This is a transfer opportunity, and first consideration will be given to qualified transfer-eligible employees in the job classification family.

This position is open to the general public and King County Employees. If no qualified internal candidate is selected, external applicants will be considered.

About the Role:
The Process Lab Specialist I will be responsible for ensuring all permit-required testing is completed correctly and in a timely fashion in a dynamic environment. They will notify process and operations staff of unusual test results/sample conditions and will respond to combined sewer overflow events, unusual occurrence, loss of disinfection and other emergent and non-routine work.

About the Team:
Within WTD, the South Plant Process laboratory monitors plant discharges into local water bodies and monitors plant operations through physical, chemical and microbiological testing. The lab and the data it produces, is an essential part of ensuring regulatory compliance and the protecting the environment.

As a critical component of a dynamic wastewater treatment environment, the process lab must respond to changes throughout the seasons including rainfall events to deliver timely and accurate results for plant process control and regulatory compliance. To address these challenges, daily prioritization of workload is needed, with permit required samples and samples with shortest hold times having the highest priority. High attention to detail and a low error rate is essential component of a production-style lab.

The laboratory culture is supportive and collaborative and Process Laboratory staff bring diverse backgrounds and experiences to the work environment. The expectation is that incoming staff cross-train on all laboratory instrumentation and seamlessly fill-in for other staff when needed.

The are opportunities for job progression within the Process Lab Specialist classification with clear modules and expectations for successful completion.  

Commitment to Equity, Racial, and Social Justice:

King County, named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is a diverse and vibrant community that represents cultures from around the world. Our True North is to create a welcoming community where everyone can thrive.  We prioritize equity, racial, and social justice, making it a foundational and daily expectation for all employees. As a King County Employee you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment at http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity. 

What You Will Be Doing:

• Perform a variety of chemical, biochemical, or physical analyses following standard laboratory procedures. Follow established laboratory procedures for spill response, laboratory safety, and cleaning and maintaining the laboratory. Prepare samples for analysis and preserve/store them according to standard procedures. Maintain the physical and quantitative integrity of each sample and maintain associated records.
• Prepare necessary reagents and standards and follow established disposal procedures. Monitor control charts and quality control samples (blanks, check standards and duplicates) to maintain test integrity.
• Collect samples and operate a motorized vehicle to travel to remote work locations or locations with no locations with no public transportation services. 
• Clean, maintain and perform some routine servicing of automatic samplers and specific field equipment. Assist with the calibration of on-line instruments.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications You Bring:

• Knowledge of field and laboratory techniques and sampling methods typically obtained in an associate of science degree or two years of college-level science course work, including at least one year of chemistry, OR two years of equivalent experience applicable to a wastewater treatment laboratory.
• Working knowledge of the application and use of test equipment and instruments. Ability to troubleshoot instrumentation and methodological problems.
• Knowledge of scientific theories, principles, and relevant mathematics.
• Basic knowledge and skills in laboratory quality assurance/quality control. Basic skill in using computer and associated software for spreadsheets, databases and word processing. Skill in working with detailed information.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with a diverse group of individuals in varying occupations. Skill in team consensus building techniques and principles and working in a team environment.