Description

ABOUT THIS POSITION

The Environmental & Safety Division (ESD) provides technical oversight to ensure all City of Phoenix water and wastewater facilities maintain full compliance with federal, state, and local environmental regulations. As part of this mission, the Water Services Compliance Laboratory is expanding analytical capacity to support Advanced Water Purification (AWP) operations and associated regulatory monitoring requirements. Arizona's first Advanced Water Treatment Plant (AWTP) is currently under construction, and the laboratory will be responsible for generating high quality microbiological data required under new regulatory frameworks governing the advanced treatment of high-quality effluent for drinking water use. 

To support this effort, the laboratory is seeking a Senior Microbiology Supervisor with advanced expertise in environmental pathogen detection, method development, and quality assurance under EPA-approved protocols. This role directly supports the implementation of AWP in Phoenix by establishing laboratory capability for high complexity pathogen monitoring. The Senior Microbiology Supervisor will shape analytical readiness; ensuring that pathogen detection methods meet Arizona's AWP rules for the first in state AWTP producing Advanced Purified Water (APW).

IDEAL CANDIDATE

• Ensure all microbiological analyses meet accreditation standards, including documentation, proficiency testing, and adherence to the laboratory's Quality Assurance Manual.
• Collaborate with engineering, operations, and regulatory compliance teams to integrate microbiological data into AWP process control, permitting, and reporting frameworks.
• Establish method performance criteria (MDL, LOQ, recovery efficiency, precision, and bias) in accordance with EPA, NELAP, and state regulatory requirements.
• Provide scientific leadership for the microbiology section, including oversight of pathogen detection workflows, sample processing, and data validation.
• Design and implement sampling plans for pathogen monitoring at the AWP facility, including raw, intermediate, and finished water matrices.
• Lead development, optimization, and validation of analytical methods required for AWP regulatory compliance.

SALARY

Pay Range: $84,468.90 - $124,800.00 annually.

Hiring Range: $84,468.90 - $118,872.00 annually.

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 065. 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 job description 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

• Five years of supervisory experience in professional environmental laboratory work.
• 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.
• Some positions require the use of personal or City vehicles on City business. Individuals must be physically capable of operating the vehicles safely, possess a valid driver's license and have an acceptable driving record. Use of a personal vehicle for City business will be prohibited if the employee is not authorized to drive a City vehicle or if the employee does not have personal insurance coverage.
• For information regarding pre-screening and driving positions, click here.
• The City job description can be found here.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

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

• Developing, validating, and optimizing environmental analytical methods from initial concept through regulatory submission and final licensure with state and federal regulating agencies.
• A licensed environment testing laboratory, maintaining compliance with state regulations, EPA method requirements, proficiency testing, audits, and NELAP accreditation processes.
• Utilizing a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) for sample tracking, QA/QC documentation, and compliance with state regulations and NELAP accreditation standards.
• Demonstrated leadership in managing and mentoring microbiologists, including onboarding, training, performance development, and day-to-day technical guidance.
• Writing, reviewing, and revising Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure accuracy, regulatory compliance, and alignment with environmental laboratory practices.
• Managing section budgets, forecasting equipment needs, and ensuring cost effective procurement and contract renewals.
• Environmental pathogen sampling procedures, including proper collection, handling, preservation, and documentation to ensure data integrity and regulatory compliance.
• Giardia and Cryptosporidium detection using EPA Method 1623.1, including filtration, immunomagnetic separation (IMS), staining, and microscopic enumeration.
• Enteric and norovirus quantification (virus concentration, molecular detection, and QA/QC requirements).
• A minimum of 16.0 college credit hours in Biology to serve as the Biology Technical Manager for the laboratory's NELAP accreditation.

RECRUITMENT DATES

Recruitment closes June 13, 2026. 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.
• If you are in need of computer resources, click here for free options.
• Arizona at Work has frequent classes to help with resume writing, interviewing skills, and general career guidance. Click here for more information.
• Explore other Employment Opportunities with the City of Phoenix.
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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 (602) 495-5700 or by text at (800) 367-8939. You may also fill out and submit a Reasonable Accommodation Request Form.

REFERENCE

Chemist III*Specialty, JC:23431, ID# 60973, 05/152026, USM, JG, Benefits:007

Building the Phoenix of tomorrow.

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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.