The King County Environmental Lab (KCEL) is a full service environmental laboratory supporting a range of King County wastewater treatment and environmental programs (See http://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/dnrp/wlr/sections-programs/environmental-lab.aspx for more details). The Laboratory Project Manager is an employee of the laboratory who liaises with the lab’s management team, lab staff, and customers to facilitate the planning, coordination, documentation, budgeting, and reporting for projects where KCEL provides field and/or lab services.

Who is Eligible: This position is open to all King County employees within the Department of Natural Resources and Parks.

• Work with customers and lab staff to plan environmental projects including providing technical advice on: field sampling techniques, analytical methodology, regulatory requirements, method detection and reporting limits, the writing and reviewing of Sampling and Analysis Plans, Quality Control/Quality Assurance (QA/QC) protocols and budgeting information.
• Use project management software including a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) to: create project templates, prepare bottle kits, login samples, track sample analyses, and access sample, QC, and meta-data for reporting purposes.
• Evaluate and validate sample data; interpret QC and data anomalies.
• Use a variety of software to gather data and write customer reports in a variety of different formats.
• Aid customers in understanding regulatory requirements and data interpretation.
• Work with King County grant and finance staff to create interagency contracts for non-King County customers; prepare and track invoices.
• Represent the laboratory at internal project and committee meetings, and other interagency planning groups.
• Work with King County finance staff to procure subcontracted services; coordinate the development of subcontract analytical requirements and data deliverables; and coordinate the shipping of samples to subcontract labs.
• Proactively participate with the management team and lab staff in discussions about workflow and work planning issues.
• Coordinate and facilitate project meetings involving customers and appropriate lab staff.
• Constructively problem-solve work issues in a team environment. Back up other members of the Laboratory Project Management team.

Our Ideal Candidate Will Have The Following Competencies:

• Manages ambiguity: Operating effectively, even when things are not certain or the way forward is not clear.
• Interpersonal savvy: Relating openly and comfortably with diverse groups of people.
• Business insight: Applying knowledge of business and the marketplace to advance the organization’s goals.
• Customer focus: Building strong customer relationships and delivering customer-centric solutions.
• Communicates effectively: Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, biology, oceanography, environmental science, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
• One year (1) of project management experience with environmental laboratory data.
• Advanced knowledge of the principles and methodology of environmental testing in at least two of the following disciplines: trace organics, trace metals, conventionals, toxicology, microbiology, and/or molecular biology.
• Knowledge of environmental field sampling collection techniques and in-situ measurements.
• Advanced knowledge of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Standard Methods, or American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) QA/QC principles, data validation, and data interpretation.
• Comprehensive knowledge of EPA and other regulatory methodology used for environmental analyses, sample collection and field measurements.
• Familiarity with federal and state environmental regulatory guidelines, rules, and permits pertaining to the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), the Model Toxics Control Act, and/or the Washington State Department of Ecology (WDOE) Water Quality and Sediment Management Standards.
• Familiarity and at least two (2) years of experience with the use of a LIMS.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Ability to be flexible in the face of frequently changing priorities and conditions.
• Excellent customer service skills, including marketing and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work with peers, management, and customers to accomplish King County’s objectives.
• Strong ability to clearly communicate highly technical information orally and in writing to peers, laymen, management, and customers.
• Ability to promote mutual respect and acceptance of all workers in a diverse, high production and stressful environment.

The Most Competitive Candidates May Have:

• Experience in writing and/or managing grant proposals.
• Experience in marketing environmental field and lab sampling and analyses.
• Experience in project management courses.
• Experience in performing environmental field sampling.
• Experience in performing environmental laboratory analyses.
  

Application and Selection Process: Application materials will be screened for clarity, completeness including online application, cover letter and resume, and responsiveness to the list of qualifications, skills, and abilities. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in one or more panel interviews. Applications without the following required materials may not be considered for this position.

• King County application
• Resume
• Cover Letter detailing your background and what you can bring to this position
• Responses to supplemental questions

Union Representation: This position is not represented by a union.

For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact:
Deena Prasad, Senior Human Resource Analyst
Phone: 206-263-0101
Email: dprasad@kingcounty.gov

Forbes recently named King County as one of Washington State’s best employers. 

Together, with leadership and our employees, we’re changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation’s best places to live, work and play. 

Guided by our “True North“, we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles–we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply
If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact your recruiter listed on this job announcement.