Senior Water & Wastewater Laboratory Technician

Job Description:

Senior Water & Wastewater Laboratory Technician

Description

Description

WHAT WE OFFER

• Educational Incentive: A n educational incentive of 2.5% for completion of an associate degree, 3.5% for completion of a bachelor's degree, OR 5% for completion of a graduate degree.
• Bilingual Incentive: May also be eligible for a bilingual incentive depending upon operational need and certification of skill. Proficiency levels by exam are $.69 per hour (Level I); $1.00 per hour (Level II); or $1.32 per hour (Level III).
• Vacation Accrual: New regular, full-time employees shall accrue approximately 14 days of vacation a year for the first 10,400 hours or 5 years of service; vacation accruals increase at 5, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 20 years of service topping out at 26 days a year and 400 hours of vacation hours banked.
• Flexible Workweek/Telework Schedule: We support a work/life balance by offering compressed work (e.g., 9/80 or 4/10 workweek) and remote hybrid telework schedules for some positions subject to organizational needs and satisfactory performance.
• Annual Leave Redemption: After 14,560 hours of continuous service an employee may elect to "cash in" or redeem up to 80 hours of vacation accrued in the same year after using 80 hours of vacation in the preceding 12 months.
• Sick Leave: Full-time Regular employees accrue 3.08 hours of sick leave per pay period with an advance at hire of 40.04 hours which will be balanced at the completion of 13 bi-weekly pay periods.
• Deferred Compensation: Eligible to participate in the County's 401(k) Shared Savings Plan and/or the Section 457 Plan. This position is eligible for up to a 3% match on your 401(k) contributions.
• Health Plans: Full-time employees are given a flexible credit allowance of up to $26,626.98 annually to offset the purchase of medical insurance for you and your dependents. Employee only - $463.99 per biweekly pay period; Employee plus one dependent - $834.32 per biweekly pay period; and Employee plus family - $1,024.11 per biweekly pay period.
• Flexible Spending Accounts: Choice of participation in the Flexible Spending Accounts which increase spending power through reimbursement of pre-tax dollars for IRS approved dependent care and health care expenses.
• Pension Plan: Both the County and employees contribute to the County's Retirement Plan and to Social Security. If eligible, reciprocity may be established with other public retirement systems such as PERS.
• Holidays: 12 paid days per year which includes a scheduled floating holiday.
• Additional Benefits: Tuition Reimbursement, Disability Plans, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance and Wellness Program.

The PUBLIC WORKS AGENCY employs Senior Water & Wastewater Laboratory Technician in the Water & Sanitation (WS) Department. WS operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to serve the public and is responsible for the administration, customer service, billing, operation, maintenance, design, construction and inspection of water and sewer systems: specifically four (4) potable water systems, seven (7) sewer collection systems, three (3) wastewater treatment plants and one (1) recycled water system.


THE POSITION

Under general direction, leads, oversees and participates in the more complex and difficult work of laboratory staff performing chemical, physical and microbiological analysis of portable water, wastewater, industrial water and storm water; assists the Water/Wastewater Laboratory Manager in the administration of the QA/QC program and serves as back-up “Technical Manager” in their absence; and performs a variety of tasks to ensure Water and Sanitation’s compliance with state law and permits.

Examples Of Duties

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Maintains records of sampling and analysis procedures and results, enters test results into a computer, reviews test results and generates necessary reports.
• Performs and trains others on tests and analysis such as (but not limited to) chemical, biochemical, residues, residuals, coliform testing, colorimetric, volumetric analysis, grease/oil, chemical oxygen demand, biological oxygen demand, cyanide analysis and other related tests/analysis.
• Performs, monitors and reviews quality control and quality assurance tests and maintains quality control procedures in the laboratory.
• Prepares, reviews and maintains technical reports on results of analysis conducted; assists in the preparation of reports for submission to the State Water Resources Control Board, the California Department of Drinking Water and other regulatory government agencies as required.
• Records, interprets and reports test results utilizing the Laboratory Information Management Systems for data tracking and analysis.
• Troubleshoots and investigates deviations in laboratory data; reviews and recommends changes to tests procedures for quality assurance.
• Using standardized methods, performs chemical, physical, biological and bacteriological tests on potable water, wastewater, reclaimed water, plant influents, effluents, industrial water and other materials in support of the water distribution and wastewater treatment facilities to ensure compliance with federal, state and local compliance regulations.
• Using standardized methods, collects potable water, wastewater and reclaimed water samples from treatment plants, distribution/collection systems, groundwater wells and receiving waters.
• Prepares solutions, reagents, equipment, apparatus, accessories and other supplies needed at the lab.
• Maintains, cleans, sterilizes and calibrates laboratory equipment, apparatus and materials used in all tests and analysis; prepares microbiological media; and performs a variety of related technical tasks.
• Troubleshoots and performs maintenance on sophisticated laboratory equipment such as the Ion Chromatograph.
• Conducts inventory of chemicals, reagents, solutions and other supplies and equipment essential to laboratory operations.
• Ensures adherence to safe work practices and procedures as well as federal and state laws, rules and regulations.
• Performs Pretreatment and Source Control facility inspections and assists during pretreatment compliance audits and inspections.
• Assists in the implementation of the pretreatment/source control program.
• Responds to customer water quality complaints.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Sr Water & Wastewater Lab Tech is represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and eligible for overtime compensation.

Typical Qualifications

These are entrance requirements to the examination process and assure neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list.

EDUCATION, TRAINING and EXPERIENCE
Possession of a Grade II level Laboratory Analyst Certification issued by the California Water Environment Association (CWEA) at the time of hire. NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must possess and maintain a valid California driver's license; and
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal. Skills must be demonstrated in the completion of the employment application and supplemental questionnaire.

DESIRED

• Possession of a Bachelor's degree with college-level coursework in biology, microbiology, chemistry or a related environmental science field of study.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS and ABILITIES
Considerable knowledge of: water and wastewater treatment principles; standard laboratory procedures, terminology, equipment and techniques used in chemical, biological and bacteriological analysis; standard laboratory testing methods, modern laboratory practices, and computer equipment; principles and practices of qualitative and quantitative chemistry, mathematics, biology and microbiology; water and wastewater sampling techniques and field equipment procedures; and applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes and regulations; and laboratory safety protocols, occupational hazards and standard safety principles and practices.

Skill in: the use of calibration and maintenance of laboratory apparatus and equipment to perform chemical, biological, bacteriological and physical sample and analytical analysis, and data analysis and interpretation.

Ability to: to perform and train others in standard chemical, biological, physical and bacteriological analyses; use computers and a variety of computer software programs and applications; communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; prepare clear and concise technical reports; maintain effective working relationships; and lead staff and provide general direction.

Recruitment Process

FINAL FILING DATE: Your application must be received by the County of Ventura, Human Resources no later than 5:00 p.m. on Monday, June 1, 2026.

To apply online, please refer to our web site at www.venturacounty.gov/jobs . A paper application can be obtained by calling (805) 654-5129. Our address is County of Ventura Human Resources Division, 800 South Victoria Avenue, L-1970, Ventura, CA 93009.

Applicants must provide sufficient information under the Education/Work experience portion of the application and supplemental questionnaire to thoroughly and accurately demonstrate your qualifications in order to determine eligibility. A resume may be attached to supplement your responses in the above-referenced sections; however, it may not be submitted in lieu of the application.

NOTE: If presently permanently employed in another "merit" or "civil service" public agency/entity in the same or substantively similar position as is advertised, and if appointed to that position by successful performance in a "merit" or "civil service" style examination, then appointment by "Lateral Transfer" may be possible. If interested, please click here for additional information.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE - qualifying: All applicants are required to complete and submit the questionnaire for this exam at the time of filing. This questionnaire may be used throughout the examination process to assist in determining each applicant's qualifications and acceptability for the position. Failure to complete and submit the questionnaire may result in removal of the application from further consideration.

APPLICATION EVALUATION - qualifying: All applications will be reviewed to determine whether the stated requirements are met. Applicants meeting the stated requirements will be invited to continue to the next step in the recruitment process.

TRAINING and EXPERIENCE EVALUATION: A Training and Experience Evaluation (T&E) is a structured evaluation of the job application materials submitted by a candidate, including the written responses to the supplemental questionnaire. The T&E is NOT a determination of whether the candidate meets the stated requirements; rather, the T&E is one method for determining who are the better qualified among those who have shown that they meet the stated requirements. In a T&E, applications are either scored or rank ordered according to criteria that most closely meet the business needs of the department. Candidates are typically scored/ranked in relation to one another; consequently, when the pool of candidates is exceptionally strong, many qualified candidates may receive a score or rank which is moderate or even low resulting in them not being advanced in the process.

NOTE: The selection process may consist of an Oral Examination, which may be preceded by or replaced with a score from a Training and Experience Evaluation (T&E), contingent upon the size and quality of the candidate pool. In a typical T&E, your training and experience are evaluated in relation to the background, experience and factors identified for successful job performance during a job analysis. For this reason, it is recommended that your application materials clearly show your relevant background and specialized knowledge, skills, and abilities. It is also highly recommended that the supplemental questions within the application are completed with care and diligence. Candidates must earn a score of seventy percent (70%) or higher to qualify for placement on the eligible list.

ORAL EXAMINATION - 100%: A job-related oral examination may be conducted to evaluate and compare participating candidates' knowledge, skills, and abilities in relation to those factors which job analysis has determined to be essential for successful performance of the job. Candidates must earn a score of seventy percent (70%) or higher to qualify for placement on the eligible list.

If there are three (3) or fewer qualified applicants, an examination will not be conducted. Instead, a score of seventy percent (70%) will be assigned to each application, and each applicant will be placed on the eligible list.

ELIGIBLE LIST: Candidates successfully completing the examination process may be placed on an eligible list for a period of one (1) year. The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill present and future Regular (including Temporary, and Fixed-term), Extra Help and Intermittent vacancies for these positions (or similar positions) only. There is currently one (1) Regular vacancy.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: The selected candidate may be subjected to a thorough post-offer, pre-employment background investigation which may include inquiry into past employment, education, criminal background information, and driving record. For further information about this recruitment, please contact Kelli Fitzgerald by email a at [email protected] .

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY: The County of Ventura is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

YOUR BENEFITS AS A COUNTY OF VENTURA EMPLOYEE

Service Employees International Union (LOCAL 721)

(SEIU)

To learn more about Benefits, Retirement, and the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), see links below.

• Benefits website or you may call (805) 654-2570.
• Retirement FAQ's
• Memorandum of Agreement

Union Codes: UPA, UPC, UPE, UPH, UPI, UPJ,UPT, UWS

Closing Date/Time: 6/1/2026 5:00 PM Pacific

Salary:

$98,140.38 - $118,046.59 Annually