Introduction
Charlotte’s local government, with more than 7,000 employees and a $2.39 billion budget, works hard to ensure that the community will be a winning city for everyone – a truly remarkable place to live, work, learn and play.
Charlotte Water is an enterprise department of the City of Charlotte and one of the largest public water and sewer service providers in the southeast with 300,000 customer accounts and over 1000 employees. Our service area includes the City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County and the towns of Huntersville, Cornelius, Davidson, Mint Hill, Matthews and Pineville. Charlotte Water’s FY 23 budget is $535M and a five-year capital program of $2.5 billion. We enjoy the highest credit ratings from all three major credit rating agencies as a result of sound financial planning and management and strong support from our City Council. We value competent, skilled candidates with a customer service focus to work in a team environment.
Overview
The City of Charlotte is the largest municipality in North Carolina and the 15th largest city in the United States, with a total population of more than 897,000 citizens. A major commerce center, Charlotte hosts several of the nation’s largest banks and technology companies.
Also known as the Queen City, Charlotte is home to the Carolina Panthers, the Charlotte Hornets and the NASCAR Hall of Fame. We work hard to ensure that the community will be a winning city for everyone – a truly remarkable place to live, work, learn and play. Join us in helping to keep our City thriving, ensuring upward mobility and advancement in the workplace.
Function
Laboratory Technician
Summary
This position calibrates and maintains field instrumentation to ensure the accuracy and validity, collects, preserves, pretreats, and analyzes compliance and non-compliance samples in accordance with state and federal safe drinking water laws and/or the clean water act, regulations and standards for drinking water, wastewater, industrial discharges, and surface water samples for a large utility. Work involves operating vehicles equipped with job specific equipment; performing routine monitoring and emergency responses; setting priorities and planning routes. Prepares chain of custody and other documentation; enter data in the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS); conducts environmental water quality, system impact and customer water quality complaint investigations; maintaining defensible documentation; and safe handling of potentially hazardous chemical and/or biologically active solutions/samples. This position also ensures vehicle safety, maintenance and care.
Major Duties and Responsibilities
• Performs inspections, technical tasks and troubleshooting activities relative to area of responsibility.
• Investigates environmental or system impacts and customer water quality complaints.
• Participates in emergency response activities; utilizes FEMA NIMS ICS training; responds to contamination incidences in distribution system, spills, and dumping of chemicals or materials into the sanitary sewer.
• Operates a mobile laboratory; schedules and coordinates sampling and analytical activities; collects, preserves, and pretreats drinking water, wastewater, industrial discharges, and surface water samples; conducts precise and accurate physical, chemical, bacteriological, biological, and field analyses on water and wastewater samples according to standardized procedures and with established Quality Assurance (QA) protocols; and records accurate and precise measurements.
• Utilizes GIS applications and maps; prepares reports on incidents; takes required action.
• Keeps detailed and accurate records; enters data into laboratory information management system.
• Conforms to laboratory safety practices; maintains standard operating procedures and safety data sheets for established sampling and analytical procedures.
• Examines data for compliance with permit requirements, water quality standards, and miscellaneous regulations and statutes; interprets and reviews laboratory data and reports for clarity and accuracy; identifies anomalies and unusual trends; and alerts appropriate staff for corrective action.
• Prepares standards and reagents; calibrates, operates, maintains and troubleshoots a variety of analytical and field instruments.
• Provides training to less experienced staff in routine sampling, analytical procedures and associated duties.
• Submits electronic data via multiple information management systems, (e.g., GIS, LIMS, Customer Service software Banner).
• Works with others to identify probable cause and acts to resolve.
• Safely handles potentially hazardous chemical and biological solutions/samples; complies with state certification and federal guidelines.
• Maintains inventory of chemicals and equipment.
• Performs other related job duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
• Knowledge of water and/or wastewater treatment
• Knowledge of collecting and analyzing samples
• Knowledge of creating graphs using spreadsheets
• Knowledge of word processing and database programs
• Skill in oral and written communication, must possess customer service skills.
• Skill in calibrating and trouble-shooting equipment
• Skill in using GIS applications and maps.
• Skill in preparing reports.
• Ability to operate, troubleshoot and maintain field and laboratory equipment.
• Ability to identify and control sources of cross-contamination.
• Ability to identify causes and provide resolutions of consumer water quality complaints.
• Ability to set priorities, plan routes and work efficiently.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment in routine monitoring and emergency responses.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The work is medium work and requires applying 30 pounds of force frequently and exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally to move objects. Additionally, the following physical abilities are required: standing, sitting, walking, driving of a motor vehicle, mobility to work in field environment, laboratory and office with physical demands such as walking over rough, uneven or rocky surfaces, recurring lifting, carrying, bending, crouching, stooping, standing, kneeling, reaching, grasping, climbing, pulling or similar activities, to be able to talk or hear, in-person and on the phone; requires manual dexterity and mental and visual acuity.
Preferred Qualification
• Bachelor’s degree, in chemistry, environmental science or related discipline from an accredited school. and Two (2) years of related work experience performing field or laboratory duties involving sample collection and routine chemical analyses of water and/or wastewater.
• Completion of FEMA NIMS/ICS 100, 200, 700, and 800, (or obtain within 6 months of hire).
• Certification (based on area of work): NC Pretreatment Grade I and II or NC Distribution A, B, or C or Collections and Backflow; and NC AWWA/WEA Lab Analyst Certification I and II.
Minimum Qualifications
• High School Graduate or Equivalent
• Three (3) years of related work experience performing field or laboratory duties involving sample collection and routine chemical analyses of water and/or wastewater.
OR
• Associate Degree preferably in chemistry, environmental science or related discipline from an accredited school.
• One (1) one year of related work experience performing field or laboratory duties involving sample collection and routine chemical analyses of water and/or wastewater.
Licenses, Certifications or Registrations:
• Requires a valid driver’s license and an acceptable driving record.
Conditions of Employment
The City’s Background Check Policy requires background checks to be conducted on final internal or external candidate(s) applying for any position with the City of Charlotte. The type of information that will be collected as part of a background check includes, but is not limited to: reference checks, social security verification, education verification, criminal conviction record check, and, if applicable, a credit history check, sex offender registry and motor vehicle records check.
Background checks must be in compliance with all federal and state statutes, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The checks must be consistent with the guidelines set forth by these laws requiring organizations to obtain a candidate’s written authorization before obtaining a criminal background report, motor vehicle records check or credit report; and to properly store and dispose of information derived from such reports.
Final candidates must pass a pre-employment drug-screening test and physical examination. During the selection process, candidates may be asked to take a skills test, and/or participate in other assessments.
The City of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
How To Apply
Apply online.
Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job.
You are welcome to visit the City of Charlotte Human Resources Department lobby where we have workstations available. Our office is located at 700 East 4th Street, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28202. Our hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (EST), excluding official City holidays.
Anyone seeking an accommodation to apply for a job may call (704) 336-2285 for assistance or you may email questions to CityHrJobPostingsNotify@ci.charlotte.nc.us.
Benefits
The City of Charlotte provides a comprehensive benefits package to all employees.
Click here to learn more about the City of Charlotte’s benefits.
The City of Charlotte is a drug and alcohol-free workplace.
In Conclusion
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