Assistant Division Manager, Environmental Services - City of Tacoma
Tacoma, WA
About the Job
The Science and Engineering Division is comprised of the following five core sections, in addition to administrative and technical services support groups: Environmental Services Laboratory, Environmental Programs, Asset Management, Capital Delivery, and Special Programs Group.
The ES Lab’s mission is to provide high-quality analytical lab services for the City’s and regional partners responding to environmental regulations, supporting research and developing solutions to environmental problems facing the greater Tacoma area and Puget Sound. This position provides management and technical oversight for the Environmental Services Laboratory at CUW. This position has final responsibility for lab quality assurance, work product timeliness, lab safety, laboratory equipment and supplies, staff development and training, operational budget, and spending approvals within the laboratory.
This position is directly responsible or influential in meeting a number of key environmental regulations by performing analyses of environmental samples for the Clean Water Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act, Model Toxics Control Act, and hazardous waste designation rules. Laboratory results are used to inform environmental decisions within the regulations that may lead to cleanup of environmental sites, capital improvements, mitigation activities, and waste disposal decisions.
Responsible for managing the CUW laboratory operational and capital budget (4.8 million biennial budget) within allotments. Proper resourcing ensures the lab is able to perform required work necessary to demonstrate compliance, enlighten pollutant source tracing, inform operational effectiveness and compliance for two WWTPs, and inform long term trend monitoring of clean-up sites and strategies to reduce and address pollutant loading in stormwater and wastewater.
Point Defiance Stormwater Treatment Facility Project
Stormwater Sampling Overview
The applicant selected for this position will co-locate with a group of dynamic and creative engineers, scientists, and technicians all housed at Tacoma's Center for Urban Waters facility situated adjacent to Tacoma's Thea Foss Waterway in downtown Tacoma. For more information on the unique Center for Urban Waters professional environment visit the following web site: https://www.urbanwaters.org/
As the Assistant Division Manager for the Laboratory Group, you will:
- Provide leadership, plan, and manage the work of the Laboratory Group with approximately 17 direct reports.
- Oversee all laboratory operations; ensuring timely and accurate analytical results that support City enforcement and monitoring requirements.
- Maintain all required and appropriate laboratory certifications and accreditations.
- Direct all laboratory quality assurance activities including Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) development, ensure the Laboratory Quality Assurance Manual is up to date and maintained to include current practices.
- Direct and coordinate laboratory data management activities, Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), data management planning and strategic software and hardware planning and acquisition.
- Responsible for laboratory safety, health, and environmental control issues, including compliance with State and Federal laws relating to the Chemical Hygiene Plan, Occupation Health and Safety (OSHA/WISHA) regulations, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) hazardous waste and Ecology Dangerous waste disposal regulations.
- Manage the laboratory budget and monitor expenditures to result in a non-negative balance at the end of each biennium. Work with budget staff to set appropriate allotments.
- Approve laboratory staff schedules, leave use, training/travel requests, and purchasing requests.
- Analytical support of the NPDES Phase 1 Municipal Stormwater Permit and federal Consent Decree for the long-term monitoring of the Thea Foss Waterway Superfund Site.
- Develop staff to implement and to support the Division and Department programs and initiatives, especially focused on meeting Tacoma 2025 goals.
- Coordinate with other City work groups, divisions and departments.
- Make presentations to City Council, Committees, Governmental Partners and the Public.
- Participate in the development of the vision / strategic approach to support the Environmental Services Strategic Plan 2018-2025.
- Participate in the Division biennial budget process.
Our Ideal Candidate will be a person who exemplifies the following traits:
- Strong personal motivation and drive – an energetic and committed self-starter.
- Excellent interpersonal communication skills.
- A dynamic leader who motivates others, with exceptional team building and performance leadership skills.
- A strategic thinker who knows how to paint a picture of the Department's vision and strategy and creates and sustains a climate where people are motivated to do their best to help the organization achieve its objectives.
- High-performing customer service and conflict management skill sets
- Interest in personal growth and development.
- Experience with enhancing diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace.
Other Responsibilities:
- Oversee the preparation of laboratory reports related to local, state, and federal regulatory compliance.
- Keep current with the latest technologies and management techniques, federal, state, and local rules, and regulations and laws related to wastewater and stormwater monitoring and analysis; Confer with other Environmental Services Assistant Division Managers to coordinate work efforts whenever necessary or desirable.
- Attend management and technical training seminars and workshops.
Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:
Office and laboratory environment, occasional travel to a variety of locations to conduct work and may be exposed to typical hazards encountered at such work sites. Subject to emergency calls during off-duty hours.
WHY WORK FOR THE CITY?
The City of Tacoma offers a generous program of employee benefits:
- Outstanding working conditions and an exceptional quality-of-life environment.
- Medical coverage for eligible employees, spouses and dependents, including children up to age 26.
- Vision care with VSP for employees and eligible dependents enrolled in the Regence PPO medical plan with vision benefits.
- Dental coverage for eligible employees and their elected dependents, including dependent children up to the age of 26.
- Deferred compensation allowing tax-deferred savings as authorized under Section 457 of the IRS Code.
- Personal time off.
- Paid holidays.
- A great pension plan.
The Community
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city that sits along the Puget Sound with a population of nearly 210,000. The third largest city in the state of Washington, it is a diverse, progressive international gateway to the Pacific Rim.
Propelled by significant development such as the University of Washington Tacoma, the Tacoma Link light rail system, the restored urban waterfront of the Thea Foss Waterway, the expansions of both the MultiCare and Franciscan health systems, and a significant influx of foreign direct investment in its downtown core, Tacoma has evolved considerably since the 1990s.
Tacoma boasts the state's highest density of art and history museums and is home to a flourishing creative community of writers, artists, musicians, photographers, filmmakers, chefs, entrepreneurs, and small business owners who each add their unique flair to the city's vibrant commercial landscape. The iconic Tacoma Dome has endured as a high-demand venue for some of the largest names in the entertainment industry.
Tacoma's natural beauty and proximity to the Puget Sound and Mount Rainier draws hikers, runners, bicyclists, and maritime enthusiasts to the area. Its lively social scene is infused with energy by thousands of students attending the University of Washington Tacoma, the University of Puget Sound, the Evergreen State College Tacoma campus, and Tacoma Community College, as well as a number of local trade and technical colleges. Its prime location – just 20 minutes south of the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, 30 miles north of the state capital in Olympia, and within 10 miles of the U.S. Department of Defense's premier military installation on the West Coast – only adds to Tacoma's desirability. To see a few of the great things Tacoma has to offer, view this YouTubeVideo!
City of Tacoma Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
Tacoma's diversity is its greatest asset. Tacoma embraces its multi-cultural and multi-ethnic character. Communities of color and immigrant communities are fundamental to Tacoma's entrepreneurial spirit, workforce, and long-term success. In Tacoma, equity and empowerment are top priorities, meaning that all Tacoma residents must have equitable opportunities to reach their full potential and share in the benefits of community progress. One of our goals is for the City of Tacoma workforce to reflect the community it serves. We actively work to eliminate racial and other disparities and welcome candidates with diverse backgrounds and/or multicultural skill sets and experiences. Our goal is for Tacoma to be an inclusive and equitable place to live, work, and play.