LAB MANAGER - UTILITIES

JOB SUMMARY
This position supervises and participates in the daily operations of the wastewater or water treatment plant laboratories; trains plant personnel in laboratory procedures; and performs other technical work as required. The incumbent works within broad policy and organizational guidelines and does independent planning and implementation, reporting progress of major activities through periodic conferences and meetings.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
• Supervises and participates in the daily operation of a wastewater or water treatment plant laboratories;
• Supervises subordinate laboratory technicians supervisory duties include scheduling, instructing, planning and assigning work, reviewing work, maintaining standards, coordinating activities, allocating personnel, acting on employee problems, and recommending employee discipline.  Offers training, advice and assistance as needed;
• Responsible for obtaining and maintaining SCDHEC laboratory certification;
• Develops and administers assigned budget; approves expenditures;
• Develops and implements laboratory policies, procedures and protocols;
• Ensures laboratory and staff compliance with all applicable policies, procedures, regulations, and standards of quality and safety;
• Troubleshoots and performs maintenance and minor repairs of laboratory equipment;
• Prepares chemical reagents for testing;
• Inspects plant operations; collects samples for laboratory testing; conducts tests and prepares laboratory reports as required by the City, S.C. DHEC and other agencies;
• Reviews laboratory test records prepared by plant personnel for completeness and accuracy;
• Recommends changes in plant operations to ensure the maintenance of water quality standards;
• Orders and maintains inventory of laboratory equipment, supplies and materials;
• Plans and conducts training of plant personnel in laboratory collection and testing procedures;
• Performs general administrative /clerical work as required, including but not limited to preparing reports and records, completing forms, entering and retrieving computer data, preparing spreadsheets, copying and filing documents, answering the telephone, attending and conducting meetings, etc.;
• Attends meetings, training, seminars, etc., as appropriate to enhance job knowledge and skills; and
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS TO PERFORM WORK:

• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, biology or closely related field;

• Four (4) years of relevant prior experience;

• Valid South Carolina Class “D” Driver’s License.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of mathematics involving the practical application of fractions, percentages, ratios and proportions; or measurements, logarithmic or geometric construction. May use algebraic solutions of equations and inequalities; descriptive statistics; deductive geometry, plane and solid, and rectangular coordinates; mathematical classifications or schemes;

• Ability to plan or direct others in the sequence of major activities and reporting on operations and activities which are very broad in scope;

• Ability to supervise or lead others by determining work procedures, assigning duties, completing employee evaluations, maintaining harmonious relations and promoting efficiency;

• Ability to handle or use machines, tools or equipment requiring moderate instruction and experience, such as laboratory equipment and plant equipment;

• Ability to perform supervisory work involving policy and guidelines, solving both people- and work-related problems;

• Ability to read technical instructions, procedures, manuals and charts to solve practical problems; composing routine reports and specialized reports, forms and business letters with proper format; speaking compound sentences using normal grammar and word form;

• Ability to perform professional-level work requiring the application of scientific, engineering, accounting or legal methods in the solution of technical, administrative or legal problems; requires extensive understanding of operating policies and procedures and ability to apply these to complex problems; or the coordination of sub professional work in these disciplines; requires continuous, close attention for accurate results and frequent exposure to unusual pressures; and

• Ability to take actions of others, requiring almost constant decisions affecting co-workers, crime victims, patients, customers, clients or others in the general public; works in a moderately fluid environment with guidelines and rules, but frequent variations from the routine.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The work is considered light-to-medium in nature and involves walking or standing virtually all of the time and also involves exerting between 20 and 50 pounds of force on a recurring basis, or considerable skill, adeptness and speed in the use of fingers, hands or limbs in tasks involving close tolerances or limits of accuracy. The work requires the following physical abilities to perform the essential job functions: fingering, grasping, handling, mental acuity, reaching, repetitive motion, speaking, standing, talking, visual acuity, and walking.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Work environment may involve exposure to bright/dim light, dusts and pollen, extreme heat and/or cold, wet or humid conditions, extreme noise levels, vibration, fumes and/or noxious odors, traffic, moving machinery, electrical shock, heights, toxic/caustic chemicals, confined spaces; and is dynamic that requires sensitivity to change and responsiveness to changing goals, priorities, and needs.