Laboratory Technician

Please note that applications must be completed and submitted by 11:59 pm ET on the day prior to the close date listed on the job posting.

Mission: Provide Superior Services that Inspire Community Pride

Vision: To be the Community of Choice in Tampa Bay

Values: Integrity, Collaboration, Passion, Creativity

Largo's commitment to a High Performance Organization (HPO) model builds a flexible and resilient organization that intentionally builds leadership capacity at all levels of the organization.

CITY OF LARGO ... Naturally A Great Place to Work!

Closing:

03/3/2026

Salary:

$23.83 hourly rate

Job Summary:

Skilled technical and analytical work in an environmental laboratory and in field settings, performing chemical and bacteriological analyses. Applies proper laboratory techniques and follows established policies and procedures, analyzing wastewater, surface water, and groundwater for water quality monitoring and compliance purposes. Position reports to Environmental Compliance Supervisor.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

All employees share components of leadership, management, technical, and team skills to assist in making the City of Largo the community of choice in Tampa Bay.

Leadership

• Demonstrates an understanding and reflection of the City’s mission, vision, and values, and a commitment to achieve organizational goals aligned with the City’s strategic plan
• Champions a high-performance work culture that encourages and embraces new ideas, develops individuals, and welcomes and encourages diverse perspectives
• Articulates strategic and innovative thinking and provides clarity to deliver superior services
• Approaches the job with enthusiasm and curiosity to promote a solutions-oriented work culture

Management

• Effectively manages assignments and priorities to ensure the fulfillment of projects, tasks, and responsibilities
• Follows suggested procedures to assure the highest standards of risk management, employee safety, and risk avoidance

Technical

• Embraces emerging technology and productivity tools with a willingness to learn new skills
• Programs, calibrates, and maintains field equipment and laboratory instrumentation; performs preventative maintenance and programs field autosamplers
• Performs bacteriological and chemical analyses of water samples, including wastewater, throughout various stages of the treatment process
• Maintains detailed test records in hard copy and electronic copy, and uses the LIMS database; gathers water quality field data using portable meters, and performs sample collection following approved Florida Department of Environmental Protection methods
• Ensures that lab operations adhere to the comprehensive Quality Assurance Manual, providing data that is reliable, scientifically valid, and legally defensible; protects data integrity by performing analytical activities that meet strict ethical codes of conduct
• Collects samples from various sites and transports them to the lab for testing
• Responsible for the cleaning, maintenance, and organization of the laboratory
• Performs a variety of analytical tests using a variety of software
• Inputs, accesses, and retrieves data from a computer; compiles and prepares data, extrapolating values, as needed
• Tracks, monitors, and maintains periodic Quality Control tasks; meets quality control acceptance criteria and completes tasks within mandated deadlines
• Ensures data integrity by performing analytical activities in adherence to strict ethical codes of conduct
• Performs quality control testing on new materials upon receipt; ensures that compliance criteria are met prior to approving items for use
• Actively stays current and up to date with the latest industry and laboratory standards
• Maintains group memberships and participates in workshops and training sessions
• Maintains an adequate stock of supplies by performing regularly scheduled inventory audits and forecasting future supply needs; informs supervisor when supplies are needed
• Participates with proficiency testing, internal audits, SOP review, and laboratory assessments for accreditation
• Evaluates and monitors sample results, notifying the supervisor of abnormalities or potential trends
• Ensures the completion and accuracy of all lab documents by properly recording data and maintaining logbooks and bench sheets
• Maintains open communication with plant operations regarding plant activity and potential analytical impacts, coordinates changes to sample collection days, times, and locations

Team Skills

• Supports honest and transparent decision-making
• Ability to speak in front of small groups, lead safety team meetings, and provide instructional tours of the laboratory and wastewater treatment plant
• Able to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing
• Maintains an effective working relationship with others and completes shared tasks effectively
• Strong communication skills and the ability to transfer work tasks to the team in a thorough and concise manner
• Collaborates with all team members in a way that builds upon ideas and takes personal accountability and ownership of projects, roles, and assignments
• Openly exhibits a positive attitude, in words and action, and encourages others to do the same

Performs related work as required.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE STATUS: As a condition of employment, City of Largo employees will be required to work as directed during an undeclared and/or a declared emergency. All employees are subject to recall around the clock for emergency response operations, which may require irregular work hours, work at locations other than the normal work location, and may include duties other than those specified in the official job description.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience:

• Associate’s degree (Bachelor’s degree preferred) in Chemistry, Environmental Sciences, or a closely related field, and one (1) year of analytical work or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience
• Experience with water quality standards, water treatment principles & practices, NPDES permitting, TNI, and/or wastewater lab methods preferred
• Experience working in a NELAP-certified laboratory is preferred
• Valid Driver's License

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

• Ability to adhere to the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAP) quality control requirements and the ability to perform NELAP certified work with accuracy and precision
• Knowledge of chemistry principles & microbiological practices, proper lab techniques, quality control measures, and common laboratory practices
• Knowledge of occupational safety standards and the ability to conduct lab and field work safely
• Ability to organize, schedule, and manage multiple laboratory tasks in an organized and effective manner
• Ability to perform a variety of detailed laboratory functions, procedures, and techniques
• Must possess strong organizational, verbal, and written skills
• Ability to modify and manipulate MS Excel spreadsheets, MS Word documents, and various laboratory software programs
• Ability to input, access, retrieve, and customize data from a computer using laboratory information management software, various instrument software programs, and spreadsheets
• Ability to read and understand legal/technical/scientific documents
• Ability to perform mathematical calculations
• Ability to perform independent preliminary research to diagnose software, hardware, and chemistry issues
• Team Members in this position must be able to work weekend and/or holiday shifts, 365 days per year
• Able to reliably meet established analytical data quality measures with consistently high levels of accuracy and precision
• Determines which procedure to follow when test results deviate from routine established standards; prepares detailed documentation and corrective actions if needed

WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Work Environment: 80% Inside a climate-controlled building; 20% outside which includes driving.

Physical Requirements: The essential functions of the job require: sitting approximately two (2) hours per day, standing approximately four (4) hours per day, and walking approximately two (2) hours per day. The job also requires frequent bending/stooping, fine manipulations, grasping, pulling, pushing, reaching, repetitive motion, lifting/carrying objects weighing up to 44 pounds, with occasional climbing and lifting/carrying objects weighing more than 45 pounds. On rare occasions, the work requires kneeling. Requires the ability to work in extreme heat and inclement weather.

Sensory Requirements: Hearing: Ability to detect proper equipment operation and understand what others are saying in normal conversation and on the telephone. Speaking: Ability to communicate orally with others and speak effectively on the phone. Seeing: Ability to see and read computer monitor screens, operate a vehicle, perform laboratory tests, detect slight color differences, detect very small colonies/growths, accurately count colonies and clusters on petri plates, and read normal and/or fine print.

Driving Requirements: Requires frequent driving and possession of a valid Florida Driver's License to operate city fleet vehicles, golf carts, and all-terrain utility vehicles.

Technology: The work requires the operation of laboratory instrumentation, including, but not limited to: telephones, smartphones, tablets, photocopiers, printers, desktop and laptop computers, calculators, and all associated software.  The work also requires proficiency with computer hardware and software, including word processing, lab instruments with various software, spreadsheets, internet applications, and database management.

Other Machines: The work requires the ability to operate the following machines: spectrophotometer, drying oven, desiccator, autocat, incubator, digital titrator, shaker, lab hood, autoclave, water bath, DO and pH meters, timers, digestion block, stir plate, dishwasher, vacuum pump, and composite water samplers. The work requires the operation of laboratory instrumentation, including, but not limited to:  alcohol burners+flame, spectrophotometers, ovens/incubators, desiccators, titrators, shakers, ventilation hoods, autoclave, water baths, laboratory meters/probes, timers, thermometers, digestion blocks, stir plates, scales, glassware washers, vacuum pumps, field autosamplers, and other equipment.

Tools: The work requires proficiency with pipettes, forceps, thermometers, graduated cylinders, volumetric flasks, analytical balances, hot plates with magnetic stirrers, dispensers, scissors, scalpels, and other assorted hand tools.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Yes - DRUG TESTING (Safety Sensitive)

No - CHILDCARE FINGERPRINTING

No - CREDIT CHECK

No - FDLE AND CJSTC SECURITY CLEARANCE: As mandated by the FDLE, CJSTC and the Largo Police Department, this position may be subject to additional security clearances due to access to the police department facility or police department's electronic data.