Laboratory Manager

About the position

Job Appointment: Full time

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8AM - 4:30 PM onsite

Work Location:  Water Bureau Interstate Facility, 2010 N. Interstate Avenue, Portland, OR  97227

Benefit: Please check our benefit tab for an overview of benefit for this position

Language Pay Premium Eligible: This position may be eligible for Language Pay Differential for qualifying employees 

Union Representation: Non-represented

 

Application Material: Please click APPLY to submit your application via the City of Portland’s online portal. You will need to attach a resume and cover letter. 

The Position

The City of Portland Water Bureau is hiring a Laboratory Manager for our nationally accredited drinking water laboratory.  This position ensures that the laboratory delivers chemistry and microbiological analytical data to meet drinking water compliance and support the operational needs of the Bureau. The Laboratory Manager oversees the day to day operation of the laboratory and leads a team of 12 laboratory staff. This position also ensures compliance with safety and regulatory requirements; develops and implements laboratory procedures, protocols, and best practices; and responds to changes in regulations that affect the operations and services of the laboratory.

The laboratory analyzes over 14,000 surface water, groundwater, and drinking water samples per year.  It operates 7 days a week and is the largest municipal full-service drinking water laboratory in Oregon.

Major Job Duties: 

The Laboratory Manager is a key leadership position within the Operations Division. They are responsible for collaborating with managers and employees both internally at the City as well as with external stakeholders to meet performance goals. Major job duties of this position include:

• Managing the generation and delivery of high-quality, defensible, and timely chemical and microbiological analytical data to internal and external data customers.
• Leading the development of laboratory strategic planning and implementation of annual work plans to execute that vision.  This includes ongoing analysis and adaptive management of services, resources, capacities, methodologies, operating procedures, and work products.
• Maintaining accreditation through the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAP) via Oregon’s Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (ORELAP) and ensuring compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations and requirements.
• Leading, supervising, mentoring, and recruiting diverse, competent, innovative, and service-oriented staff to support the Water Bureau’s mission and strategic objectives.
• Stewarding the physical assets of the Laboratory and forecasting future fiscal needs to develop and administer an annual budget, a five-year financial plan, and necessary contract services.

About the Bureau 

The Portland Water Bureau's 600 employees work together to serve drinking water to almost a million people in the Portland area. The bureau values a diverse workforce and seeks ways to promote equity and inclusion within the organization and with the public. The City of Portland Water Bureau’s mission is to serve excellent water every minute of every day to almost 1 million customers in the Portland Metropolitan area. We work to uproot systemic inequities and their impacts on our employees and the people we serve. We are committed to the difficult—and essential—work of transforming Water Bureau policies, practices, and culture to better serve historically and currently oppressed communities. Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and people with disabilities, are encouraged to apply for this position. 

More information about the Bureau can be found here:   www.portlandoregon.gov/water

Virtual Zoom Meet & Greet Opportunity 

Come meet the hiring manager and the senior recruiter! We'll be talking about the position duties and responsibilities, day to day life in the role, review the announcement, discuss how to apply, and answer questions you may have about the position.

Date & Time Pacific Time (US and Canada)

 Thursday April 17, 2025 - 5PM

Zoom Meeting Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81762534925

*Please note: AI Notetaking apps will not be allowed into virtual sessions hosted by the Bureau of Human Resources Recruitment Team. If you need accommodations as defined by the American Disabilities Act, then please contact the Recruiter for assistance.

Have a question?

Contact Information:

Anna Morgan, Senior Recruiter

Bureau of Human Resources

Anna.Morgan@portlandoregon.gov

The following minimum qualifications are required for this position:

1. Knowledge and experience related to managing and operating a full-service drinking water or environmental laboratory;
2. Knowledge of and experience with quality assurance and quality control practices for a range of laboratory analytical methods;
3. Knowledge of accreditation requirements and federal, state, and local regulations relevant to a drinking water utility, and the ability to interpret and apply them to maintain compliance;
4. Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, to convey highly technical information to a wide variety of audiences;
5. Ability to establish and cultivate effective relationships with employees, managers, peers, and customers to provide purposeful and effective levels of service.

Applicants must also possess:

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in chemistry, microbiology is required, and a minimum of  two years of experience in an environmental / water laboratory, or environmental management, or a related field, within a complex regulatory environment

Although not required, you may have the following:

• At least three years of experience leading and supervising teams
• Involvement in state or national environmental boards or committees related to drinking water/laboratory operations

  
  

  
  

STEP 1: Apply online between April 7, 2025 – April 27, 2025 

Required Application Materials:

• Cover letter
  • Details are key! The city uses a merit-based system, so your cover letter should be thorough and specifically address each qualification listed in the "To Qualify" section of the job announcement. Your cover letter can exceed one page, to ensure you are able to provide the detailed information for every qualification. Follow the instructions, as a subject matter expert will be evaluating your details to confirm that you meet the minimum requirements.
• Resume
• Answer the three (3) Supplemental Questions (click on the Questions tab to preview the questions)

STEP 2: Minimum Qualification Evaluation: Week of April 28th 

• An evaluation of each applicant's training, paid and unpaid experience, as demonstrated in their cover letter, and resume, weighted 100%.
• Your cover letter and résumé will be the basis for our evaluation of your qualifications for this position. Incomplete or inappropriate information may result in disqualification.
• You have 14 days from the notice of the minimum qualification evaluation results to let us know if you would like to review and discuss your evaluation result. Please read the City of Portland Administrative Rule 3.01 for complete information.
• Additional evaluation may be required prior to establishment of the eligible list and/or final selection.

STEP 3: Establishment of Eligible List: First Week in May 

• Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be placed on the equally ranked eligible list. 

STEP 4: Selection (Interview): Second Week in May

• Hiring bureau will review and select candidates for an interview

STEP 5: Offer of Employment: Mid/Late May

• Some positions will require those offered employment to complete and sign a criminal background statement before being considered for employment. 

STEP 6: Start Date: Late May/Early June

• A start date will be determined after all conditions of employment have been met.

*Timeline is approximate and subject to change.

Click here for additional information regarding the following:

• City of Portland Core Values
• Recruitment Process - Work Status
• Equal Employment Opportunity
• Veteran Preference
• ADA, Pregnancy, and Religious Accommodations 

Salary : $117,957 - $168,709