Date Opened: Wednesday, October 08, 2025 12:00 AM

Close Date: Monday, October 27, 2025 12:00 AM

Department: Charlotte Water Department

Salary: $75,471.00 - $94,339.00 Commensurate with Experience

Welcome to the City of Charlotte

Charlotte is America’s Queen City, opening her arms to a diverse and inclusive community of residents, businesses and visitors alike. Here you will find a safe, family-oriented city where people work together to help everyone thrive. The mission of the City of Charlotte is to deliver quality public services and promote the safety, health, and quality of life for all residents.

Our guiding principles include:

• Attracting and retaining a skilled and diverse workforce

• Valuing teamwork, openness, accountability, productivity, and employee development

• Providing all customers with courteous, responsive, accessible, and seamless quality services

• Taking initiative to identify, analyze, and solve problems

• Collaborating with stakeholders to make informed decisions

SUMMARY

This position supervises daily operations and analytical staff for the Microbiology Section of the laboratory. Work involves setting goals for staff; analyzing laboratory capabilities; researching and tracking various functions; maintaining proper level of staffing for workload and incoming projects; validating and reviewing analytical data; applying analytical methods; acting as a subject matter expert to clients and customers; determining root causes and resolving problems; making sure laboratory procedures are in compliance with regulations and protocols; supporting internal and external audits; addressing emergency situations; ensuring safety protocol is followed; and implementing corrective actions. This position supervises and facilitates training of staff; assists in budget preparation and administration; and makes sure appropriate resources are provided for staff to perform.

The salary for this position is $84,905/yr thru $94,338/yr. commensurate with experience

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:        

• Provides oversight of assigned laboratory operations and supervision of assigned staff; sets priorities and manages change

• Manages analytical instrumentation (MALDI-TOF, ELISA, etc.) within the section.

• Performs statistical analysis of data for planning and laboratory improvement functions.

• Supports internal and external audits of critical systems.

• Develops standard operating procedures for analytical methods and lab procedures.

• Implements effective corrective actions based on root cause analysis; safeguards Quality Assurance (QA) requirements.

• Enforces compliance with regulations and protocols.

• Participates in the design and implementation of laboratory information management software (LIMS); configures and operates complex and technical software systems used in the operation of laboratory instrumentation.

• Plans, coordinates, and manages research projects along with the implementation of new analytical instrumentation and methods.

• Serves as subject matter experts to clients; assists clients, including operations staff, with high level problem-solving, project completion and in the development of solutions, provides professional technical advice.

• Assists in the development and implementation of division goals, objectives, policies, and procedures.

• Interacts with regulatory agencies, including those related to planning, regulatory compliance, software integration, and analytical reporting.

• Supports and facilitates training of staff; develops training documents and training manuals for new analysts.

• Assists in the administration and preparation of operational and capital budgets.

• Keeps current on quality assurance requirements including state (drinking water and wastewater) and national (National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program) accreditation programs.

• Participates in emergency response simulations and exercises

• Serves on internal committees; and represents Charlotte Water on regional, statewide or national boards or committees as requested; acts as a technical and professional resource both internally and externally to the organization.

• Supervises and coordinates work activities of assigned staff; assigns work, monitors status of work, and inspects completed work; participates and provides input in staffing decisions relative to hiring, firing, discipline, and promotional opportunities; evaluates performance; mentors staff; and provides assistance with career development.

• Performs other related job duties as assigned.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS TO PERFORM WORK:

• Bachelor's Level Degree in chemistry, environmental science, or related field from an accredited school

• Five (5) Years of Experience in a certified environmental laboratory and including one (1) year of supervisory experience.

OR

• Master's Level Degree

• Three (3) Years of Experience in a certified environmental laboratory and including one (1) year of supervisory experience.

Licenses, Certifications or Registrations:

• Requires a valid driver’s license.

• Requires a minimum of 16 collegiate credit hours in microbiology and biology for NELAP accredited microbiology areas. 

• Requires completion of NIMS/ICS 100, 200, 700 and 800 (or obtain within 18 months of hire).

• Desires completion of NIMS/ICS 300 and 400.

• Desires a NC Wastewater Laboratory Analyst Certification I, II, III and IV; NC Bacteriological certification for Total coliforms and E. coli; NC Pretreatment Grade II certification; Method 1623 Principal Analyst.

• Additional certifications based upon area of work

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) Software

• Knowledge of common office software and other pertinent computer programs

• Knowledge of local, state, and federal regulations related to services provided by a laboratory

• Knowledge of chemistry, microbiology, environmental engineering, and dimensional analysis as well as inferential statistics

• Ability to analyze data

• Knowledge of operation, maintenance and calibration of specialized equipment and instrumentation used on the job

• Knowledge of sampling and laboratory protocols

• Knowledge of City policies and processes

• Skill in communicating, both verbally and in writing

• Skill in using spreadsheets, charts, and graphs

• Ability to follow instructions

• Ability to effectively communicate with state and federal agencies concerning regulations

• Ability to supervise employees

• Ability to develop employee talents within a diverse workforce

• Ability to set priorities, manage change, mentor and develop employees

• Ability to communicate expectations, motivate employees, set smart goals, provide feedback and assess performance

• Basic knowledge of finance and purchasing rules, policies and timelines

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The work is medium, which requires applying 30 pounds of force frequently and exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally to move objects.  Additionally, the following physical abilities are required: prolonged standing and/or sitting, walking, balancing, climbing, stooping, crouching, kneeling, grasping, handling, lifting, manual dexterity, feeling, pulling, pushing, reaching, repetitive motion, speaking, perceiving sounds at normal speaking levels, distinguishing among sounds, mental acuity, visual acuity in data/color/observations/instrumentation, and walking.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

The City’s Background Check Policy requires background checks to be conducted on final internal or external candidate(s) applying for any position with the City of Charlotte. The type of information that will be collected as part of a background check includes, but is not limited to: reference checks, social security verification, education verification, criminal conviction record check, and, if applicable, a credit history check, sex offender registry and motor vehicle records check.

Background checks must be in compliance with all federal and state statutes, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The checks must be consistent with the guidelines set forth by these laws requiring organizations to obtain a candidate’s written authorization before obtaining a criminal background report, motor vehicle records check or credit report; and to properly store and dispose of information derived from such reports.

Final candidates must pass a pre-employment drug-screening test and physical examination. During the selection process, candidates may be asked to take a skills test, and/or participate in other assessments.

The City of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation or on the basis of actual or perceived gender as expressed through dress, appearance, or behavior.

Our culture is to serve the community honorably.

HOW TO APPLY

Apply online.

Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job.

You are welcome to visit the City of Charlotte Human Resources Department lobby, where self-service application kiosks are available. They are located in our office at 700 East 4th Street, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28202. We are open Monday through Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (EST), excluding official City holidays.

For questions about your application or the hiring process, please email Careers@ci.charlotte.nc.us.

The City of Charlotte is committed to making our services and programs accessible to all. Upon request, auxiliary aids, written materials in alternate formats, language access, and other reasonable accommodations or modifications will be provided. To make a request, please fill out the Innovation & Technology ADA request form or call 704.336.4120.

BENEEFITS

The City of Charlotte provides a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees.

Click here to learn more about the City of Charlotte’s benefits.

The City of Charlotte is a drug and alcohol-free workplace.