Laboratory Technician I

Salary: $28.92 - $35.33 Hourly
Location : Keizer, OR
Job Type: Fulltime-Career
Job Number: 23-0547-01
Department: Public Works Department
Org: PW WW Laboratory Svcs
Opening Date: 12/11/2023
Closing Date: 12/25/2023 11:59 PM Pacific
Job Summary
Make an impact:
The City of Salem is seeking a Laboratory Technician I for the environmental lab located in the Willow Lake Pollution Control Facility. The Willow Lake Water Pollution Control Facility is the primary treatment facility for the city and operates 24/7, 365 days per year. The laboratory reports approximately 50,000 results annually. If you are someone that takes pride in collaborating on innovative ideas and being a good environmental and financial steward, we look forward to meeting you!
Learn and grow:
We have a diverse team of tenured and newer employees working together to support each other and our community. The Public Works Department promotes a healthy work life balance, while maintaining the utmost dedication to the health, safety, and welfare of our community, including our team. We value our employees and their professional development.
What you will do:
This Laboratory Technician I will be responsible for providing lateral coverage to operations during the wet weather season as a required job duty when staffing allows. The lateral coverage entails collecting samples in the wastewater plant and performing laboratory analyses in the operation laboratories located in the plant separate from the main laboratory. This position involves the testing and analyzing of treatment plant wastewater, industrial pretreatment wastewater, wastewater treatment sludge, watershed, biosolids, stormwater, cyanotoxins and potable water samples.
The Laboratory Technician I position performs various analytical test techniques and use of equipment to record test results for an accredited municipal environmental laboratory by the Oregon Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program, ORELAP. The successful candidate must have demonstrated laboratory experience using various testing methods and equipment, knowledgeable of environmental regulations and standards, and possess strong communication skills.
A Laboratory Technician I is required to provide lateral coverage to operations during wet weather season as staffing allows. The lateral coverage entails collecting samples in the wastewater plant and performing laboratory analyses in the operations laboratories located in the plant separate from the main laboratory.
What can we offer you for all your hard work?

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your family.
• Paid vacation and sick time in accordance with City policies.
• Competitive pay.
• Employer-paid PERS contribution of 6%.
• Opportunity for voluntary pre-tax contributions to a 457b account.
• Health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts.
• Voluntary long-term care.
• Employee wellness program.
• Employee assistance program.

Work schedule:

• This position will be responsible for working both weekend days (either Wednesday - Sunday or a Saturday - Wednesday schedule).

What are the minimum qualifications?

• Must pass the pre-employment background check.
• Must have an Oregon Driver's license and have a driving record that meets the City of Salem's driving standards.
• Associate's degree in chemistry, biology, microbiology, laboratory science or related subject, and two years of experience in a laboratory, collecting samples, analyzing data, interpreting results, or any combination of experience and training that demonstrate possession of the knowledge, skill and abilities as listed, and ability to perform the essential job functions.

About us:
The City of Salem is the second largest City in the State of Oregon, located in the heart of Willamette Valley, and is the capital city of Oregon with a population over 170,000. Centrally located, Salem is 47 miles south of Portland and an hour from the Cascade Mountains to the east and an hour from the ocean beaches to the west. Salem is an exceptional community for living and working with exciting new and comfortable well-established neighborhoods and carefully preserved historic buildings.
A full-service City, Salem has eight primary departments:
Community Services, Finance, Fire, Enterprise Services, Legal, Police, Public Works, and Community and Urban Development. Several departments also have functional divisions within their department. The City has five labor unions and employs roughly 1,350 talented and dedicated staff members. The Urban Renewal Agency and the Salem Housing Authority are separate municipal corporations. The Agency contracts with the City for services and the Authority is led by the Housing Administrator within the Urban Development department.
Where can I find out more about the position?
Go to the menu option for Class Specifications and search for Laboratory Tech or view by
How can I apply?
The City of Salem invites individuals of all diverse communities and backgrounds to apply for our available job opportunities as we strive to provide the best service to everyone. The City of Salem is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all and has a culture that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. We believe that by welcoming differences, encouraging new ideas and views, listening to, and learning from each other, we are better able to serve the community.
To apply, click on the green "Apply" button to complete your application. Make sure that you specify how you meet the qualifications outlined in the class specification and complete the application.
Applicants that meet the minimum qualifications as outlined above but not selected for this position may be placed on an eligibility list, and candidates may be hired from the list. Eligibility lists are valid for six months. The City will send email notifications to eligible candidates about potential hiring opportunities so please ensure your email settings accept our system generated email notifications.
You may subscribe for automatic notification of job openings at the City through the - sign up today!
For more information about employment at the City of Salem, please visit our website at
For benefits information, please, go to:
01
What is your highest level of education in chemistry, biology, microbiology, laboratory science or related?We encourage you to include supporting details in your application.

• High school graduate or GED
• Associate's degree in related field
• Bachelor's degree in related field
• Master's degree in related field
• Doctorate's degree in related field
• N/A

02
How many years of experience do you have in a laboratory, collecting samples, analyzing data, and/or interpreting results?We encourage you to include supporting details in your application.

• No experience
• Less than 2 years
• 2-3 years
• 4-5 years
• More than 5 years

03
How many years of experienced do you have with environmental laboratory?We encourage you to include supporting details in your application.

• No experience
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year
• 2 years
• More than 3 years

04
How many years of experience do you have with supervisory/lead work?We encourage you to include supporting details in your application.

• No experience
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year
• 2 years
• More than 3 years

05
How many years of experience do you have with analytical instrumentation?We encourage you to include supporting details in your application.

• No experience
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year
• 2 years
• More than 3 years

06
How many years of experience do you have with wastewater?We encourage you to include supporting details in your application.

• No experience
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year
• 2 years
• More than 3 years

07
Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) experience?We encourage you to include supporting details in your application.

• No experience
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year
• 2 years
• More than 3 years

08
How many years of experience do you have with drinking water laboratory? We encourage you to include supporting details in your application.

• No experience
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year
• 2 years
• More than 3 years

09
How many years of experience do you have with industrial pretreatment experience?We encourage you to include supporting details in your application.

• No experience
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year
• 2 years
• More than 3 years

10
How many years of experience do you have with biosolids?We encourage you to include supporting details in your application.

• No experience
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year
• 2 years
• More than 3 years

11
How many years of wet chemistry experience do you have?We encourage you to include supporting details in your application.

• No experience
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year
• 2 years
• More than 3 years

12
How many years of experience do you have with microbiology lab? We encourage you to include supporting details in your application.

• No experience
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year
• 2 years
• More than 3 years

13
How many years of experience do you have with Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS)? We encourage you to include supporting details in your application.

• No experience
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year
• 2 years
• More than 3 years

14
The work schedule will either be Wednesday through Sunday or Saturday through Wednesday from 7:30AM to 4:00PM. Are you willing and able to regularly work both weekend days?We encourage you to include supporting details in your application.

• Yes
• No

Required Question