Water Lab Supervisor

The Water Lab Supervisor will provide administration and management of the water lab and staff, developing objectives and activities based on program guidelines. The supervisor will report directly to the Environmental Health and Communicable Disease Manager and work collaboratively with other supervisors and staff throughout the Public Health Department to ensure ideas, process, and information are shared across the agency. Laboratories testing Colorado public drinking water must be certified and the supervisor will ensure this and all other requirements are met. This position is responsible for the review of functions and budgets associated with the programs they oversee. This position supervises the professional, technical and/or administrative support staff assigned. The supervisor ensures adherence of policies and procedures; ensures compliance; seeks resources to support assigned programs; develops division goals and objectives; evaluates programs and activities; coordinates with external agencies; and serves as the subject matter expert in the assigned area.
 
Essential Job Functions:
Essential functions may include any of the following tasks, knowledge, skills and other characteristics.  The list that follows is not intended as a comprehensive list; it is intended to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed, and may be required to perform additional, position-specific tasks. Reasonable accommodations, as defined under the American with Disabilities Act, will be made when possible.

Supervises staff and manages the functions of an assigned division/program, which includes planning, coordinating, administering, and evaluating programs, projects, processes, procedures, systems, standards, and/or services.

Serves as subject matter expert and liaison with internal departments, agencies, program stakeholders, and other external organizations, groups, and representatives. 

Represents the department at a variety of meetings, public events, on committees, and/or other related events regarding services and programs. 

Reviews assigned budget(s) and provides input to the annual budget development process; prepares cost estimates and budget recommendations; monitors, administers and controls budget allocation and authorizes expenditures; and seeks funding or revenue development opportunities.

Promotes innovation, critical thinking, clear communications, and responsible decision-making throughout the agency.

Water Lab Testing

Serves as a supervisor assigning and reviewing work activities, providing performance evaluation, and acting as a technical resource for staff.

Performs and monitors biological and physical laboratory analyses of water and wastewater samples to determine absence or presence of total coliform and E. coli bacteria; reviews the adherence to quality control procedures and provides quality assurance monitoring in order to maintain laboratory standards.

Performs biological and physical laboratory analyses of water and wastewater samples in support of various regulatory programs; collects, analyzes and maintains data in support of testing process; prepares reports and ensures that laboratory data and reporting meets required quality assurance and regulatory criteria.

Receives and responds to inquiries from the public; provides information related to water sampling and laboratory testing procedures and quality standards; refers complex inquiries to appropriate resource or agency.

Ensures proper inventory control of laboratory supplies and equipment; monitors and maintains equipment and laboratory instrumentation; performs troubleshooting of equipment issues; and initiates maintenance repair requests.

Manages laboratory information technology, including interactions with vendors, data entry, and public access to laboratory data, as appropriate.

Ensures compliance with regulatory requirements, standards, protected information, and all other contract activities. 

Performs other duties as assigned.

Regular and predictable attendance is required.

MATERIAL AND EQUIPMENT USED:

General Office Equipment 
 
Minimum Qualifications Required:
Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying.  A typical way to obtain the knowledge, skills and abilities for this position would be:

Education and Experience:

Bachelor’s degree in microbiology, biology, chemistry or related field and three years of water laboratory experience, including one year of supervisory experience. 

Any combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Licenses and Certifications:

Valid Driver’s License.
 
Knowledge of:

Principles, techniques, practices, and procedures as related to environmental health in a community public health program. 

Federal, state, and local environmental review requirements (National Environmental Policy Act and Colorado regulations).

Project management of technical projects.

Leadership methods and management skills. 

Current best practices and newly evolving methods for evaluating programs, visualizing data, and using community assessment data to inform stakeholders.

Survey research best practices including instrument design and methodology.

Qualitative data collection and analysis, including design and methodology.

Skill in:

Grant and proposal writing

Budget management

Supervising staff/managing teams

Using tact, discretion, initiative and independent judgment within established guidelines.

Communicating effectively both orally and in writing to make educational and informational presentations, and to submit quality required documentation and reports.

Understanding of social identities, social determinants of health, health equity, and their impact on an individual’s health outcomes. 

Being detail oriented, excellent organizational skills, a commitment to a high level of accuracy.

Ability to:

Handle multi-faceted tasks, changing priorities, ambiguity, complexity, and change.

Work both cooperatively within a team and independently.

Research, analyze, and evaluate programs, policies, and procedures.

Apply methods of research, program analysis, and report preparation.

Establish and maintain effective working relationships with other County employees, representatives of other agencies and organizations, and members of the community.

Develop and maintain positive, professional, productive relationships with the public, other agencies, coworkers, and supervisors and to leverage strong relationships, trust, and respect to build commitment to productive change.

Keep accurate and complete records and be a good steward of data, including the maintenance of sensitive and confidential records information.

Non-Discrimination and Affirmative Action Statement

La Plata County prohibits discrimination against or harassment of any person employed or seeking employment with La Plata County on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, national origin, disability, veteran status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status or genetic information.

La Plata County is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer.  La Plata County takes affirmative action to assure equal employment opportunity for protected classes, persons with disabilities and for covered veterans.  Covered veterans include: special disabled veterans, recently separated veterans, Vietnam era veterans, or any other veterans who served on active duty during a war or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge was authorized.

Inquiries regarding La Plata County’s equal employment opportunity policies may be directed to:

Director of Human Resources

1101 E 2nd Avenue

Durango, CO 81301

Tel: (970)382-6361

Fax: (970)375-7985

Email: HR@co.laplata.co.us