Laboratory Analyst

The Position

THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA IS SEEKING AN EXPERIENCED AND DETAIL ORIENTED LABORATORY ANALYST TO JOIN OUR DYNAMIC WATER REUSE TEAM PROVIDING CRITICAL SERVICES TO OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY!

The City of Santa Rosa is committed to building a workforce reflective of our community and establishing a lasting culture of equity and belonging within our organization. Our collective talents and expertise contribute to high-quality public services that support a vibrant, resilient, inclusive City for our community and visitors. We celebrate a diverse workforce and welcome all qualified candidates to apply.

THE BENEFITS OF CITY EMPLOYMENT:

• 12 paid holidays annually, plus 1 to 3 “floating holidays” per year depending on hire date and years of service
• $500 Annual wellness bonus
• Unlimited free bus rides on CityBus and Sonoma County Transit
• The City is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF) Employer

In addition to offering a challenging, rewarding work environment and excellent salary, the City of Santa Rosa provides a generous suite of benefits, including retirement through CalPERS, a competitive leave accrual package, your choice of health plan, a flexible spending program, employer contributions to a Retiree Health Savings plan, flexible work schedule options, and top of the line employer paid (free to you) vision and dental coverage. More information regarding benefits associated with this position can be found on our Miscellaneous Employee Benefits Page.

ABOUT THE LAGUNA TREATMENT PLANT:

The hub of the Water Reuse System is the Laguna Treatment Plant, which cleans sewage from homes and businesses throughout the region so that it can be reused safely with beneficial outcomes. The Plant recycles approximately 7 billion gallons of wastewater each year. During dry to normal water years, nearly 100% of the tertiary treated recycled water is beneficially reused. 

Our state accredited environmental laboratory, located at the Plant, analyzes drinking water, sewage, and industrial waste to ensure compliance with applicable federal, state and local regulations, public health and protection of the Laguna de Santa Rosa watershed.

For more information about the City of Santa Rosa Water Department and it’s efforts to providing safe and reliable water supply to our local community, please visit Water’s website at: SR CITY WATER

ABOUT THE POSITION:

Laboratory Analysts perform chemical, biochemical, physical and biological analyses on water, domestic and industrial wastewater, gases, sludges, and soils. Laboratory Analyst is considered the entry level classification in the Laboratory Analyst series and may provide technical guidance to Laboratory Aides, Interns, or other technical staff. Analyses are performed 365 days a year. In order to provide coverage, Laboratory Analysts have rotating schedules that include working weekends and holidays. 

THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE:

 • Works well in a team environment

 • Has good math and computer skills

 • Is able to multi-task effectively

 • Is capable of producing accurate, high quality work

 • Is detail-oriented

 • Is capable of meeting deadlines

 • Is organized and efficient

 • Demonstrates safe laboratory practices

 • Experience with Laboratory Information Management System

• Works well in a busy, fast-paced environment

• Is willing to work weekends, holidays and rotating shifts

• Is an adaptable, flexible professional who embraces teamwork

 

HOW TO APPLY:

Please complete a thoughtful, thorough Supplemental Questionnaire submission. As part of the selection process, your responses to these questions will be scored using criteria specific to this position. Incomplete responses, or responses such as “See Resume” can result in disqualification from the selection process. 

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. 

THE SELECTION PROCESS:

The selection process will include a minimum qualifications assessment, and may also include an application and supplemental questionnaire review, followed by department selection interviews. It is anticipated that interviews will take place towards the end of May.

For more information about this exciting opportunity, please contact Alberto Sanchez at asanchez@srcity.org

 

Examples of Duties and Responsibilities

The following duties are considered essential for this job classification: 

Essential Duties:

• Perform a variety of chemical, biochemical, physical and biological analyses of water, domestic and industrial wastewater, gases, sludges and soils using a variety of laboratory instruments and equipment prepare standard solutions and reagents; 
• assist in maintaining laboratory records; 
• maintain proper quality assurance and follow work safety procedures; 
• enter analytical data into the LIM system; 
• recommend improvements to work procedures, methods and forms; 
• perform routine maintenance and minor repairs on laboratory equipment; 
• calibrate lab instruments as needed.

Additional Duties:

In addition to the duties listed in the Essential Duties Section, each employee in this classification may perform the following duties. Any single position may not be assigned all duties listed below, nor do the examples cover all duties which may be assigned.

• Provide technical guidance to Laboratory Aides, Interns or other technical staff;
• Sample water, domestic and industrial wastewater, gases, sludges and soils; 
• develop and implement new methods; 
• assist in the evaluation, specification and selection of laboratory equipment; 
• make recommendations for the purchase of equipment and chemicals; 
• prepare a variety of technical reports; 
• and perform related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

Knowledge of: Quantitative laboratory analysis and safety practices and procedures, including legal chain of custody and quality control; computer software applications related to laboratory testing; laboratory equipment maintenance and repair methods and techniques.

Ability to: Operate laboratory equipment and adapt to new equipment and procedures; record information accurately and legibly; measure quantities accurately; use Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS), spreadsheet, and word processing software applications; maintain effective relationships with those contacted in the course of work; communicate orally, clearly and concisely; comprehend and make inferences from written material.

Experience and Education: Any combination equivalent to experience and education that could likely provide the required knowledge and abilities would be qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be: Education – Completion of college level course work in chemistry, biology or chemical laboratory analysis.

Additional Information

The work is performed primarily indoors in a laboratory environment. Incumbents enter test data into a terminal, PC or keyboard device. When interpreting data, receiving samples, and providing test results and other information to others, incumbents communicate orally, both face to face and using the telephone, in one-to-one and group settings. They learn to operate new equipment through oral instruction in an on-the-job setting; and learn advances in laboratory procedures through structured lectures, mainly in a classroom format such as at conferences. Incumbents discriminate among and/or match colors of chemicals used in testing. They respond to alarms and other auditory warning devices from laboratory equipment. Incumbents mix chemicals for testing using both normal and specialized protective equipment; observe or monitor objects and data to comply with safety standards and permits; and measure volume using calibrated instruments. When dispensing liquids and measuring liquid and solid volumes, incumbents make both continuous, repetitive arm/hand movements and precise arm/hand positioning movements. Laboratory Analysts make skillful, controlled manipulations of small objects and fine, highly controlled muscular movements when making adjustments to laboratory equipment and when using syringes and pipettes. Incumbents lift and move five gallon sample containers weighing up to 50 pounds short distances; and move lab equipment, chemical containers or water carboys weighing less than 20 pounds short and long distances. When performing laboratory analyses, Laboratory Analysts stand or sit for extended periods of time with the ability to move at will.

SANTA ROSA – A WONDERFUL CITY TO CALL HOME: 

The City of Santa Rosa is nestled in the center of famous Sonoma Wine Country, located just 55 miles north of San Francisco and 30 miles east of the Pacific Ocean with a population of approximately 180,000. Santa Rosa serves as the County seat and the center of trade, government, commerce, and medical facilities for the North Bay. The surrounding area is home to over a hundred wineries and vineyards and many beautiful parks and recreational facilities, including golf courses. Santa Rosa is in the center of a nationally recognized cycling area. We boast many attractions associated with large cities, including a symphony, performing arts center, theater productions and internationally recognized restaurants, yet still retain the warmth and small town feel of decades past. Santa Rosa has been named one of the 50 greenest cities in the United States with one of the top five mid-sized downtowns in California. 

The City of Santa Rosa is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. 

The City does not discriminate on the basis of disability in employment. Requests for reasonable accommodations needed to participate in the recruitment process may be made by submitting a Request for Reasonable Accommodation Form within five (5) business days of being noticed that an event requiring accommodation is occurring. You may also contact the Human Resources Department at (707) 543-3060 or jobs@srcity.org.