Water Quality Specialist (20670416)

The City of Menlo Park is seeking a Water Quality Specialist for the Public Works department. Under general direction, the Water Quality Specialist is responsible for performing the full range of duties required to ensure that the quality of water supplied by the City provides the highest level of safety for public use and complies with all Federal, State, and local regulations through performance of water microbiological, chemical, and physical testing and analysis and a cross-connection control. Incumbents are expected to work independently and exercise judgment and initiative. Positions at this level receive only occasional instruction or assistance as new or unusual situations arise and are fully aware of the operating procedures and policies of the work unit. This class is distinguished from the Chief Water Operator in that the latter is the full supervisory-level class in the division, acts as the Chief Operator, and is responsible for organizing, assigning, supervising, and reviewing the work of assigned staff involved in water quality and maintenance operations and activities.

A job description, including examples of typical job functions and qualifying knowledge, skills, and abilities, is available by clicking on the Job Description link.

Job PDF:

https://www.calopps.org/sites/default/files/Water%20Quality%20Specialist.pdf

Ideal Candidate

We are seeking a Water Quality Specialist committed to public service in the Menlo Park community. The successful candidate must exhibit rigorous attention to detail, strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, professional adaptability, and a pronounced desire for continuous learning with the expected duties listed below:

• Performs and interprets chemical, biochemical, biological, bacteriological, and physical analyses of samples related to the quality control and distribution of potable water following standard procedures and guidelines.
• Maintains quality control and quality assurance and follows safe work procedures.
• Handles customer complaints and inquiries regarding water quality issues, which may require home/business visits to ascertain problems; records and documents customer complaints, the course of action taken in responding to them, and how they were resolved.
• Installs, inspects, tests, calibrates, and repairs backflow prevention devices and water meters to ensure compliance with all laws and ordinances.
• Manages City fire flow; responds or coordinates response for customer fire flow requests; enters and tracks fire flow data; manages fire flow program in conjunction with fire hydrant maintenance program; maintains, repairs, and replaces City fire hydrants as needed.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education and Experience

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

• Equivalent to a two-year degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in chemistry, biology, natural sciences, or a related field.
• Four (4) years of increasingly responsible experience performing water quality testing in a laboratory environment, underground construction management, and/or water treatment.

Licenses and Certifications

• Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid California Driver's License by time of appointment.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid Backflow Device Tester Certificate issued by the American Water Works Association (AWWA) within six (6) months of appointment.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid Grade III Water Distribution Operator Certificate issued by the Certificate issued by the California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) within one (1) year of appointment.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid Grade II Water Treatment Operator Certificate issued by the SWCRB may be required if treating water.

Benefits

The City offers an excellent benefit package consisting of:

• Health Insurance: City contribution up to $2,893 per month towards a Cafeteria Plan which can be used to purchase medical insurance and participate in a flexible spending account for health care and/or child care reimbursement
• Dental: City-paid coverage for employee and dependents
• Vision: City-paid coverage for employee and dependents
• Vacation: 88 - 176 hours of vacation leave accrual each year, depending on length of service
• Sick Leave: 96 hours of sick leave accrued each year
• Holidays: 11 official holidays; 34 hours of floating holiday time per year; 8 “Day of Reflection” hours per year in recognition of holidays of individual and community importance
• Retirement: CalPERS: For classic members 2.0% @ 60 formula. For all others, 2.0% @ 62 formula
• Deferred Compensation: Voluntary participation in City Plans.
• Life Insurance: City-paid policy equal to 1.5 times regular annual wage
• Long Term Disability: City-paid coverage
• Educational leave and tuition reimbursement
• A City-paid Caltrain GoPass. The Menlo Park campus is centrally located within walking distance from Caltrain and downtown Menlo Park.
• A City-paid BayPass. This pilot program offers employees unlimited travel for both work and personal trips on 25 Bay Area transit agencies that use the Clipper card.
• A transportation allowance program provides employees with $1.50 per day when they walk, bicycle or carpool to work at least once per week.
• Employees are provided with access to an on-site gym at no cost

For additional benefit information, visit
www.menlopark.gov
and review the City of Menlo Park and SEIU Memorandum of Understanding.

Special Instructions

MPORTANT: Please be sure to fill out the application completely, including all relevant work experience. Applications with “See Resume” as a substitution for the work experience description and/or unclear past employment information will not be considered.

Applications will be screened according to the qualifications outlined in this announcement. Not all applications which may meet the minimum requirements will proceed to the next phase of the recruitment process. If 25 or fewer applications are received, the eligibility list will be established based on application review. If more than 26 applications are received, the most qualified candidates will be invited to participate in an Oral Board Panel examination. All applicants will be notified by email as to whether or not they are invited to participate further in the selection process.

Tentative Oral/Department Panel Examinations are scheduled for the week of November 3, 2025.

An Eligible List will be established as a result of this examination process and will be valid for a period of six (6) months. The list may be extended up to a maximum of two (2) years. The hiring department will review the Eligible List to determine which candidates will be invited to the department selection process.

The City of Menlo Park is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the City of Menlo Park not to discriminate against all qualified applicants or employees. We will make reasonable efforts in the selection process to accommodate persons with disabilities. Please contact Human Resources at
jobs@menlopark.gov
prior to the closing date for accommodation requests.

Before receiving an offer of employment, the candidate will be required to successfully complete a criminal conviction history questionnaire, DOJ fingerprinting, and an Occuscreen background check.

Applicants must be successful in all phases of the selection process to be considered for this position.

In accordance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act, all potential employees are required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship or authorization to work in the United States. The City will not sponsor applicants for work visas.

Closing Date/Time: 10/28/2025 at 8am

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• City of Menlo Park

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