines, tools or equipment requiring moderate instruction and experience, such as laboratory equipment and plant equipment.
• Ability to perform supervisory work involving policy and guidelines, solving both people- and work-related problems.
• Ability to read technical instructions, procedures, manuals and charts to solve practical problems; composing routine reports and specialized reports, forms and business letters with proper format; speaking compound sentences using normal grammar and word form.
• Ability to perform professional-level work requiring the application of scientific methods in the solution of technical, administrative problems; requires extensive understanding of operating policies and procedures and ability to apply these to complex problems; or the coordination of sub professional work in these disciplines; requires continuous, close attention for accurate results and frequent exposure to unusual pressures.
• Ability to take actions of others, requiring almost constant decisions affecting co-workers, customers, or others in the general public; works in a moderately fluid environment with guidelines and rules, but frequent variations from the routine.

Nice To Haves

• A Master's degree may be preferred.
• Relevant professional certifications, such as a state-specific Water Treatment Operator License or a Laboratory Analyst Certification are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Regulatory Compliance and Reporting: Oversee all laboratory activities to ensure strict compliance with regulations like the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and state-specific requirements. This includes, obtaining and maintaining SCDES Laboratory Certification and preparing and submitting all required reports to regulatory agencies.
• Supervision and Training: Plan, assign, supervise, and evaluate the day-to-day work of laboratory personnel in water treatment plants while maintaining standards. This involves recruiting new staff, providing and planning ongoing training in laboratory sample collection and testing procedures, methods and safety procedures, and managing performance.
• Supervise staff including providing timely performance evaluations; recommend and implement employee discipline; provides staff development; and maintain high standards necessary for efficient, professional operations; work with employees to correct deficiencies; implement discipline and termination actions.
• Laboratory Operations and Quality Assurance (QA): Manage the day-to-day operations, including scheduling analyses, developing, implementing and amending Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), laboratory policies, procedures and protocols and implementing quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) programs. Review all data for accuracy, completion, and correlation before final reporting. Ensure laboratory and staff compliance with all applicable policies, procedures, regulations, and standards of quality and safety as required by the City, SCDES, and other agencies
• Technical Analysis and Support: Oversee the performance of complex chemical, biological, and physical analyses on raw and treated water samples using specialized laboratory equipment (e.g., TOC, IC, spectrophotometers). Troubleshoot and perform maintenance and minor repairs of laboratory equipment. Provide technical support and data interpretation to water treatment, operations, engineering staff, and management. Recommend changes in plant operations to ensure the maintenance of water quality standards.
• Equipment Management: Oversee the operation, calibration, and maintenance of all laboratory instruments and equipment. Manage the inventory of chemicals, materials, and supplies, including preparing requisitions. Orders and maintains inventory of laboratory equipment, supplies and materials.
• Data and Records Management: Direct the use of a water-specific Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) and ensure that all data handling, chain of custody (COC) records, and documentation are organized, accurate, and accessible for audits. Review all data before it is reported as final. Assures that results from different parameters of a sample correlate.
• Perform general administrative /clerical work as required, including but not limited to preparing reports and records, completing forms, entering and retrieving computer data, preparing spreadsheets, copying and filing documents, answering the telephone, attending and conducting meetings, training, seminars, etc., as appropriate to enhance job knowledge and skills.
• Budgeting and Planning: Participate in the development and administration of the laboratory's operating and capital budgets, monitoring expenditures and forecasting future needs.
• Emergency Response and Troubleshooting: Respond to customer complaints and emergencies (on call, 24/7 basis) involving water quality issues, identify contamination sources, and coordinate corrective actions with staff.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• The City of Columbia is proud to offer a complete benefits package to full-time employees. This package includes health care, dental, vision, retirement, deferred compensation plans, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, long-term disability, holidays, vacation, and sick leave.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Industry: Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support