LABORATORY TECHNICIAN I
LABORATORY TECHNICIAN II

Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees in the class. Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION

Under general supervision, performs a variety of the physical, chemical, and bacteriological tests and analyses on a variety of environmental samples including but not limited to drinking water, raw water, wastewater, sludge, industrial wastewater, reclaimed water, and stormwater as necessary for process control and regulatory permit parameter compliance; collects samples; follows established practices and procedures to protect and assure the authenticity and reliability of data; and alerts appropriate personnel of any results outside of normal parameters in order for appropriate and timely actions to be taken to correct any problems in the treatment processes.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

Laboratory Technician I – This is the entry level class in the Laboratory Technician series. Positions at this level have limited prior laboratory experience performing basic physical, chemical, and bacteriological tests and analyses and are not expected to function with the same amount of program knowledge or skill level as positions allocated to the Laboratory Technician II level and exercise less independent discretion and judgment in matters related to work procedures and methods. Individuals at this level are expected to become fully knowledgeable of the assigned area and to learn the full range of technical laboratory processes, procedures, and functions. As a condition of employment, incumbents must obtain a Grade I Laboratory Analyst Certificate issued by the California Water Environment Federation within 18 months of employment.

Laboratory Technician II – This is the journey level class in the Laboratory Technician series. Positions at this level require demonstrated ability to perform a variety of routine physical, chemical, and bacteriological tests and analyses and may assist in performing the more complex analyses. Positions in this class series are flexibly staffed and positions at the Laboratory Technician II level are normally filled by advancement from the Laboratory Technician I level. Positions at this level require two years of experience comparable to a Laboratory Technician I with the City of Escondido and must possess a Grade I Laboratory Analyst Certificate issued by the California Water Environment Federation.

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

• Performs routine physical, chemical and bacteriological tests required for the California Regional Water Quality Control Board and the California Department of Health and services compliance monitoring requirement, including but not limited to: total suspended solids, volatile suspended solids, settleable solids, BOD and CBOD, residual chlorine, pH, conductivity, turbidity in accordance with state and federal approved methods.
• May participate in the performance of bacteriological analyses including but not limited to multiple tube fermentation technique and subsequent confirmatory tests, heterotrophic plate count, enterolert, quanti-tray and colilert.
• May perform inorganic and mineral analyses; operates ion chromatography instruments to analyze anions and cations.
• Operates a spectrophotometer to analyze components including, but not limited to, ortho phosphate, total phosphorus, nitrite, nitrate, and ammonia.
• Performs required Performance Evaluation (PE) studies.
• May perform microscopic analyses of algae in source water.
• Operates, calibrates, and maintains laboratory instruments and equipment used in laboratory analysis; performs daily, monthly, and quarterly quality control checks to ensure instruments are in good working condition and operating satisfactorily.
• Calculates, records and reports test results on appropriate forms and computer database including quality assurance and quality control results; generates and reviews reports; maintains quality control logs and charts for various analyses; performs daily quality control checks.
• Assists with various sample collection events; labels and preserves samples; maintains sampling logs and chain of custody documents; performs on site testing including temperature, pH, chlorine residual, dissolved oxygen, and flow.
• Prepares media, reagents, standard solutions, and sample bottles; cleans and washes glassware.
• Answers questions and assists co-workers in solving problems when doing routine testing.
• Provides assistance to Associate Chemist in performing analysis and reporting of results.
• Maintains a clean and safe laboratory environment and performs work in accordance with prescribed safety regulations.
• Enters information into Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).
• Recognize and alert supervisor of values outside the established limits in test parameters.
• Notifies appropriate staff of out of stock chemicals and/or equipment needed for laboratory or field work.
• Performs a variety of laboratory administrative duties including copying and binding materials and reports.
• Loads, lifts, and moves various items such as containers or automatic samplers.
• Laboratory Technician II may perform more complex analyses.
• Performs related duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS

The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.

Knowledge of:

• Basic principles, practices, methods, and techniques used in the physical, chemical, and bacteriological analyses and testing of drinking water, raw water, wastewater, sludge, reclaimed water, and stormwater.
• Basis of each test and understanding of how tests/analyses are used to monitor the treatment of wastewater, to determine the quality of drinking water, and to distinguish between different water sources.
• Methods and techniques of sample collection and sample preservation procedures.
• Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, regulations, and permits.
• Performance Evaluation study requirements.
• Basic characteristics of common chemicals and their safe handling.
• Operating characteristics of a variety of laboratory instrumentation and equipment.
• Standard operating calibration procedure for laboratory instrumentation and equipment.
• Basic principles of laboratory safety and emergency procedures.
• Principles and practices of record keeping.
• Office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications.
• Principles of customer service.

Ability to:

• Perform routine physical, chemical, and bacteriological analyses and laboratory calculations.
• Perform tests/analyses according to standard operating procedures using the appropriate quality controls and following the quality assurance plan.
• Distinguish colorimetric end points when performing titrations.
• Calculate results and interpret data.
• Understand the results being reported and their importance in monitoring processes.
• Collect samples.
• Wash glassware.
• Assist with aspects of sampling requirements including chain of custody, preservation of samples, quality control of instrumentation, field test, recording of data, and sampling procedures.
• Prepare media, chemical reagents, standards, spikes, and quality control solutions.
• Handle hazardous chemicals safely.
• Analyze multiple samples in a short duration of time.
• Operate, calibrate, and maintain laboratory instrumentation and equipment in a safe and efficient manner.
• Prepare and maintain related records and reports including entry of data into computer.
• Follow written and oral instructions.
• Operate office equipment including computers and applicable software applications.
• Demonstrate an awareness and appreciation of the cultural diversity of the community.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education and Experience Guidelines - Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Laboratory Technician I

Education/Experience: Equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in chemistry, biology, or a closely related field.

Or

An Associate’s degree in sciences or a related discipline and one year of recent analytical laboratory experience performing a variety of analytical chemistry tests.

License or Certificate: Possession of a Grade I Laboratory Analyst Certificate issued by the California Water Environment Federation within 18 months of hire. Possession of an appropriate, valid driver’s license.

Laboratory Technician II

In addition to requirements for Laboratory Technician I:

Experience: Two years of experience comparable to a Laboratory Technician I, with at least one of those years as a Laboratory Technician I with the City of Escondido.

License or Certificate: Possession of a Grade I Laboratory Analyst Certificate issued by the California Water Environment Federation. Possession of an appropriate, valid driver’s license. A Laboratory Technician I will be promoted to Laboratory Technician II upon completing necessary requirements and receiving supervisor approval.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT

The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Environment: Laboratory, office, and occasional field setting. CONTINUOUS working indoors. FREQUENT exposure to fumes and odors of chemicals and plant processes; equipment noise. OCCASIONAL exposure to extreme heat of autoclave and high-temperature furnace, ambient temperatures in plant and outdoors; temperature swings from air conditioning to plant or outdoors; toxic chemicals. INFREQUENT exposure to extreme noise of equipment in plant; heat and humidity when working outdoors; mechanical and electrical hazards of laboratory equipment; explosive hazards of reactive chemicals; atmospheric dust. Work schedule is 80-hour biweekly pay periods, with unscheduled breaks. Overtime may occasionally be required in performance of time-dependent laboratory procedures. Work environment is informal, both team and autonomy oriented, having both routine and variable tasks, with variable pace and pressure, frequently fast-paced. Work is performed in the office and laboratory at the Resource Recovery Facility and rarely in the field at manufacturing facilities, commercial and industrial establishments.

Physical: Primary functions require sufficient physical ability to work in a laboratory setting. CONTINUOUS sitting; fine finger dexterity to calibrate and operate laboratory equipment and instruments; repetitive hand and wrist movement; eye-hand coordination. OCCASIONAL walking, standing, climbing, reaching at and above shoulders, pushing/pulling, twisting at waist, upward and downward flexion of neck, side-to-side turning of neck; grasp and hand and arm strength to lift equipment; lifting objects weighing up to 25 lbs. from below waist to above shoulders, with or without assistance; lifting objects weighing 26-50 lbs. from below waist to waist; transporting objects weighing up to 50 lbs. distances up to 200 yards, with or without assistance. INFREQUENT bending and stooping, squatting, crawling, kneeling; lifting objects weighing 26-50 lbs. from chest level to above shoulders, with or without assistance; lifting objects weighing 51-100 lbs. from below waist to waist level with assistance; transporting objects weighing 51-100 lbs. distances up to 10 feet, with assistance.

Vision: See in the normal visual range with or without correction; vision sufficient to read computer screens, printed documents, and instrumentation; color vision acuity.

Hearing: Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.

Smell: Sense of smell for odor analysis.

December 2005
Revised by Johnson & Associates

May 2006
Revised by HR – SB & Laboratory - VV, CM, RG