Senior Chemist (Regional Water Quality Control Plant)

Career Opportunity
The City of Palo Alto's Public Works Department has an exciting opportunity for a Senior Chemist at their Regional Water Quality Control Plant (RWQCP) laboratory. The wastewater treatment plant serves Palo Alto, Mountain View, Los Altos Hills, East Palo Alto Sanitary District, and Stanford. The laboratory’s primary function is to provide analytical services to the RWQCP in compliance with their NPDES permit, along with additional services to the Utilities Department, including analysis of Palo Alto's potable water supply to meet California and national public health requirements.
 
The Senior Chemist will assist the Laboratory Manager in developing, implementing, reviewing, controlling, and maintaining the documentation required by CA ELAP regulations for quality control charts, data packages, corrective actions, data alerts, non-conformances, demonstration of competency records, associated data uncertainty, calculations, quality procedures, method detection limits, and State certification samples. The candidate will perform internal audits for all analytical methods in the laboratory for chemistry and microbiology and provide updates on report findings. While the main focus of the position is quality assurance, the selected candidate will also cover the duties of the lab's other Senior Chemist as needed.

The laboratory is accredited by the Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (ELAP) in various fields of testing, including volatile organic, inorganic substances, toxic elements, and microbiology. The methodologies used primarily follow Standard and EPA methods in accordance with state and federal regulations for both wastewater and potable water. To learn more about the Regional Water Quality Control Plant, click HERE.  

Ideal Candidate Traits:

• Leadership and Communication: Ability to direct team efforts, maintain accurate records, and communicate effectively in writing and orally.
• Laboratory Skills: Experience with lab equipment, including GCMS, ICPMS, IC and conducting laboratory audits.
• Technical Knowledge: Familiarity with TNI Standards, EPA regulations, and wastewater treatment processes. Understanding of QA manual requirements and expertise in quality control techniques for data review.
• Software Proficiency: Experience with advanced software and Laboratory Information Systems (LIMS).
• Certifications: Possession of, or the ability to acquire within 2 years of hire, a valid Grade III Laboratory Analyst Certificate from the California Water Environment Association or a Grade III Water Quality Analyst Certificate from the California-Nevada chapter of the American Water Works Association.

Benefits: Fantastic benefits package! To learn more, click HERE.

Compensation (SEIU): Comprehensive compensation plan. To learn more, click HERE.Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Essential Duties

• Assigns, reviews, and corrects the work of subordinate laboratory personnel; assists Manager of Laboratory Services with quality assurance.
• Oversees and performs chemical, physical, and microbiological analysis of water, wastewater, and related byproducts to monitor and control treatment plant operations, wastewater discharges and quality of potable water.
• Develops and oversees development of new test procedures using standard reference materials. Writes up standard operating and test procedures, and trains others in new and existing procedures.

Essential Functions

• Oversees and maintains laboratory safety program. Assigns laboratory personnel to plant safety committee.
• Oversees preparation of sampling schedules for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and process control samples. Prioritizes laboratory workload and assigns specific tasks to laboratory staff.
• Compiles, records and manages laboratory data and records. Relates test data to established standards of acceptance and makes appropriate reports of conditions found.

Related Functions:

• Prepares purchase requisitions for chemicals, lab supplies and instruments for approval by supervisor. Maintains records associated with purchasing and inventory control.
• Performs related duties and responsibilities as required. 

Sufficient education, training and/or work experience to demonstrate possession of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities which would typically be acquired through:

• Education equivalent to a bachelor’s degree with major in chemistry, biology, or microbiology with supporting coursework in one other analytical discipline (chemistry, biology, microbiology) not covered in the major course of study.
• Four years increasingly responsible experience in an analytical laboratory performing wet and instrumental methods of analysis including gas chromatograph, atomic absorption spectrophotometry using flame and graphite furnace method, biological and microbiological methods; or,
• Possession of a valid Grade III Laboratory Analyst Certificate issued by the California Water Environment Association or Grade III Water Quality Analyst Certificate issued by the California-Nevada chapter of the American Water Works Association, and
• Five years as a chemist in an analytical laboratory where the major portion of work involved analysis of wastewater, water, and their treatment byproducts. 

Special Requirements:

• Ability to work shift, on-call, weekends, and holidays as assigned.
• Possession of a valid California Driver’s License. 
• Acquire Grade III Laboratory Analyst Certificate within the two years of hire date.

Working Conditions / Physical Requirements

• Work in laboratory environment; some lifting; exposures to chemicals and microbiological organisms. 

Recruitment Timeline:

• Minimum Qualifications Review: Ongoing
• Panel Interviews: Week of April 14, 2025
• Department Level Interviews: To be determined

Please note: The following dates are tentative and may change based on the needs of the hiring department.

Our online application system is provided by NeoGov. If you have problems while applying online, please contact NeoGov's Live Applicant Support at (855) 524-5627 between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday - Friday.  

Salary : $115,482 - $141,794