Technologist (Biological)

The Role

Provides technical support in the research, development, and validation of analytical biological methods and instruments and related staff training. Performs biological analysis to ensure compliance with provincial drinking water legislation, the Environmental Enforcement and Laboratory Services (EE&LS) laboratory testing license, and quality management system. 

Duties/Responsibilities

• Assists to coordinate workflow for the Biological Section. This includes assigning and prioritizing technicians’ work, ensuring turnaround times are met, and ensuring compliance with protocols and procedures. Acts as a lead to technicians, students, and other staff assisting in the Section. Reviews work, and provides technical assistance, problem solving, and troubleshooting. Develops and demonstrates methods, describes work processes, performs quality control investigations.
• Researches, develops, and assists to validate new analytical biological methods and/or the performance of new analytical instruments.
• Analyses drinking water, ground water, wastewater, surface water and biosolids to ensure compliance with applicable legislation, by-laws, and internal requirements to maintain the laboratory’s testing license and quality management system. 
• Reviews and interprets analytical results. Notifies clients of non-conforming test data and proposes options for their consideration. 
• Enters and reviews analytical data in the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).
• Initiates non-conformance reports for the Section. Participates in investigations and implements corrective/preventive actions as a result. 
• Immediately reports adverse or abnormal drinking water results per strict protocols and legislative requirements. Requests resampling due to adverse, analytical, or client requests as needed.
• Participates in audits performed by external accreditation bodies and internal auditors. Analyzes performance evaluation samples as part of maintaining the Section's quality system accreditation.
• Maintains and provides input into technical procedures and controlled documents. Prepares detailed analytical records during the sample testing process; reviews and revises laboratory procedures to meet quality system requirements. 
• Troubleshoots, calibrates, schedules, and performs routine maintenance and minor technical servicing on analytical instruments and laboratory equipment. Ensures laboratory assets are in good working condition and are safely operated by technicians.
• Treats and disposes of lab biological wastes generated during analyses, as per internal procedures and applicable legislation.
• Maintains (and has a p-card to purchase) an inventory of equipment, chemicals, reagents, and supplies. Provides input for purchasing new equipment.
• Communicates with wastewater treatment plant staff (Ontario Clean Water Agency), municipal contacts, and public health staff to discuss or clarify analytical results or respond to technical questions related to analysis. May contact technical experts at scientific institutions (Ministries, universities, Environmental Protection Agency, private laboratories) to exchange information and discuss subcontracted analytical work. Participates in Ministry laboratory inspections as required. 
• Organizes, plans, and prioritizes own and others’ work per priorities established by management, client requests, and legislated requirements. Exercises judgment, independence, and problem solving when performing method validation and sample analysis, and determining whether analytical results are accurate. 
• Refers to management for issues involving health and safety, program changes, quality issues and staffing and equipment needs. Work is evaluated through audits, inspections, method validation data, quality documentation, and analytical results. 
• Backs up some of the duties of the supervisor in their absence or as delegated.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge and skills are acquired through a 4-year university degree in Biology, Microbiology or a related discipline, plus 3 years of directly related experience.
• Must have membership with the Canadian Society of Microbiologists, or obtain within 6 months of hire.
• Theoretical and practical knowledge of microbiological techniques and analyses, including membrane filtration, presence/absence and biochemical oxygen demand method.
• Knowledge and skill in the operation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and minor technical servicing of analytical instruments.
• Knowledge of and ability to comply with policies and procedures, the sewer use by-law, and applicable legislation (e.g., Safe Drinking Water Act, Environmental Protection Act, Clean Water Act, health and safety, public health).
• Knowledge of and ability to comply with quality control procedures, analytical parameter measurements, quality system and ISOI7025 requirements, and strict adverse reporting procedures.
• Organization, problem solving, and time management skills to support laboratory operations, meet inflexible deadlines, and fulfill program/client requirements. 
• Ability to review data, coordinate and assist with staff workload and coverage, and provide input to management on resource requirements, training needs, and workflow efficiencies to ensure compliance with the quality management system.  
• Analytical and research skills to interpret and evaluate data and develop new methods.
• Human relations and communication skills to provide training and guidance to technicians; communicate technical information, describe corrective actions, provide detailed explanations and advice to staff and clients; respond to client inquiries and concerns; and participate as an effective team member.
• Ability to interpret and apply scientific and technical information, legislation, reports, analytical procedures, health and safety manuals, safety data sheets, instrument manuals, and quality system documents. 
• Ability to create and maintain organized, accurate, detailed records, analytical methods, standard operating procedures, overtime summaries, and quality system corrective action reports using specialized technical terminology.
• Computer skills with ability to use databases, Microsoft Office, analytical software, and a laboratory information management system (LIMS).
• On a rotating basis, works weekend hours as part of a regular schedule. Ability to flex/alter working hours when urgent analysis is required.
• Ability to participate in an official standby/on-call rotation to respond to legislated or time sensitive demands beyond regularly scheduled work hours.
• Ability to support and demonstrate the Region’s values.