What are the responsibilities and job description for the LAB TECHNICIAN position at City of Fort Smith?
Lab Tech
POSITION DESCRIPTION:
The incumbent, under the supervisor of the Laboratory Supervisor and direction of the Laboratory Analysts, is responsible for the collection and analyses of samples from various facilities in the City of Fort Smith including Water and Wastewater Treatment Plants, Water Distribution System, Landfill, Watershed Management Program, and Pretreatment Program for the purpose of process control and determining compliance with local, State and Federal Regulations
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned. Note: All City of Fort Smith positions require the employee to provide good customer service to both internal and external customers, maintain positive and effective working relationships with other City employees, and have regular and reliable attendance that is non-disruptive. Must show cooperation and respect to fellow employees and supervisors at all times.
1. Analyze water and wastewater samples in the City’s Laboratory.
2. Collect samples from the City’s Wastewater Treatment Plants as required for local, State, and Federal Regulations and departmental studies.
3. Prepare media, reagents and materials for analysis, sample collections and transfer.
4. Analyze proficiency samples as part of the ongoing QA/QC program.
5. Perform chemical and microbiological analysis of samples including, but not limited to, pH, Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Carbonaceous Biochemical Oxygen Demand (CBOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Oil and Grease (O&G), Turbidity, Volatile Solids (VS), Total Phosphorous, Ammonia Nitrogen, Fecal Coliform, Residual Chlorine, Hardness, Calcium by titration, Alkalinity, and Temperature.
6. Correlate and interpret results of analyses.
7. Compile results and log results into a computer database.
8. Properly use and maintain various analytical equipment including, but not limited to: colorimeters, specific ion meters and probes, incubators, turbid meter, autoclaves, analytical balances, and computers for data management.
9. Maintain a clean working environment.
10. Maintain good Quality Assurance practices to insure validity of analytical results.
11. Keep a running inventory of supplies required for normal daily operation of the laboratory.
12. Participates in classes and/or attend conferences that are deemed necessary by the Laboratory Supervisor and/or Environmental Quality Program Manager.
13. Follows City, Utility Department, and Environmental Quality Program safety practices and guidelines at all times, including wearing proper personal protective/safety equipment.
14. Regular attendance and timeliness is required.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
None.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:
OTHER SKILLS and ABILITIES:
LANGUAGE SKILLS:
Ability to read and interpret simple documents such as federal regulations, policy and procedure manuals. Ability to write simple reports and correspondence. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are also required. Ability to effectively communicate with industry representatives, employees, federal or state regulators. Ability to verbally communicate and provide excellent customer service.
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, percent, area, circumference, volume, and interpret graphs. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry. Ability to use math to compute needed statistics for compliance determination. Ability to use math to compute needed statistics for lab analysis.
REASONING ABILITY:
Ability to understand in written, oral, or diagram form simple variables and analyze them and explain results to others. The incumbent should possess knowledge of the use of tools and equipment in the department.
OFFICE PROCEDURE ABILITY:
The employee should also have knowledge of modern office practices, procedures, and equipment. Knowledge in the use of computers using Windows based word-processing, spreadsheet, and database application software.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee must frequently stand, walk, talk and hear. Occasionally sit, use hands to handle objects, and reach with hands and arms. The employee must stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, color, distance and peripheral vision. Depth perception and the ability to adjust focus are also required.
The employee is occasionally required to lift up to 50 pounds.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this position, the employee is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles, toxic and poisonous chemicals, caustic and corrosive chemicals, biohazardous material, explosive and flammable chemicals, and outdoor weather conditions. The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and is at risk of electrical shock, radiation and vibration, and in high precarious places. The incumbent is also exposed to non-weather related wet, humid conditions.
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.
Working holidays, shifts and weekends is required.
Working overtime may be required.
Notice of Consent Decree Posting
The City of Fort Smith, Arkansas (“City”) has entered into a Consent Decree in litigation with the United States of America and the State of Arkansas (“Consent Decree”). The Consent Decree was filed on April 6, 2015, in civil action 14-cv-02266-PKH, pending in the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas Fort Smith Division. The Consent Decree is available for review or copying on the City’s website where it may be found at www.FortSmithWater.org.
The incumbent, under the supervisor of the Laboratory Supervisor and direction of the Laboratory Analysts, is responsible for the collection and analyses of samples from various facilities in the City of Fort Smith including Water and Wastewater Treatment Plants, Water Distribution System, Landfill, Watershed Management Program, and Pretreatment Program for the purpose of process control and determining compliance with local, State and Federal Regulations
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned. Note: All City of Fort Smith positions require the employee to provide good customer service to both internal and external customers, maintain positive and effective working relationships with other City employees, and have regular and reliable attendance that is non-disruptive. Must show cooperation and respect to fellow employees and supervisors at all times.
1. Analyze water and wastewater samples in the City’s Laboratory.
2. Collect samples from the City’s Wastewater Treatment Plants as required for local, State, and Federal Regulations and departmental studies.
3. Prepare media, reagents and materials for analysis, sample collections and transfer.
4. Analyze proficiency samples as part of the ongoing QA/QC program.
5. Perform chemical and microbiological analysis of samples including, but not limited to, pH, Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Carbonaceous Biochemical Oxygen Demand (CBOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Oil and Grease (O&G), Turbidity, Volatile Solids (VS), Total Phosphorous, Ammonia Nitrogen, Fecal Coliform, Residual Chlorine, Hardness, Calcium by titration, Alkalinity, and Temperature.
6. Correlate and interpret results of analyses.
7. Compile results and log results into a computer database.
8. Properly use and maintain various analytical equipment including, but not limited to: colorimeters, specific ion meters and probes, incubators, turbid meter, autoclaves, analytical balances, and computers for data management.
9. Maintain a clean working environment.
10. Maintain good Quality Assurance practices to insure validity of analytical results.
11. Keep a running inventory of supplies required for normal daily operation of the laboratory.
12. Participates in classes and/or attend conferences that are deemed necessary by the Laboratory Supervisor and/or Environmental Quality Program Manager.
13. Follows City, Utility Department, and Environmental Quality Program safety practices and guidelines at all times, including wearing proper personal protective/safety equipment.
14. Regular attendance and timeliness is required.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
None.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:
- Must possess an Associate’s degree in a Laboratory Science and /or related field and have a minimum of one-year experience in a water/wastewater laboratory; or have a suitable combination of related experience and formal training.
- Knowledge of the correct analytical procedures to properly analyze a sample is necessary.
- Must possess a Class II Wastewater Operators License as issued by the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality or be able to obtain the license within three (3) years from date of employment.
- Must be able to operate simple analytical equipment in an effective and proficient manner.
- Must possess a valid driver’s license.
OTHER SKILLS and ABILITIES:
LANGUAGE SKILLS:
Ability to read and interpret simple documents such as federal regulations, policy and procedure manuals. Ability to write simple reports and correspondence. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are also required. Ability to effectively communicate with industry representatives, employees, federal or state regulators. Ability to verbally communicate and provide excellent customer service.
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, percent, area, circumference, volume, and interpret graphs. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry. Ability to use math to compute needed statistics for compliance determination. Ability to use math to compute needed statistics for lab analysis.
REASONING ABILITY:
Ability to understand in written, oral, or diagram form simple variables and analyze them and explain results to others. The incumbent should possess knowledge of the use of tools and equipment in the department.
OFFICE PROCEDURE ABILITY:
The employee should also have knowledge of modern office practices, procedures, and equipment. Knowledge in the use of computers using Windows based word-processing, spreadsheet, and database application software.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee must frequently stand, walk, talk and hear. Occasionally sit, use hands to handle objects, and reach with hands and arms. The employee must stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, color, distance and peripheral vision. Depth perception and the ability to adjust focus are also required.
The employee is occasionally required to lift up to 50 pounds.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this position, the employee is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles, toxic and poisonous chemicals, caustic and corrosive chemicals, biohazardous material, explosive and flammable chemicals, and outdoor weather conditions. The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and is at risk of electrical shock, radiation and vibration, and in high precarious places. The incumbent is also exposed to non-weather related wet, humid conditions.
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.
Working holidays, shifts and weekends is required.
Working overtime may be required.
Notice of Consent Decree Posting
The City of Fort Smith, Arkansas (“City”) has entered into a Consent Decree in litigation with the United States of America and the State of Arkansas (“Consent Decree”). The Consent Decree was filed on April 6, 2015, in civil action 14-cv-02266-PKH, pending in the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas Fort Smith Division. The Consent Decree is available for review or copying on the City’s website where it may be found at www.FortSmithWater.org.
Code : 20250003-1
Grade : GRADE 34
Posting Start : 01/13/2025
Posting End : 01/27/2025
HOURLY RATE RANGE: $19.09-$28.63
Salary : $19 - $29
