Principal Laboratory Analyst

The City of Santa Rosa is committed to building a workforce reflective of our community and establishing a lasting culture of equity and belonging within our organization. Our collective talents and expertise contribute to high-quality public services that support a vibrant, resilient, inclusive City for our community and visitors. We celebrate a diverse workforce and welcome all qualified candidates to apply.
THE BENEFITS OF CITY EMPLOYMENT:
In addition to offering a challenging, rewarding work environment and excellent salary, the City of Santa Rosa provides a generous suite of benefits, including retirement through CalPERS, a competitive leave accrual package, your choice of three health plans, a flexible spending program, employer contributions to a Retiree Health Savings plan, and top of the line employer paid vision and dental coverage. More information regarding benefits associated with this position can be found on our Miscellaneous Employee Benefits Page .

• THE BENEFITS OF CITY EMPLOYMENT:

  • 12 paid holidays annually, plus 1 to 3 'floating holidays' per year, depending on start date and years of service
  • Flexible schedule (9/80 or 5/8) with management approval
  • 4% cost-of-living increase approved for July 2026
  • $500 annually for wellness
  • Unlimited free bus rides on CityBus and Sonoma County Transit
  • The City is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) qualifying employer
  • Paid Family Leave

ABOUT THE POSITION:
The individual selected will develop, implement, and perform the most complex laboratory analyses on water, domestic and industrial wastewater, gases, sludges and soils in a 6,000 square foot, state-of-the-art, fully equipped environmental laboratory, which includes areas for preparing and analyzing samples for trace levels of metals and organics. Principal Laboratory Analyst is the advanced journey level classification in the Laboratory Analyst series. Principal Analysts are expected to cross train and rotate duties as requested by the lab supervisor.
THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE: The successful candidate will possess:

• A fundamental understanding of laboratory quality control, analytical method development, and complex problem solving
• Knowledge and experience of EPA methods for sample preparation and analysis of trace metals and organics using the following instruments: GC-MS, GC-FID, GC-ECD, purge and trap/GC-MS, ICP ICPMS, and mercury analyzers.
• Sufficient years of increasingly responsible laboratory experience in the chemical, bacteriological and physical analysis of water and/or wastewater treatment processes

HOW TO APPLY: Please complete a thoughtful, thorough Supplemental Questionnaire submission. As part of the selection process, your responses to these questions will be scored using criteria specific to this position. Incomplete responses, or responses such as "See Resume" can result in disqualification from the selection process.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS: Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter.
THE SELECTION PROCESS: The selection process will include a minimum qualifications assessment, and may also include an application and supplemental questionnaire review, followed by department selection interviews.
For more information about this exciting opportunity, please contact Alberto Sanchez at ...

Essential Duties : The following duties are considered essential for this job classification:

• Review and approve for release all reports;
• utilize a variety of sophisticated laboratory techniques and instrumentation for the analysis of metals and organic compounds;
• analyze samples of water, domestic and industrial wastewater, gases, sludges and soils;
• maintain a quality assurance program;
• maintain detailed records, post analytical results on appropriate forms and prepare a variety of technical reports;
• research and develop new tests to analyze water, domestic and industrial wastewater, gases, sludges and soils;
• research and solve chemical matrix problems;
• maintain legal chain of custody and quality control.

Additional Duties : In addition to the duties listed in the Essential Duties Section, each employee in this classification may perform the following duties. Any single position may not be assigned all duties listed below, nor do the examples cover all duties which may be assigned.

• Maintain and repair laboratory equipment;
• prepare and standardize laboratory reagents;
• collect samples;
• and perform related duties as assigned.

Knowledge of : Principles and methods used in complex chemical, bacteriological and physical analyses; analytical, organic and inorganic chemistry; laboratory test development procedures; and safe laboratory practices and quality control procedures. Ability to : Prepare and maintain a variety of complex technical records and reports; utilize complex laboratory analysis equipment; use independent judgment; research and develop new testing procedures and establish testing requirements as needed; maintain effective relationships with those contacted in the course of work; conduct research; and communicate clearly and concisely, orally and in writing. Experience and Education : Any combination equivalent to experience and education that could likely provide the required knowledge and abilities would be qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be: Experience - Sufficient years of increasingly responsible laboratory experience in the chemical, bacteriological and physical analysis of water and/or wastewater treatment processes to demonstrate possession of the knowledge and abilities listed above; Education - Equivalent to a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major work in analytical chemistry, organic chemistry, biology or a closely related field. Per California Code of Regulations, Title 22, a Grade IV Laboratory Analyst certificate as issued by the California Water Environment Association may be substituted for the required Bachelor's degree. Working Conditions : Incumbents in this classification routinely work with biological contaminants and various hazardous chemicals requiring the use of personal protective clothing and equipment. Some lifting and moving of objects such as sample containers weighing up to 50 pounds may be required when performing laboratory analyses. Also in connection with performing laboratory analyses, bending and stooping to retrieve samples weighing up to 50 pounds is common. When carrying supplies, incumbents walk over uneven and slippery surfaces as well as climb ladders and stairs. Incumbents use a computer terminal for data entry. Principal Laboratory Analysts distinguish colors while conducting a variety of chemical tests, and respond to various audible alarms coming from testing equipment for the purpose of determining the completion of laboratory tests. It is common for incumbents to stand or sit for extended periods of time with the ability to move about at will. Individuals in this classification observe or monitor data and objects to comply with safety standards.

Santa Rosa - A Wonderful Place to Call Home: The City of Santa Rosa is located just 55 miles north of San Francisco and 30 miles east of the Pacific Ocean with a population of approximately 180,000. Santa Rosa is the seat of Sonoma County and the center of trade, government, commerce, and medical facilities for the North Bay. The surrounding area is home to over a hundred wineries and vineyards and many beautiful parks and recreational facilities, including golf courses. Santa Rosa is in the center of a nationally recognized cycling area. We boast many attractions associated with large cities, including a symphony, performing arts center, theater productions and internationally recognized restaurants, yet still retain the warmth and small town feel of decades past. Santa Rosa has been named one of the 50 greenest cities in the United States with one of the top five mid-sized downtowns in California.

The City of Santa Rosa is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.