Sr. Water Quality Specialist

The Sr. Water Quality Specialist is responsible for helping to ensure production and distribution of safe water for the public while meeting regulations and customer satisfaction. Areas of responsibility include distribution system water quality investigations, planning and operating regulatory compliance activities, and water quality emergency response.

• Routinely monitors regulatory water quality monitoring activities to assure compliance with monitoring, water quality, and reporting requirements. May interface with federal and state regulatory agencies to coordinate regulatory compliance processes
• Participates in the formulation and implementation of long-range plans for various engineering or scientific programs of significant importance to the Commission, and serves as project team leader as needed
• Participates in WSSC Water’s CIP and/or AMP processes involving water quality issues, and independently reviews and evaluates impacts on water quality
• Provides customer support on water quality problems including making initial response to customer calls, conducting operational investigations, coordinating support with appropriate staff, maintaining a complaints database, and developing corrective and preventive measures
• Leads special water quality studies to solve long-term problems or prepare for future regulations
• Plans and coordinates full, pilot, and bench scale tests including developing test protocols, coordinating sampling, as well as testing and background research with various WSSC Water divisions, and preparing reports and recommendations
• Participates in regional decision-making processes to protect water quality against accidental or deliberate contamination
• Coordinates WSSC Water responses to regional inquiries and serves as liaison with regional partner agencies
• Serves as a standing member of the Contamination Rapid Response Team (CRRT); participates in all CRRT activities including proficiency training and exercises
• Drives a vehicle to conduct WSSC Water business

• Stays abreast of the latest technical, legal and regulatory developments in the field
• Conducts complex computational work to analyze historical and current water quality data, including trending and forecasting analysis using spreadsheet and database tools
• Reviews, approves, and enters all resulting data into the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) and all other appropriate databases
• Provides technical advice/assistance to the Water Quality Section Manager and Laboratory Services Division Manager as necessary
• May perform as Water Quality Section Manager in their absence

Professional lab environment and field environment

Comprehensive knowledge of federal, state, and local regulatory provisions and ability to interpret regulatory intent on specific issues

Thorough knowledge and understanding of source water protection, treatment processes, water distribution system, and water quality monitoring and emergency response

Knowledge of the theories and practices in the fields of chemistry, microbiology, or biochemistry which are applied in water quality investigation and laboratory analysis

Thorough knowledge of proper laboratory procedures and good laboratory practices (GLP)

Knowledge of environmental Standard Operating Procedures, EPA Approved Methods and Standard Methods procedures

Ability to independently identify and work toward resolving complex water quality problems with minimal supervision

Ability to take a leading role in emergency water quality response, including coordinating with internal staff and external agencies, effective notification and reporting, and response to contamination events

Ability to investigate customer surveillance data and identify source of problems

Ability to interact with customers and stakeholders regarding water quality complaints effectively and professionally; ability to deliver superior customer service

• 4+ years of environmental science/engineering (or related work experience) in water supply, water quality, and/or water treatment/distribution system operations that includes:
  • Laboratory analyses performing advanced testing on water and/or wastewater
  • Experience leading water quality-related projects that include planning and developing protocols and reports

OR

• High school diploma or equivalent
• 8+ years of environmental science/engineering (or related work experience) in water supply, water quality, and/or water treatment/distribution system operations that includes:
  • Laboratory analyses performing advanced testing on water and/or wastewater
  • Experience leading water quality-related projects that include planning and developing protocols and reports

• Completion of the WSSC Water Financial Disclosure statement within 30 days of employment or transfer and annually thereafter
• Possession of a valid driver’s license, with no more than 4 points, and the…