Water Quality Specialist Senior

City of Great Falls•Great Falls, MT

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

This position performs advanced technical and administrative work in the collection, testing, treatment, analysis and recording of source, drinking, and discharge water that is processed through the City of Great Falls Missouri River Water Treatment Plant. The role directly supports the protection of public health and safety for residents, environmental integrity, and compliance with state and federal laws. This work is essential to effective water treatment operations, mandatory compliance, and providing knowledgeable assistance to contractors, citizens, and staff within the City.

Requirements

A bachelor’s degree in chemistry, bacteriology, microbiology, or a related field.
Two years of relevant laboratory and quality assurance experience.
Pass the Montana Class I Water Treatment Plant Operator certification within 1 year and be fully certified within 2.5 years.
Montana Water Laboratory Technician certification or ability to obtain within one year of employment.
Knowledge of City and department policies and procedures.
Proficiency with the chemical, physical, and microbiological principles of water quality analysis and water treatment processes.
Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws, ordinances, and regulations related to water treatment and laboratory analysis.
Demonstrated ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and manage work effectively.
Demonstrated ability to perform mathematical computations.
Thorough knowledge of laboratory techniques and reporting, as well as equipment used in water testing, including maintenance and calibration.
Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
Ability to work independently and evaluate and resolve problems with laboratory procedures and process equipment.

Nice To Haves

A combination of equivalent education and experience will be considered.

Responsibilities

Follows EPA’s standard analytical methods and guidelines to ensure that data produced meets quality control requirements.
Evaluates and develops new analytical methods and procedures to ensure compliance with EPA and DEQ approved method requirements and water quality standards.
Collects samples throughout the plant and distribution system for the analysis of various microbiological and chemical constituents.
Collects samples for analysis to satisfy the discharge monitoring report.
Analyzes and interprets water samples for the presence/absence of target bacteria.
Performs coliform and E. coli sampling for the public, as well as main replacement projects.
Investigates customer complaints by collecting, analyzing, and interpreting water quality samples to identify issues and implement appropriate resolutions.
Serves as the Laboratory QA Officer.
Validates and evaluates data produced by laboratory personnel to ensure compliance with method specific quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) parameters.
Initiates and implements required performance evaluation studies for laboratory personnel to maintain methods and laboratory certifications with regulatory agencies.
Prepares treatment process reports to meet state and federal regulatory requirements.
Maintains thorough knowledge of LCRI to perform the distribution of required public notification documentation, public education materials, and other miscellaneous documentation.
Coordinates with other City departments to ensure compliance with applicable regulatory requirements.
Assists in preparation of public notification and information shared with the public.
Prepares bi-annual Consumer Confidence Reports to educate the public about the quality of their drinking water and the steps being taken to ensure safety of the water.
Assists in determining and adjusting chemical feed rates for water treatment to ensure the consistent production of drinking water that meets stringent standards for safety, quality, palatability, and visual clarity.
Advises supervisors, City officials, and the public regarding regulatory compliance.
Maintains ongoing training related to required laboratory qualifications.
Participates in laboratory and water plant performance audits.
Provides technical support and training for laboratory and plant personnel.
Assist with and promotes all Laboratory safety programs and procedures, ensuring compliance and fostering a strong culture of safety.
Provides guidance, training, and mentorship to other plant staff while collaborating with other staff to identify risks, implement corrective actions, and drive continuous improvement across all facility operations.
Procures all materials and maintains a working stock of all laboratory and process control equipment, and chemical inventories.
Cleans, maintains, repairs and calibrates laboratory and process control equipment to ensure proper performance, efficiency and accuracy.
Maintains and adheres to strict quality control and quality assurance programs for the laboratory.