Water Quality Specialist

City of Gig Harbor•Gig Harbor, WA

9d•$38 - $48•Hybrid

About The Position

Do you take pride in work that directly protects the health and well-being of your community? As a Water Quality Specialist with the City of Gig Harbor, you'll play a vital role in ensuring residents and businesses have access to safe, reliable drinking water every day. This rewarding position combines science, problem-solving, fieldwork, and collaboration to safeguard the city's public water system through water quality monitoring, regulatory compliance, system inspections, sampling, data analysis, and proactive maintenance programs. You'll work closely with operations staff, contractors, regulatory agencies, and the public to identify and resolve water quality concerns while helping ensure the city's water system continues to meet the highest standards for safety and reliability. If you're looking for a career where your expertise makes a meaningful difference every day, we invite you to join our team in protecting one of our community's most essential public resources. The water quality specialist performs a variety of technical and regulatory compliance duties including inspections of new and existing water service connections for compliance with contamination and cross connection control, administers the City’s Cross Connection Backflow Program, testing and maintaining the city’s backflow assemblies, water sampling and monitoring of distribution systems for chemical and bacteriological analysis, investigation and resolving of complaints of customers concerning water quality. Administers water quality monitoring programs, wellhead protection and public outreach efforts.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Experience working for a public works department at a government agency preferred.
General experience with tools and equipment such as light duty or flat truck, shovel, rake, posthole digger, compactor, chainsaw etc.
General experience with tools and equipment such as eductor truck, backhoe, dump truck preferred.
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.
Washington State Department of Health Cross Connection Specialist Certification
Washington State Department of Health Backflow Assembly Tester Certification (or ability to obtain within 12 months of hire).
State flagging card or ability to obtain within six months of hire.
First Aid/CPR card or ability to obtain within six months of hire.
A valid Washington State driver’s license (or ability to obtain one within 30 days of hire) and two years of driving experience.
Commercial Class A Washington State Driver’s License (CDL) with a Tanker endorsement, preferred.
Forklift Operators License or ability to obtain within six months of hire.
Ability to talk, hear, and sit.
Use hands to finger, handle, feel, and keyboard; hand-eye coordination is necessary to operate various pieces of equipment.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
Occasionally required to stand for long periods of time; walk, including over rough and uneven surfaces; engage in considerable activity including climbing ladders, balancing, bending, kneeling, stooping, squatting, crouching, crawling, and reaching; and lift moderately heavy items.
An average level of physical agility and dexterity is required.
Ability to maintain safe and responsible driving that meets the city’s motor vehicle record minimum driving requirements.
Ability to pass position relevant pre-employment screening.
Ability to pass pre-employment medical exam and maintain a level of physical fitness necessary to perform the essential job functions.

Nice To Haves

Experience working for a public works department at a government agency
General experience with tools and equipment such as eductor truck, backhoe, dump truck
Commercial Class A Washington State Driver’s License (CDL) with a Tanker endorsement
Forklift Operators License or ability to obtain within six months of hire.

Responsibilities

Administers the city’s Cross Connection Control and Backflow program to ensure that all water service connections comply with the Washington State Department of Health and City of Gig Harbor cross connection and backflow requirements.
Investigates existing and new commercial and residential water service to determine the level of risk pertaining to backflow and ensure that the appropriate backflow assemblies are installed to protect the public water supply.
Manages the city's backflow assembly tracking system, Swift Comply, and ensures that all backflow assemblies are being tested and tracked on an annual basis according to the Washington State Department of Health and City of Gig Harbor requirements.
Tests and maintains city’s backflow assemblies and logs test results in city’s backflow database.
Receives and investigates customer complaints and trouble calls regarding water quality including complex issues, commercial and residential buildings, determines probable cause, recommends corrective action, and problem resolution.
Performs complex cross connection inspection and plan review, including residential, commercial and industrial.
Reviews construction documents or plans to ensure compliance with all cross connection control regulations, determines backflow assembly requirements, inspects new and existing premises for adherence to all applicable cross connection regulations.
Maintains database, composes correspondence, and advises customers and contractors on cross connection control regulations.
Maintains accurate field records for water quality monitoring.
Collects water samples for water quality analysis.
Performs chlorine residual, iron and manganese, turbidity or other water quality measurements.
Uses various computer programs, databases and spreadsheets to validate, analyze and manage data and to generate technical reports and related correspondence for water quality monitoring programs and cross connection control programs.
Coordinates with other agencies and regulatory bodies on implementation and changes in programs affecting water quality.
Operates a variety of equipment and machinery such as personal and laptop computer, radio, cell phone, digital camera, calculator and various water quality testing equipment.
Coordinates with City department, personnel and customers concerning water quality operations.
Completes water sampling.
Operates and safely uses various hand and power tools.
Operates equipment such as forklifts, cranes, portable generators, pumps, pressure washers, and related equipment.
Stores, accounts for, and safely handles hazardous chemicals per Safety Data Sheets and safety practices.
May perform duties across all disciplines of the public works operations division.
Uses a computer or tablet to effectively utilize the city’s asset management and maintenance program (OpenGOV).
Accurately completes water service requests.
Reviews plans and approves plumbing permits and business licenses pertaining to cross connection requirements.
Participates in required continuing education and training programs related to public water systems.
May assist in training of lesser-experienced staff.
Performs administrative work as assigned.
Supports water operators in the operation of the city’s eductor truck.
Maintains punctual and reliable attendance.