Laboratory Technician

U.S. Water Services Corporation is a well-established and diverse water and wastewater utility organization specializing in utility maintenance, operations, engineering and construction services. U.S. Water is a fast paced and rapidly expanding company headquartered in New Port Richey, Florida with a staff of over 950 employees in twenty states.

Essential Job Functions: Performs simple or routine laboratory procedures such as sampling, weighing, recording, calibrations, pH, titrations, ion-selective electrodes, reagent preparation, etc; performs or assists with pretreatment sampling, groundwater sampling, stream sampling, and special projects. Assists in setting up, performing, and cleanup after a variety of chemical and microbiological analyses; cleans glassware, countertops, samplers, sampling locations, and laboratory equipment. Calculates and records laboratory data, enters data into computer, and assists in preparation of periodic reports for plant management and regulatory agencies. Must be available to work scheduled weekends and holidays.

Other Job Functions: Guides or assists in guiding individuals or groups of visitors around the laboratory. Perform extra sampling and laboratory duties in connection with special water/wastewater plant or research projects.

EQUIPMENT:

Equipment Essential to the Job: Dishwasher, pipette washer, pH meter, conductivity meter, turbidity meter, dissolved oxygen meter, ion-selective electrodes, gas analysis equipment analytical balance, pan balance, centrifuge, desiccator, water purification equipment, fume hood, spectrophotometer, autoclave, incubator, water bath, steam bath, refrigerator, freezer, drying oven, muffle furnace, titration equipment, thermometers, hotplates, digestion apparatus, Bunsen burner, vacuum filtration equipment, pipettes, micro-pipetter, glassware, hazardous chemicals and materials, flammable storage, safety equipment, calculator, fax machine, personal computer, spreadsheet software, word processing software, database software, computer printer, telephone, sampling equipment, mobile radio, car or light truck, MSDS documentation, laboratory SOP and Quality Control manuals, Standard Methods, EPA Methods, personnel policies manual, employee benefits manual, dictionary.

PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS:

General Physical Characteristics: Work involves standing or walking approximately 75% of the time and sitting 25% of the time; exertion up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

Vision Requirements: The minimum standard for use with those whose work deals largely with preparing and analyzing data and figures, accounting, transcription, computer terminal, visual inspection involving small defects or parts, assembly of parts at distances close to the eyes, distinguishing colors, and measuring liquids, weights or distances.

Required Physical Activities: Climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, standing, walking, talking, hearing, pushing, pulling, lifting, finger dexterity, pinching, grasping, feeling, repetitive motions.

Environmental Conditions: The work is performed inside and outside and includes being exposed to cold, heat, mechanical hazards, electrical hazards, chemical hazards, atmospheric conditions that affect the respiratory system or skin, confined spaces, and use of a respirator.

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS:

Education and Experience: High school graduation or G.E.D., including course work in chemistry and algebra; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. College-level courses in chemistry preferred.

Licenses and Certificates: Valid State of Iowa Driver's License.

Knowledge, Abilities, and Skills Necessary to Perform Essential Functions: General knowledge of the basic principles of chemistry as they apply to water and wastewater laboratory analyses; general knowledge of the operation and care of basic modern laboratory instruments and equipment; knowledge of basic math and simple algebra; general knowledge of computers, word processing, and spreadsheet software.

Ability to work safely with laboratory equipment and chemicals; ability to understand and to follow set procedures, instructions, and safety rules; ability to learn and to accurately perform a variety of laboratory analyses; ability to understand and follow quality assurance protocols; ability to maintain accurate and legible records; ability to establish and to maintain effective working relationships with co-workers and the general public; ability to safely handle laboratory equipment, and delicate glassware and instruments; ability to read analytical results and to record data; ability to calculate and understand formulas, ratios, multiplication factors, percent difference, and percent recovery.

- This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employee may perform other related duties as required to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.

Compensation and Benefits: Pay is commensurate with experience and market-reflective. US Water/USW Utility Group offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short/long-term disability, paid time off, holiday pay and 401(k) with company match.

US Water/USW Utility Group offers competitive wages and benefits and is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class.