Chemist I - Microbiologist - Water Services Department

ABOUT THIS POSITION

Phoenix is the 5th largest city in the country and the vibrant center of one of the fastest-growing job markets and economies in the United States. With more than 14,000 employees working across 35 departments, the city of Phoenix offers opportunity for career growth and advancement. Whether you're an experienced professional or just starting your career, working in public service offers many rewards! Please join us in our mission as we attract, develop, support, and retain a talented workforce so they can provide exceptional services to our community.

The Water Services Microbiologist is a Chemist I Specialty position and is assigned to the Environmental Services Division (ESD) in the Water Services Department. This position is responsible for performing compliance testing for microorganisms per EPA and Standard Methods as well as method development in various regulatory programs and special studies for the Water Services Department. The microbiology group regularly engages in the microbiological (total and fecal coliform), parasitology (cryptosporidium and giardia), and molecular biology (polymerase chain reaction) analyses of water and wastewater samples in accordance with federal and state laboratory requirements and internal quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) policies and procedures. This Specialty assignment differs from the base classification of Chemist I due to the greater quality control and documentation requirements to develop scientifically sound, legally defensible methods that ensure compliance and maintain the laboratory's ADHS licensure and NELAP accreditation.

The work schedule for this position is Tuesday through Saturday. During training, the work schedule will be Monday through Friday. Must assist in weekend and holiday coverage, since the Microbiology Section has a 7- day workweek.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications.
• Maintain regular and reliable attendance.
• Knowledge of the following:
  • Laboratory quality assurance and quality control procedures, especially those required by NELAP.
  • EPA and Standard Methods related to the microbial analysis of water and wastewater.
  • State, federal, and NELAP regulations.

SALARY

Pay Range: $26.18 - $47.01 per hour.

Hiring Range: $26.18 - $40.61 per hour.

Pay Range Explanation:

• Pay range is the entire compensation range for the position classification.
• Hiring range is an estimate of where you can receive an offer. The actual salary offer will carefully consider a wide range of factors, including your skills, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, training, and internal equity.

Internal Only: Please understand that this is pay grade 055. If selected, your salary offer will be based on the applicable promotion or demotion worksheet in accordance with the City Pay Ordinance.

• Promotions occur when the last two digits of the pay grade increase.
• Demotions occur when the last two digits of the pay grade decrease.
• Lateral transfers occur when there is no change to the last two digits of the pay grade.
• When there is a change in the first digit of the pay grade, there may also be a change to your classification or unit.

Your job classification can be found in eCHRIS > Personal Details under your name, located in the top left section of the page.

The pay grade and classification/unit of your current position may be found by looking up your job title on the page .

BENEFITS

A comprehensive benefits package is offered which includes:

• Traditional pension with employer and employee contributions, click here for more details: Pension Information
• 401(a) and 457 plans with employer contributions
• Choice of generous medical HMO, PPO, or HSA/HDHP plans
• Medical enrollment includes a monthly $150 City contribution to a Post-Employment Health Plan
• Wellness incentive of up to $720 annually
• Dental, vision, and life insurance options
• Employer paid long-term disability
• Free Bus/light rail pass
• Tuition reimbursement program up to $6,500 per year
• Paid time off includes 13.5 paid holidays, 12 vacation days, and 15 sick days and personal leave days
• Paid Parental Leave for eligible employees up to 480 hours (12 weeks) of paid leave for the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child during a 12-month period
• Federal Student Loan Forgiveness offered through Savi

For more details, visit: Unit 007 Benefits

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Two years of professional level experience in chemical and microbiological analyses in the public health or chemical laboratory field.
• Bachelor's degree in chemistry, microbiology or a related field.
• Other combinations of experience and education that meet the minimum requirements may be substituted.
• All finalists for positions are subject to a criminal background check applicable to the department or position.
• For information regarding pre-screening and driving positions, click here .
• The City can be found here .

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

The minimum qualifications listed above, plus experience with/in the following:

• Instrumentation and analytical procedures including any or all of the following: Colilert P/A, Colilert MPN, Heterotrophic Plate Count, and Multiple Tube Fermentation.
• Reviewing microbiological data for compliance reporting.
• Performing microbiological method development for water and wastewater methods.
• Following EPA and Standard Methods, and Arizona Department of Health Services policies and procedures for laboratory accreditation and licensure.
• Technical instrumentation and analytical procedures for utilizing PCR in order to quantify bacteria and viruses.
• Using a laboratory information management system (LIMS), or other data entry applications.
• Authoring and revising standard operating procedures for various analytical methods.
• Troubleshooting and maintaining laboratory equipment and instrumentation.
• Analyzing for Cryptosporidium and Giardia following EPA Method 1623.1.
• Measurement of Enterovirus and Norovirus occurrence in water by EPA Method 1615.
• Biomonitoring principals and utilizing aseptic techniques.

RECRUITMENT DATES

Recruitment closes November 06, 2025. All materials must be received by 11:59 p.m. on this date.

This is a position-based recruitment and will not result in any ongoing eligibility list. This recruitment and any selection processes resulting from this recruitment may be used to fill other related vacancies within the organization now or in the near future.

HOW TO APPLY

Apply online by completing the required information and attaching, as one document , your cover letter and resume. Please include your experience as it relates to the qualifications stated above. Only the highest qualified may be posted to the eligible to hire list. The results of the resume screening process will be sent to your primary email address.

WE ARE HERE TO HELP

• Job interviews may be held by video or audio conference.
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• If you require assistance at any stage of the application process due to an accessibility issue, please contact the Human Resources Department by phone at [click to reveal phone number](602) 495-5700 or by text at [click to reveal phone number](800) 367-8939 . You may also fill out and submit a Reasonable Accommodation Request Form .

REFERENCE

Chemist I*Specialty, JC:23412, ID# 59790 , 10/24/2025, USM, JG, Benefits:007, Q

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City of Phoenix is an equal opportunity employer. AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other national service alumni who meet the required qualifications are encouraged to apply.