Natural Resources Lab Manager

PARKS AND NATURAL RESOURCES – NATURAL RESOURCES LAB MANAGER

SALARY

PG 20, $2,469.60 Biweekly, $64,209.60 Annually, Exempt Status

WORK SCHEDULE AND LOCATION

Monday-Friday, 8:00AM-5:00PM

4177 Ben Durrance Road Bartow FL 33830

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

•    Direct Deposit, Bi-Weekly Pay Checks
•    Medical, Dental, Vision
•    Life Insurance
•    FRS Retirement
•    10 Paid Holidays
•    Paid Time Off
•    Tuition Reimbursement
•    Education Incentives
•    Deferred Compensation Plan
•    Wellness Incentives
•    Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
•    Free Employee Gym
•    Free Employee Health Clinic

Must have the physical, developmental and mental ability to perform job tasks, work efforts, responsibilities and duties of the job illustrated below:

MAJOR FUNCTION

Responsible for overseeing, supervising and participating in the operations of a State-certified environmental water testing laboratory.

ILLUSTRATIVE DUTIES

Upholds requirements of the lab’s Ethics and Data Integrity statement in all work. Follows procedures established by the lab’s Quality Systems, Standard Operating Procedures, and Document Control.

Responsible for selecting the appropriate analytical procedures used within an environmental water testing laboratory.  Develops improved laboratory techniques and methods for new analytes.   Responsible for ensuring that laboratory equipment, materials and supplies are properly maintained, stored, and accounted.  Schedules and ensures maintenance / certification of lab equipment and facilities, such as analytical instruments, fume hoods, DI water system, certified weights and thermometers. Ensures compliance with all regulations related to laboratory generated waste and its disposal. Responsible for inventorying, budgeting and ordering laboratory equipment, materials and supplies. Works with Procurement to use appropriate method to purchase supplies, chemicals, service agreements, and equipment. Assists Division staff with preparation of Quality Assurance Project Plans, as related to sampling, analysis, and reporting of water quality data. Hires, supervises, evaluates, and trains assigned personnel.  Acts on administrative and personnel matters.  Approves laboratory and field work schedules, assigns work tasks, oversees and participates in daily laboratory operations and analyses. Approves completed lab data and prepares and distributes official reports. Provides accuracy and validity of test data information at hearings, courts or related administrative matters as necessary. Acts as backup for all lab tests and occasionally, field sampling.

Acts as Laboratory QA Officer and develops, interprets and implements a laboratory quality assurance/quality control program. Monitors safety, technical and legal requirements to meet state certification, as administered by the Florida Department of Health (FDOH).  Reviews and implements FDOH-adopted certification standards and ensures compliance. Responsible for overseeing that complete, accurate records required for National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Conference (NELAC) / The NELAC Institute (TNI) laboratory certification are maintained.  Files for required certification renewal annually and applies for certification of new tests as needed.  Reviews, revises, and updates Quality Systems Manual and Standard Operating Procedures for lab tests and support activities annually. Ensures staff comply with updated policies and procedures and maintain records of annual review. Responsible for maintaining Document Control for all lab, field, and data records generated, including legal records retention. Selects and schedules annual Ethics and Data Integrity training for staff and maintains training files. Annually, performs data audits, internal lab audits, field audits, analyst audits, managerial reviews, and corrective action follow-up. Conducts Root Cause Analysis investigations and implements corrective action. Performs other audits as needed. Investigates inquiries into data quality or results, and reports findings.  Maintains required Demonstration of Capability documentation for all analysts for all tests performed by laboratory. Successfully schedules, analyzes, and reports performance testing (PT) sample data for all certified analytes.   Procures and schedules third-party assessors for required biennial certification audits and submits all required documentation prior to assessment. Prepares and submits Plan of Correction to assessor within allotted time after assessment.

Collects surface water samples using Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) Standard Operating Procedures or other approved methods, as needed.  Calibrates field equipment as needed. Reviews upcoming projects and monitoring needs with Division staff and schedules sampling, lab, and reporting efforts to meet those targets. Coordinates with outside agencies to provide lab testing for projects and calculates cost of this work.

Maintains lab water quality database / LIMS in conjunction with IT Division. Assigns permissions in LIMS to staff. Creates and updates parameters and sampling sources required to set up projects in LIMS. Runs QA/QC reports to demonstrate data audit trail. Ensures historic records are available for download and data review. Enters and verifies data, creates records for project tracking, and maintains all meta-data required by FDEP and EPA. Maintains projects, sites, and analytes in format required for upload to external agency databases such as FDEP WIN (Watershed Information Network). Uploads water quality data periodically to WIN. Exports data for in-house and consultant use. Prepares charts and graphs of data. Prepares and submits lab billing quarterly for revenue and non-revenue generating projects, using database reports.

Participates in budget preparation for operating, personnel, and capital equipment needs. Monitors and updates program objectives and workload indicators related to sampling and analysis. Participates in periodic User Fee studies to determine Board-approved pricing for lab and field work.

Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES AND SKILLS

Knowledge of analytical water chemistry.

Knowledge of the apparatus and techniques used in field collection and testing for pollutants in natural waters.

Knowledge of laboratory instrumentation and equipment used to analyze non-potable water samples.

Knowledge of database functions and Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) software.

Knowledge of EPA approved analytical methods used in quantitative analysis of water.

Knowledge of certification requirements.

Knowledge of regulatory codes and laws applicable to water resources management.

Ability and agility to perform field observations and research work.

Ability to perform advanced technical analysis of chemical problems.

Ability to present and interpret factual data and prepare technical reports for publication.

Ability to plan, supervise and evaluate the work of others.

Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

Ability to perform and log observations and research work.

Ability to establish and maintain an effective working relationship with employees, officials and the public.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Graduate of an accredited four (4) year college or university with major course work in chemistry, biology, environmental science, or a related field and have a minimum of five (5) years analytical chemistry laboratory experience which included two (2) years of supervisory experience.

Must have a valid driver’s license and be able to secure a valid Florida driver’s license at the time of employment within this classification.

A comparable amount of training and related experience may be substituted for the minimum qualifications, with the exception of the degree and special requirements below.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Employee must establish documented Demonstration of Capability, as described and required by lab certification standards, for all analytes on lab’s Scope of Accreditation within 6 months of hire.

As specified by the lab’s certification, this position must meet these qualifications for Technical Manager based on Fields of Accreditation:

For chemical analyses: at least 24 college semester credit hours in chemistry AND two years of experience in the environmental analysis for which the lab maintains or seeks accreditation, OR designation as a Technical Manager for at least 12 months in an accredited laboratory.
For microbiological analyses: at least 16 college semester credit hours in biology (or four hours microbiology) AND one year of experience in microbiological analyses, OR designation as a Technical Manager for at least 12 months in an accredited laboratory engaged in microbiological analyses.
This position shall be required to report for work as directed when a declaration of emergency has been declared in Polk County.