KWU Lead Chemist Water Production

The Lead Chemist plays a key role in ensuring the safety and quality of the City of Kenoshas drinking water by overseeing laboratory operations at the Water Production Plant located at 100 51st Place Kenosha WI. This position provides technical expertise in water analysis supervises and coordinates the work of laboratory staff and ensures compliance with all state and federal regulations. The Lead Chemist manages quality control programs sampling and testing while maintaining accurate records and reports. Working under the direction of the Director of Water Production this role serves as the Utilitys primary resource for water quality monitoring regulatory compliance and laboratory leadership.

TheKenosha Water Utilityis a municipally-owned fiscally independent public utility organized under authority of 66.0805 of the Wisconsin State Statutes and Chapter XXXII of the City of Kenosha General Ordinances. The Kenosha Water Utility provides water and wastewater services to more than 100000 people in the Kenosha area including the City of Kenosha the Villages of Bristol Pleasant Prairie and Somers. Kenosha is ideally located off Interstate 94 on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan between Milwaukee and Chicago. More information may be obtained at. Surface water from Lake Michigan has been our communitys source for drinking water since 1894. TheO. Fred Nelson Water Production Planthas two separate processes to provide safe drinking water: a rapid sand filtration plant and a continuous membrane filtration plant. The plant can treat over 40 million gallons of drinking water per day which is delivered through a 374 mile distribution system consisting of cast/ductile iron PVC copper and concrete pipes 5 booster stations along with 5 active elevated water towers and 3 ground storage reservoirs.

KWU also maintains thesanitary sewer systemconsisting of 332 miles of pipe and 13 lift stations which is separate from the storm sewer system. During heavy rain events the flow to the KWU wastewater treatment plant increases as much as five times the average flow. TheKWU wastewater treatmentplant treats an average of 21 million gallons of sewage a day and is regulated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. KWU uses a 2-step process: primary treatment to separate the solid and liquid portions of wastewater for further treatment and secondary treatment which uses biological and anaerobic digestion processes to remove pollutants from the liquid portion and breakdown the solids portion before discharging the final effluent into Lake the event flow exceeds plant capacity there is a 30 million gallon equalization basin for additional storage for later treatment.

Any questions regarding this recruitment should be forwarded to the KWU Director of Personnel & Administration at. The Kenosha Water Utility offers a full benefits package which includes employer pension contribution (Wisconsin Retirement System) paid vacation/sick/holiday leave health/dental/life insurance tuition reimbursement and other benefits.

REQUIRED DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Laboratory Operations & Analysis Collects and analyzes water samples; conducts chemical microbiological and physical tests (e.g. Bac-T HPC pH turbidity chlorine fluoride hardness TOC TTHM HAA5 DBPs) to ensure compliance with water quality standards. Calibrates troubleshoots and maintains laboratory instruments and equipment; prepares reagents maintains inventory and ensures laboratory facilities are clean safe and operational. Reviews and maintains Standard Operating Procedures; updating or developing new ones as needed.
• Regulatory Compliance & Reporting Monitors changes in water and wastewater regulations; maintains accurate records data entry and reports in accordance with DNR EPA DATCP and DHSS requirements. Prepares compliance documentation quality control records and statistical analyses; oversees proficiency testing and certification inspections.
• Supervision & Coordination Provides leadership and technical guidance to laboratory staff and operators; assigns and reviews work; trains personnel in testing procedures QA/QC protocols and safety standards. Coordinates laboratory operations to meet regulatory and operational needs.

• Public & Customer Interaction Responds to customer inquiries and complaints related to water quality. Conducts plant tours attends hearings and conferences and represents the Utility in professional and community settings.

• Special Programs & Additional Duties Administers the Lead and Copper Program including homeowner coordination sample collection water quality parameter (WQP) testing and reporting. Oversees Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) drop-off site operations in rotation with other chemists supervising staff and monitoring material segregation. Oversees Traveling Tap events by ensuring safe drinking water is supplied through testing at necessary locations.

OTHER REQUIRED DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Perform other related duties as assigned or required.

Note: The duties listed above are intended as illustrations of the various types of work performed by the person in this job classification. The above list is not all-inclusive. The omission of a particular job duty does not mean that the duty is not one of the essential functions of the position. Management reserves the right to assign employees in this job classification to duties not listed above if the duties are fairly within the scope of responsibilities applicable to this position. Further note that employment in this job classification does not create an employment contract between the Kenosha Water Utility (KWU) and the employee and is subject to change by KWU as the needs of KWU and the specific department change over time.

Required Education Training and Experience:

• Bachelors degree in chemistry biology or related field from an accredited institution; plus

• At least three (3) years of professional laboratory experience; or

• Any combination of education and experience that provides equivalent knowledge skills and abilities.

• Supervisory experience preferred but not required.

Additional Requirements:

• Position requires possession of a valid drivers license and a good driving record.

• Wisconsin Water Supply Operator certification with the subclasses for Surface Water (S) &Distribution (D) must be obtained prior to completion of probation unless extended bymanagement.

  
  

Required Knowledge Skills & Abilities:

• Proficient with computers and Microsoft Office Suite type software including use ofspreadsheets and word documents. Familiarity and use of HachWIMS is a bonus.

• Requires the ability to perform mid-level data analysis including the ability to audit deduceassess conclude and appraise. Requires discretion in determining and referencing such toestablished criteria to define consequences and develop alternatives.

• Requires the ability to persuade convince influence train and monitor in favor of a desired outcome.

• Requires the ability to act as a lead person.

• Requires the ability to utilize reference descriptive consulting design and advisory data andinformation such as DNR & DHSS records and reports Standard Methods DNR & EPA codes Federal Register Updates equipment manuals water analysis handbook City work rules SDS reports and non-routine correspondence.

• Requires the ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing with the Directorplant operators government agencies and officials other Utility divisions lab supply companiescustomers and the public.

• Requires the ability to perform addition subtraction multiplication and division; calculatepercentages and decimals; may require the ability to perform mathematical operations withfractions; compute discount interest rations and proportions; calculate surfaces areasvolumes weights and measures.

• Requires the ability to apply principles of influence systems such as supervision managingleading teaching directing planning coordinating and controlling. Ability to exerciseindependent judgment to apply facts and principles for developing approaches and techniquesto problem resolution.

• Requires the ability to exercise the judgment decisiveness and creativity required in situationsinvolving the direction control and planning of an entire program or multiple programs.

• Ability to handle reasonably necessary stress.

Physical Requirements:

• Requires the ability to operate calibrate tune and synchronize and perform complex rapid adjustment on equipment machinery and tools such as autoclaves ion meters and probes colorimeters turbidity meters incubators lamps and other laboratory equipment and/or related materials used in performing essential functions.

• Requires the ability to coordinate eyes hands feet and limbs in performing coordinated movements.

• Requires the ability to exert very moderate physical effort in light work typically involving some combination of stooping kneeling crouching and crawling and lifting carrying pushing and pulling objects and materials of moderate weight twelve to twenty pounds.

Environmental Requirements:

• Ability to work under potentially dangerous and uncomfortable conditions where exposure to environmental factors such as toxic agents chemicals disease electrical currents dusts odorsor machinery can cause discomfort and where there is a risk of injury.

Sensory Requirements:

• Requires the ability to recognize and identify degrees of similarities or differences between characteristics of colors shapes sounds odors and textures associated with job-related objects materials and tasks.

Individuals who wish to be considered for this recruitment must complete an online application through . To begin the application process please visit the City of Kenosha website at and click on the Job Available link. All elements of the application including supplemental questions must be completed and submitted in order for the application to be considered complete. It is important that your application reflect all of your relevant education and experience. Please note that including your resume does not take the place of completing the Work Experience section of the application. Applications may be rejected if no work experience is listed or if other required application fields are missing or incomplete.Applicants are encouraged to attach a cover letter diplomas certifications or other documentation to their online application before submission which further illustrates their qualifications and interest in this employment opportunity.

An applicants education training and experience will then be analyzed to determine if he/she meets the minimum requirements. Written oral proficiency and/or other examinations may be required to establish eligibility. Such exams will be scheduled as needed.

Appointment and rate of pay will be made in accordance with the Kenosha Water Utility Employee Handbook and the City of Kenosha Civil Service Ordinance & Rules/Regulations. The Kenosha Water Utility reserves the right to further evaluate only those applicants who best meet the needs of the Utility.