Laboratory Analyst II-CL

Full Job Description

Job Appointment: Full-Time
Work Schedule: Monday–Friday, 8 am-5 pm. An alternate schedule may be available.
Work Location: 6543 N BURLINGTON AVE, PORTLAND, OR 97203
Benefits: For an overview of the benefits for this position, you can visit our benefits tab.
Union Representation: Portland City Laborers 483 (PCL). View the agreement at https://www.portlandoregon.gov/bhr/27840

Application Material: Please click APPLY to submit your application via the City of Portland’s online portal. You will need to attach a resume and a cover letter.

Do you want to apply your laboratory skills to protecting watersheds and clean rivers in the public sector?

Do you want to be part of the team supporting the City’s stormwater and wastewater natural and built infrastructure?

Are you detail-oriented and committed to providing customers with accurate, defensible laboratory data?

Are you a team player with problem-solving skills in a science setting?

If so, perhaps you are the ideal person for this position.

The City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) Water Pollution Control Lab is seeking a Laboratory Analyst II-CL to fill a current vacancy.

BES is a dynamic organization that provides sewage and stormwater collection and treatment services, protects surface and ground water quality, and works for clean rivers and healthy watersheds.

The bureau’s vision is to be recognized as a trusted service provider and innovative environmental leader through a demonstrated commitment to our mission and our community.

What you’ll get to do:

• Conduct a wide variety of environmental analyses on water, wastewater, and solid samples
• Collect and transport samples as needed
• Perform sample receiving duties, including interacting with internal and external customers and peers

The Water Pollution Control Lab (WPCL) is a nationally accredited laboratory located within the Environmental Information Division - a technical data hub that supports bureau mission and objectives, such as regulatory compliance, utility design and construction, wastewater and stormwater management, treatment plant process control, property acquisition, watershed assessment, remediation, and pollution source control.

The Laboratory delivers wastewater, biosolids, stormwater, surface water, groundwater, drinking water, soil, and sediment data from approximately 60,000 analyses per year, operates every day, and is the largest municipal full-service environmental laboratory in Oregon.

This list may be used to fill vacancies that occur in the Water Bureau’s Lab or in BES’s Water Pollution Control Lab.

Since these facilities operate 7 days a week, Laboratory Analysts are required to work any assigned shift, including weekends and/or holidays.

An ideal candidate will demonstrate through direct or transferable experience:

Qualified candidates will know: laboratory methodology as applicable to chemical and microbiological analysis; principles of inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, environmental sciences, biology, microbiology and/or other related scientific fields; good laboratory practices, including quality assurance and quality control; standard computer programs and software used to perform data analysis; mathematics; statistical analysis; laboratory and hazardous chemical safety techniques; operation and maintenance of laboratory instruments and equipment; principles of laboratory ethics as applied to the production of valid analytical data.

About the Bureau of Environmental Services

This is an exciting time to join the Bureau of Environmental Services (BES). Together, we are re-imagining the work we do to ensure it aligns with Our Values:

• We implement equity in our workplace, business practices, and service delivery.
• We value our customers and partners.
• We carefully manage our watersheds, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure, and financial resources.
• We encourage leadership among our employees in our City and community.
• We support a diverse, collaborative, healthy, and engaged workforce.
• We urge respectful communication and transparency.
• We advance innovative, sustainable, and resilient solutions.

At BES, we value our customers and partners; Portlanders’ sense of connection to their waterways; conscientious stewardship of our watersheds, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, and financial resources; a diverse, collaborative, healthy, and engaged workforce; leadership among our employees and in our City and community; equity in our workplace, business practices, and service delivery; clear communication and transparency; innovative, sustainable, and resilient solutions.

BES is seeking talented individuals from diverse racial, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds with knowledge, ability, and experience working with a broad range of individuals and communities, and who desire to work collaboratively and creatively to broaden the variety of innovative ways to partner with and serve all Portland communities.

To learn more about the work we do at BES, click on the link: About Environmental Services | Portland.gov

Our BES 10-Year Strategic Plan can be found here: download (portland.gov)

Questions?:
Terrol Johnson
Senior Recruiter
terrol.johnson@portlandoregon.gov

Requirements

Applicants should specifically address and demonstrate in their cover letter and résumé how their education, training, and/or experience meet each of the following minimum qualifications:

1. Knowledge of Standard Methods and US EPA chemical and microbiology protocols and principles of quality control/quality assurance for the analysis of environmental samples.
2. Skill in performing analytical techniques and operating and troubleshooting scientific instruments for analyses such as pH; total, dissolved, and suspended solids; Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD); alkalinity; E. coli; Oil and Grease; Cyanide; etc.
3. Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing.
4. Ability to grow personal equity literacy and apply equity to working relationships, workplace culture, and business practices.

Additional Requirements:

• Requires a degree in chemistry, environmental science, biology, microbiology, geology, or a related field, and two to three years of analytical laboratory experience, or equivalent.
• A valid state driver’s license and an acceptable driving record at the time of hire.

Preferred Requirements:

• Knowledge of NELAC/ORELAP standards and requirements.

Qualifications

STEP 1: Apply online between March 2, 2026, and March 23, 2026

Cover letter.Details are key!

The city uses a merit-based system, so your cover letter should be thorough and specifically address each qualification listed in the "To Qualify" section of the job announcement.

Your cover letter can exceed one page to ensure you can provide detailed information for every qualification.

Follow the instructions, as a subject matter expert will be evaluating your details to confirm that you meet the minimum requirements.

Resume

Answer to Supplemental Questions (click on the Questions tab to preview the questions)

Optional Application Materials:

• Veteran’s Preference documents (e.g., DD214-Member 4, VA Benefit Letter) must be submitted by the closing date.
• Update: As of March 3, 2025, if you have already submitted veteran documents and qualified for preference, you do not need to resubmit them for future recruitments.
• To update or remove veteran preference for this recruitment or from your profile, contact the recruiter listed in the job announcement.

Application Tips:

• Your cover letter can exceed one page but no more than three, to ensure you can provide detailed information for every qualification. A subject matter expert will evaluate your details to confirm that you meet the minimum requirements.
• Your résumé should support the details described in your cover letter.

How We Determine Pay: The City of Portland is covered by the Oregon Equal Pay Act.

Your salary is determined based on the experience listed in your resume that is directly related and equivalent to the position for which you are applying.

It is strongly encouraged to include any transferable experience (paid or unpaid, regardless of how recent) to ensure your offer is reflective of all your relevant experience.

• E-mailed and/or faxed applications will not be accepted.
• Do not attach any additional documents.
• Please note that all completed applications for this position must be submitted no later than on the closing date and time of this recruitment.
• You can use AI tools to assist with your job application, but please make sure to personalize your responses to supplemental questions. Avoid copying and pasting. We encourage the use of AI to generate ideas and then tailor them to reflect your own experiences and skills.
• All applications must be submitted via the City's online application process.

BOLI: Equal Pay for Workers: State of Oregon
Every worker must get equal pay for equal work regardless of gender, race, age, or other protected characteristics.

• An evaluation of each applicant's training and paid and unpaid experience, as demonstrated in their resume and cover letter, is weighted 100%.
• Your resume and cover letter will be the basis for our evaluation of your qualifications for this position. Incomplete or inappropriate information may result in disqualification.
• You have 14 days from the notice of the minimum qualification evaluation results to let us know if you would like to review and discuss your evaluation results. Please read the City of Portland Administrative Rule 3.01 for complete information.
• Additional evaluation may be required before the establishment of the eligible list and/or final selection.

• Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be placed on the equally ranked eligible list.

• The hiring bureau will review and select candidates to interview.
• Please note, that the selection process may take up to 90 days from the notification of being placed on the eligible list.

• A start date will be determined after all conditions of employment have been met.

Additional Information

Click here for additional information regarding the following:

• City of Portland Core Values
• Recruitment Process - Work Status
• Equal Employment Opportunity
• Veteran Preference
• ADA, Pregnancy, and Religious Accommodations

Did you know? The City of Portland has How to Apply Videos and offers How to Apply Classes once per month. If you have questions after watching the videos you are invited to contact the recruiter listed on the announcement.