Environmental Laboratory Supervisor

The Environmental Services Department is currently seeking to fill one (1) full-time Environmental Laboratory Supervisor vacancy in the Environmental Laboratory. 

The annual salary range for this classification is:

• $137,089.68 – $166,617.36  

This salary range includes an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable compensation. Actual salary shall be determined by the final candidates’ qualifications and experience.

The Environmental Services Department is seeking a dynamic, high energy, and committed individual to manage one of the sections in the Laboratory. The ideal candidate must have a thorough working knowledge of laboratory wastewater testing protocols, requirements, and procedures in a California Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (ELAP) certified laboratory environment. The Environmental Laboratory Supervisor position reports to the Senior Environmental Program Manager. This position will be responsible for providing front line supervision for a group of a highly technical staff. Laboratory Supervisors provide supervision and direction to Chemists and Microbiologists. They co-ordinate and lead staff coverage and cross-training for the lab's different functional areas to ensure the city maintains its ELAP certification and permit compliance.

Key responsibilities of the Environmental Laboratory Supervisor include but are not limited to:

Planning, organizing, and directing the operations within a section of the laboratory.

Supervising staff to include scheduling, prioritizing, and assigning work; conducting performance evaluations; ensuring staff are trained; making personnel recommendations and addressing employee disciplinary issues.

Providing technical consultation to laboratory service groups to develop sampling procedures and analytical programs to meet their service requests.

Reviewing, evaluating, updating, and establishing analytical methods within an assigned section; setting goals, determining priorities, developing work schedules, monitoring workflow, and maintaining timelines.

Planning, organizing, and directing complex applied research including designing experiments, developing time schedules, setting goals, monitoring results, analyzing data, and submitting oral and written reports as required.

Monitoring and evaluating problems related to plant operations and laboratory analyses and recommending solutions to alleviate such problem situations.

Implementing, evaluating, and monitoring appropriate quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) processes and procedures and establishing data quality objectives to meet ELAP laboratory certification and The Nelac Institute 2016 (TNI 2016) standard requirements.

Evaluating laboratory services, equipment, and preparing justification and recommendation for the purchase of state-of-the-art analytical instrumentation and equipment replacements.

Assisting in preparing budget and projections for their assigned section; monitoring expenditures and revenues to ensure they are within budgetary targets; participating in funding forecast needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies; and the administration of the approved budget.

Research and preparation of technical and administrative reports, written correspondence and presentations for technical meetings and publications to internal and external stakeholders.

Directing and supervising the implementation and use of a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) by staff within an assigned section.

Representing the laboratory to outside agencies and organizations; participating in studies conducted by other agencies to evaluate new or existing analytical methods; providing technical assistance as necessary.

Building and maintaining positive working relationships with co-workers, other City employees, other organizations, and their representatives, exhibiting effective customer service and communication skills.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this, or other divisions or departments. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: A bachelor’s degree in chemistry, environmental chemistry, microbiology, biology or a related discipline. 

Experience: Four (4) years of professional experience in a laboratory environment, including at least two (2) years of journey-level independent analytical experience in water or wastewater analysis. 

Acceptable Substitutions: A master’s degree in a related scientific discipline can be substituted for one (1) year of the required professional experience in a laboratory environment. There is no substitution for the two (2) years of journey-level independent analytical experience in water or wastewater analysis.

Certifications: Possession of a valid driver’s license authorizing operation of a motor vehicle in California.

If selected, the Conditional Offer of Employment may be contingent upon you providing proof of a valid State of California driver’s license, and an assessment of your California DMV Employer Pull Notice (EPN) as per the DMV Release of Driver Record Information form. Failure to pass the DMV Pull Notice assessment will deem you ineligible for employment.

Other Qualifications

The ideal candidate will possess the following competencies, as demonstrated in past and current employment history.

Job Expertise - Demonstrates knowledge of and experience with applicable professional/technical principles and practices, Citywide and departmental procedures/policies and federal and state rules and regulations. 

• Knowledge of standard laboratory quality control and quality assurance requirements related to wastewater methodologies and procedures for chemical and biological, analytical determinations.
• Knowledge of chemical, microbiological, biological, and/or toxicological methods and their application to environmental analyses in an ELAP certified and/or TNI accredited laboratory.
• Knowledge of and experience in LIMS processing and control strategies utilized in laboratory environments for data storage, manipulation, and statistical analyses.
• Ability to conduct and direct specialized research work on problems of a chemical, microbiological, biochemical, or biological nature.
• Knowledge and experience in using computer applications or data management systems (such as LIMS) as they relate to laboratory operations.
• The ability to direct specialized research work on water or wastewater related problems; to critically review environmental literature, technical reports and documents, and data concerning process performance evaluations.
• Ability to prepare clear, accurate, and concise written technical results.
• Ability to interface with external and internal stakeholders, conducting oral and written presentations as needed. 

Supervision – Sets effective long and short-term goals based on a good understanding of management practices; establishes realistic priorities within available resources; provides motivational support; empowers others; assigns decision-making and work functions to others in an appropriate manner to maximize organizational and individual effectiveness.

Problem Solving – Approaches a situation or problem by defining the problem or issue; determines the significance of problem; collects information; uses logic and intuition to arrive at decisions or solutions to problems that achieve the desired outcome.

Customer Service– Demonstrates the ability to anticipate customers' needs and deliver services effectively and efficiently using professional demeanor. 

Teamwork & Interpersonal Skills – Develops effective relationships with co-workers and supervisors by helping others accomplish tasks and using collaboration and conflict resolution skills.

Communication Skills – Effectively conveys information and expresses thoughts and facts clearly, orally and in writing; demonstrates effective use of listening skills; displays openness to other people's ideas and thoughts.

Multi-tasking – Can handle multiple projects and responsibilities simultaneously; has handled a wide variety of assignments in past and/or current position(s).

Facilitation – Exhibits behaviors and techniques that enhance the quality of group processes.

Selection Process: 

The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant's training and experience based on the application and responses to all the job specific questions. You must answer all questions to be considered or your application may be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Applicants are expected to write their own essays/responses. Only those candidates whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited to proceed in the selection process. Additional phases of the selection process will consist of one or more interviews.

If you have questions about the duties of these positions, the selection or hiring processes, please contact Ernesto Zamaguey at Ernesto.Zamaguey@sanjoseca.gov. 

Additional Information:

Employment Eligibility:  Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of San Jose will NOT sponsor, represent or sign any documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1-B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application.  

You must answer all job-specific questions to be considered for this vacancy or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Applicants are expected to write their own essays/responses.  

Please note that applications are currently not accepted through CalOpps or any other third party job board application system.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this, or other divisions or departments. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.

Please allow adequate time to complete the application and submit before the deadline or the system may not save your application.  If your online application was successfully submitted, you will receive an automatic confirmation email to the email address you provided.  IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE THE CONFIRMATION, please email CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov and we will research the status of your application. 

AI and the Hiring Process

We recognize that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming part of daily life and can be a valuable tool for learning, research, and professional growth. We encourage candidates to use AI responsibly as a support in preparing application materials, live assessments, and interviews. However, we value authenticity, accuracy and truthfulness. Application responses and interview answers must reflect your own knowledge, skills, and experiences. While AI can supplement preparation, it cannot replace the originality and judgment we look for in our employees. This ensures fairness, transparency, and equity for all applicants in the hiring process. 

How to Apply 

The requisition # for this job posting is 202501406. To view the full job announcement and apply for this position, please go to: www.sanjoseca.gov/citycareers 

PLEASE NOTE: YOU MUST APPLY & SUBMIT YOUR JOB APPLICATION AT www.sanjoseca.gov/citycareers IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED FOR A CITY OF SAN JOSE JOB OPPORTUNITY.  

If you have questions about the duties of this position, the selection or hiring processes, please contact Ernesto Zamaguey at Ernesto.Zamaguey@sanjoseca.gov.