Wastewater Lab Technician II

Job Description

Job Description

About Us

AlexRenew is one of the most advanced wastewater utilities in the United States, serving over 300,000 customers in Alexandria, VA, and parts of Fairfax County. Each year, our facility processes and treats approximately 13 billion gallons of wastewater received from area homes, schools, and businesses to protect public health and the environment. If you are interested in working for a leader in the wastewater industry, we invite qualified candidates to apply for our Lab Technician position.

What we do and how we do it is driven by our five Goals:

• Operational Excellence: Taking proactive steps to meet current and future challenges.
• Thriving Workforce: Investing in our staff and fostering a culture of belonging.
• Strategic Partnerships: Promoting watershed-level thinking.
• Environmental Sustainability: Being good stewards of our resources to minimize our impact.
• Commitment to the Community: Strengthening connections with the public and providing affordable service.

Summary:

The Lab Technician II is responsible for conducting chemical, physical, and microbiological laboratory tests of solids and liquids for purposes such as quality control, maintenance of environmental standards, and other work involving experimental, theoretical, or practical application of chemistry and sciences following laboratory quality system. Work is performed individually and in a team environment.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Conduct analyses according to strict VELAP guidelines, sampling, and testing procedures to monitor process quality to ensure compliance with VPDES permit requirements and plant performance specifications.

• Performs a variety of chemical, physical, and microbiological analyses on wastewater and biosolid samples such as Biochemical Oxygen Demand, Total and Volatile Solids, Total and Volatile Suspended Solids, Total Residual Chlorine, pH, Dissolved Oxygen, Conductivity, Hardness, Alkalinity, E.coli, microscopic examination, Ammonia, Nitrate/Nitrite, Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen, and Total Phosphorus and orthophosphate, using a variety of laboratory equipment such as microscope, analytical balances, colorimetric Spectro-photometer, pH meter, DO meter, COD reactor, autoclave, incubator, muffle furnace, drying oven, digestion, titrating and filtering apparatus, and a variety of laboratory measuring glassware and pipettes.
• Provide technical support for calibrating inline probes and instrumentation used for process control.
• Demonstrates consistent accuracy and advanced proficiency in sampling, testing, tracking, analysis, quality control and reporting findings, accurately interprets QA/QC charts for trending and QC data failures.
• Compile and interpret results of tests and analyses. Write technical reports or prepare graphs and charts to document experimental results as needed.

• Provide technical support, input to laboratory’s quality systems and procedures, assists with training other lab analysts and with audits.
• Collect and analyze field samples.
• Maintains daily good laboratory practices (GLP), ensures own work meets traceability requirements by maintaining reagent receipt logs, standard and reagent preparation logs, and properly labeling all chemicals and standards prepared.
• Order and maintain inventory lab chemicals, materials and supplies; prepare reagents, standards, dilutions, and apparatus necessary to perform analysis of water, wastewater, and sludge.
• Operate, maintain, and perform required maintenance on laboratory instrumentation, clean, and sterilize laboratory instruments and equipment.
• Ensures analysis is complete and error free using quality control sample interpretation and results analysis; record all data, results, and lab activities in specified LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System).

• Provide and maintain a safe work environment by testing safety equipment such as showers, eyewash stations, and hoods, participating in safety programs, committees, or teams, and by conducting laboratory and plant safety audits.

• Successfully passes all mandatory annual Proficiency Testing (PT) and Demonstration of Capability requirements and display proper analytical techniques to third party auditors in order to maintain laboratory certification.
• Adhere to AlexRenew Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) programs; abide by the policies, procedures and rules set forth by the programs; actively participate in the programs to assist in providing a safe and healthy workplace for everyone.
• Share information as requested about position and tasks with communications team and participate in various outreach activities, such as career panels and guided tours, as requested.
• Designated as emergency personnel. Emergency personnel are responsible for maintaining regular and reliable attendance to ensure laboratory functions are not interrupted under any condition. This includes weekend work on a rotating basis as scheduled.
• Performs other duties as assigned or required.

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.

Key Competencies:

• Accountability
• Quality of Work
• Initiative
• Safety Awareness
• Teamwork

Education and/or Experience:

• Two (2) years professional laboratory experience or combination of education and experience preferred.

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Biology or Environmental Science preferred.
• Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, and disposal methods.
• Basic knowledge of wastewater treatment.
• Knowledge of microorganisms, their functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
• Knowledge of laboratory instrumentation to include the range, use, repair, calibration, and maintenance.
• Knowledge of quality control, costs, requirements and the environmental impact of chemicals and supplies used in the laboratory.
• Ability to conduct tests to evaluate quality and performance.
• Ability to monitor gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
• Ability to use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Ability to manage one’s own time and respect the time of others.
• Ability to anticipate laboratory needs to ensure good quality control measures are met.
• Ability to pay attention to details as needed to complete measurements and analyses, enter data, etc.
• Ability to verify results of analyses, meet quality control requirements, and troubleshoot as needed.
• Ability to adapt to changes and incorporate them into daily routines.
• Knowledge of the MS Office Suite and LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System).

Physical Demands:

The physical demands here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. A detailed Physical Demands Analysis is available in Human Resources and a copy will be provided to all incumbents in this position. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to walk and/or stand for eight hours a day. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 49 pounds.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Environmental conditions necessitate following strict safety guidelines and use of Personal Protective Equipment. While performing the duties of this job, the work is performed indoors in a climate controlled environment, with daily outdoor trips between buildings and for taking water samples required.

Disclaimer:

The above information on this job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.