Manager, Laboratory Services

This position will be onsite at least four days per week, but there is flexibility for remote work on the remaining workday.  Candidate's permanent residence must be in Minnesota or Wisconsin. 

We are the Metropolitan Council, the regional government for the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. We plan 30 years ahead for the future of the metropolitan area and provide regional transportation, wastewater, and housing services. More information about us on our website. 
 
We are committed to supporting a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve. 
 
About Us:
Join an award-winning wastewater industry leader in protecting our environment!  Metropolitan Council Environmental Services operates and maintains the wastewater collection and treatment system in the Twin Cities metropolitan region.  It also provides coordinated long-range water resources and supply planning, and air and water quality monitoring to meet future needs.  Environmental Services water resource recovery facilities consistently earn state and national awards for complete compliance with their environmental permits.  Environmental Services received a Governor’s Award as a Great Place to Work. 

To find out more about the Environmental Services division, please click on the link for more information: https://metrocouncil.org/Wastewater-Water.aspx.

How your work would contribute to our organization and the Twin Cities region:

The Manager, Laboratory Services plans, organizes, and directs the activities of the Environmental Services (ES) Analytical Laboratory.  The Laboratory provides analytical services for all of ES and several local government entities (counties and watershed districts). It also provides direct analytical support, scientific and subject matter expertise, analytical project management, compliance reporting, technical expertise, and actionable information and data to ensure ES compliance with regulatory permits and support the effective and efficient operations of nine regional resource recovery facilities and other ES business units (Process Engineering, Plant Engineering, Water Resources, R&D, IWPP).

• Provide strategic direction to the lab that is consistent with the Environmental Services strategic plan and aligned with internal stakeholder needs.
  • Collaborate with stakeholders/customers to develop, document, coordinate, and implement analytical service projects, which meet stakeholder/customer needs. 
  • Obtain input and feedback from stakeholders to direct focus and determine and develop future capabilities within the Laboratory department
  • Ensure Environmental Services and the Laboratory department are in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulatory laws, standards, and protocols.
  • Develop and ensure tracking of key performance indicators that measure items with a direct impact on budgets, including efficiency, capacity, and optimal use of resources (staff and monetary).
  • Maintain, promote, and develop Laboratory Insourcing program. Provide analytical testing and data reporting services to other non-agency entities, primarily cities, counties, watershed districts, and soil and water conservation groups.  
• Direct the delivery and coordination of Laboratory Services.
  • Determine and plan resources for laboratory operation and facility management, and implement the annual budget process. Direct the development and execution of the laboratory capital expenditures plan for purchases, such as instrumentation and capital support equipment.
  • Hire, supervise, and manage staff, and maintain appropriate level of staff to meet stakeholder needs. This includes selecting new employees; setting and communicating performance expectations; tracking individual performance against agreed upon goals; coaching, counseling, and developing skills of employees; maintaining performance documentation; and evaluating performance on an annual basis. 
  • Direct efforts to research and implement new methodologies, techniques, and equipment, which will provide technically appropriate and cost-effective solutions to meet current and future analytical and regulatory needs.
  • Make final decisions relating to emerging issues, pollutants of concern, and analytical methodologies and technologies used in the laboratory to ensure the needs of customers are met.  Support and promote laboratory methodology enhancement efforts.

• High school diploma/GED with twelve years of experience including five years of managerial or supervisory experience
• Associate degree with ten years of experience including five years of managerial or supervisory experience
• Bachelor's degree with eight years of experience including five years of managerial or supervisory experience
• Master's degree with six years of experience including five years of managerial or supervisory experience

What additional skills and experience would be helpful in this job (desired qualifications):

• Experience overseeing the monitoring and analysis of water and/or wastewater operations in a laboratory and planning for the future
• Experience working with federal and state water quality regulations and standards
• Experience with Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS)
• Experience maintaining laboratory accreditations and managing oversight to ensure compliance
• Experience promoting an equitable, positive, and respectful work environment that values culture and diversity among all employees

• General knowledge of public sector organizational practices, specifically those relating to public sector utility function.
• Knowledge of managerial principles and practices, including financial management, budget preparation, administration, record retention, workforce development and retention, and strategic planning.
• Knowledge of project management practices, Continuous Improvement, and systems thinking principles and techniques.
• Knowledge of scientific principles, quality assurance concepts, and application of methodologies performed by laboratories.
• Leadership skills complemented by proven competencies in the area of customer service and communication.
• Skills with applicable business systems (Microsoft Office Suite, LIMS, Business Objects, SharePoint, etc.).
• Writing skills to include external correspondences, writing procedures and work instructions, and reviewing and editing the written work of staff, as needed.
• Skills in reading, interpreting, and applying highly technical documents.
• Skills in oral communication, persuasion, collaboration, decision-making, and problem-solving.
• Ability to effectively communicate across all levels of the organization and with external partners and customers.
• Ability to mentor and coach employees while fostering a positive work environment.
• Ability to optimize resources as well as develop and implement new initiatives through strategic planning.

What you can expect from us:

• We offer the opportunity to make a difference and positively influence the Twin Cities metropolitan area. 
• We encourage our employees to develop their skills through on-site training and tuition reimbursement. 
• We provide a competitive salary, excellent benefits and a good work/life balance.

More about why you should join us!

1. We review your minimum qualifications. 
2. We rate your education and experience. 
3. We conduct a structured panel interview. 
4. We conduct a selection interview.
5. We conduct a leadership assessment.

Once you have successfully completed the steps above, then:
  
If you are new to the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a drug test (safety sensitive positions only), and a background check which verifies education, employment, and criminal history.   A driving record check and/or physical may be conducted if applicable to the job.  If you have a criminal conviction, you do not automatically fail. The Metropolitan Council considers felony, gross misdemeanor and misdemeanor convictions on a case-by-case basis, based on whether they are related to the job and whether the candidate has demonstrated adequate rehabilitation.
  
If you are already an employee of the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a drug test (if moving from a non-safety sensitive position to a safety sensitive position) and criminal background check if the job you're applying for is safety sensitive, is a supervisory or management job, is in the Finance, Information Services, Audit, or Human Resources departments, or has access to financial records, files/databases, cash, vouchers or transit fare cards.  A driving record check and/or physical may be conducted if applicable to the position.
  
IMPORTANT: If you make a false statement or withhold information, you may be barred from job consideration.
 
The Metropolitan Council is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and veteran-friendly employer. The Council is committed to a workforce that reflects the diversity of the region and strongly encourages persons of color, members of the LGBTQ community, individuals with disabilities, women, and veterans to apply.

If you have a disability that requires accommodation during the selection process, please email HR-OCCHealth@metc.state.mn.us.

Salary : $119,330 - $193,606