LIMS/ Instrumentation Supervisor (Environmental Technologist III)

Would you like to be part of the team that provides environmental laboratory support to wastewater, stormwater, and solid waste for the largest county in Virginia protecting, restoring, and enhancing the environment?

Wastewater Planning & Monitoring assists and participates in all aspects of system modernization and business process automation initiatives. Works across county agencies to maintain and establish working relationships to accomplish project work.

Fairfax County's DPWES, Wastewater Management Program is a nationally recognized Utility of the Future and its wastewater treatment plant, the 67 million gallon per day Noman M. Cole Pollution Control Plant, Jr. Water Recycling Facility, is a multiple year NACWA Platinum Award winning facility. If you would like to join a creative, collaborative, innovative team doing meaningful work, then the Wastewater Planning & Monitoring Division is the place for you.

Supervises environmental services' instrumentation activities and serves as LIMS/Instrumentation Supervisor directly supervising Environmental Technologists conducting metals and organics analyses which are involved with water quality programs mandated by the Clean Water Act, National Pollution Discharge Elimination System, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Virginia Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (VELAP), and in conjunction with guidelines provided by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and DPWES and Wastewater Management mission, vision, and values.

Defines and assigns the workload and work assignments for Environmental Technologists conducting chemical analyses of samples collected from county wastewater facilities, businesses, streams, ponds, and local tributaries of the Potomac River. Schedules collection of field and special samples.

Assures staff perform all activities necessary to successfully demonstrate competency to carry out specific environmental tests as required for VELAP certification. Prepares and reviews methods, procedures, and protocols used by the laboratory. Reviews and evaluates data for precision, accuracy, compliance, and data integrity for section. Supervises and maintains operation of complex analytical apparatus and instrumentation including troubleshooting and servicing.

Reviews the Quality Assurance Manual, Standard Operating Procedures, Chemical Hygiene Plan & Safety Manual for the Environmental Monitoring Laboratory. Keeps current of all changes to VELAP and the accreditation program. Responsible for the operation of the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) including maintenance updates, procedures, electronic transfer, parsers, training, documentation, troubleshooting, and implementing changes. Interacts with LIMS vendor and Fairfax County IT personnel on LIMS issues.

Leads/assists the branch in managing database users and implementing strategies for data security. Monitors the daily performance of the LIMS database or performs daily maintenance activities to include user account/access management. Reviews or monitors daily uploaded data input, transfer, export, and replication management.

Maintains excel files and parsers that are used to prepare VPDES permit reports for wastewater treatment division and stormwater that are submitted to Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Responsible for ensuring that the LIMS meets or exceeds the requirements of the laboratory. Makes recommendations for improvements to LIMS to take advantage of upgrades to lab instruments and software, new IT technology and new laboratory methods.

Safety responsibility: reinforces a safety culture and continually seeks to expand safety knowledge through training, mentoring, self-study or other methods of continuous learning. Clearly communicate safety expectations. Resolves safety related matters in a timely manner. Complies with the DPWES safety competencies.

Emergency service personnel: Wastewater Management positions are responsible for providing uninterrupted sewer service to residents during extreme inclement weather or other emergencies.

Fairfax County Government is committed to our employees, and offers comprehensive benefits, including a defined-benefit retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; paid leave; tuition reimbursement; and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. Through our LiveWell Program and the County Benefits Division, we endeavor to cultivate a culture of wellbeing that empowers, educates and engages employees and retirees to make life-long choices that promote a holistic approach to their physical, mental, emotional, social, spiritual and financial wellness. Please review our awesome benefits:

• Benefits
• Retirement

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following.
(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to")
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in chemistry, biology or a related science; plus three years of progressively responsible experience performing chemical, biochemical, microbiological, and physical tests and/or regulatory control, on wastewater, streams, estuary, and industrial wastes. One year of the required experience should be in a specialized area of environmental services, i.e., advanced instrumentation, management information system, quality control/assurance or field monitoring; preferably including and/or supplemented by supervisory training and/or experience.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:
Valid driver's license.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check, driving record check, and pre-employment physical to the satisfaction of the employer.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Three years of environmental laboratory experience with working knowledge of;
  • GC/MS analyses using EPA Methods from 600/8000 series and SW-846 methods for the analysis of TCLP on wastewater and environmental samples.
  • Metals analyses using ICP-OES, FAA, GFAA, and Mercury Analyzer utilizing approved EPA Methods from 200 and 7000 series and EPA 1631 on wastewater and environmental samples.
• At least one year of working with a Laboratory Information Management System and associated functions such as troubleshooting, maintenance updates, parsers, training, documentation, and implementation of changes.