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Job Description
As an Assistant Microbiologist, you will provide essential laboratory support for microbial analyses related to various critically important source water protection activities.
You will learn and assist with processing water samples to detect invasive quagga and golden mussels. You will also be accountable for completing quality assurance and quality control tasks to ensure the accuracy and integrity of monitoring results and regulatory reporting for Metropolitan’s Quagga Mussel Control Program. You will support pathogen detection for the Pure Water Southern California water recycling program by learning and assisting with detection methods for pathogens like Cryptosporidium, Giardia, and culturable enteric viruses to evaluate plant performance. Additional opportunities could include learning and assisting with cyanotoxin analysis or other molecular pathogen detection methods. Routine duties include, but are not limited to, preparing solutions and media; cleaning and decontaminating glassware and equipment; cleaning laboratory surfaces; ensuring supplies and equipment are maintained; performing routine quality assurance and quality control tasks; assisting with sample collection; and completing required documentation.
You will learn to resolve problems of limited scope and complexity; work on routine assignments requiring limited judgment and decision-making. Specific and detailed guidelines covering all aspects of assignments are provided. Work follows guidelines, procedures, and safety policies, including using appropriate personal protective equipment, biological safety cabinets, and fume hoods; any deviations must be authorized.
Schedule: 44/36, Monday through Friday /Every other Friday off. Monday through Thursday, 9 hours per day, 8 hours per day every other Friday. Start times are no earlier than 6 a.m., and end times are no later than 6 p.m.
This job announcement has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work being performed by employees in this classification / job.
To view the full job description click here: Assistant Microbiologist
EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in a related field.
Required Knowledge of: General microbiology and biology; basic culture techniques; aseptic techniques; basic statistics; laboratory techniques; basic laboratory safety protocols; and current office technology and equipment.
CERTIFICATIONS, LICENSES, AND REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
License(s): Valid California Class C Driver’s License or equivalent (required at time of application) that allows you to drive during your employment.
CLOSING
Benefits:
• Competitive compensation
• Excellent medical, dental, life, vision plans.
• Deferred compensation in the form of a 401(k) plan (with matching contribution) and a 457 plan.
• Retirement benefits under the California Public Employees' Retirement System
• Tuition reimbursement
• Training and advancement opportunities
• Excellent working environment
• Public transportation reimbursements
For more information on MWD benefits, please use the following link: Benefits Regular FT PT Employees (Represented)
ABOUT MWD
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is a state-established cooperative that, along with its 26 cities and retail suppliers, provides water for 19 million people in six counties. The district imports water from the Colorado River and Northern California to supplement local supplies, and helps its members to develop increased water conservation, recycling, storage and other resource-management programs.
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Qualified individuals with disabilities, who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process, please call (213) 217-7738 or email: jobs@mwdh2o.com.
Metropolitan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected characteristic(s).
Application Filing Period: Closes at 4:30 pm PT on the date stated in the job announcement. However it may close prior to the filing end date if sufficient applications have been received. If sufficient applications have not been received, then the filing period end date may be extended.
Qualifying Experience: Your resume must at a minimum include the month and year you began and ended employment, name of the organization, your title, and a brief description of your experience. If your employment was part-time, make sure you identify it on your resume next to the month/year.
Sponsorship: Applicants for employment with The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California must have work authorization that does not now or in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the United States (i.e., H1-B or other employment-based immigration case).
Closing Date/Time: June 21, 2025 @ 4:30 p.m. PST -
ABOUT THE COMPANY
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Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
Show moreThe Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is a consortium of 26 cities and water districts that provides drinking water to nearly 18 million people in parts of Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties.
The mission of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is to provide its service area with adequate and reliable supplies of high-quality water to meet present and future needs in an environmentally and economically responsible way.
Metropolitan currently delivers an average of 1.7 billion gallons of water per day to a 5,200-square-mile service area.
Join our Team
Metropolitan values both fresh voices and the different perspectives that experience brings. We seek out the best, those who bring unique and varied qualities to an organization whose employees reflect the diverse communities we serve across Southern California. And we want colleagues who embrace innovation, equity and a shared greater purpose to the region. We are a public agency and the people who work with us are devoted to public service.
We were built to last and to lead. We are an agency deep in history and experience. We are part of the very fabric of Southern California, having been formed in 1928 by the state Legislature to design, build and operate the Colorado River Aqueduct to bring water to a growing population. Today, our role is much greater than the infrastructure we built and maintain. We are here to ensure reliable and safe water supplies for 19 million people across five Southland counties, operating in an environmentally and economically sound manner.
If you’re already in the workforce and considering Metropolitan as a work option, begin your journey here to learn more. For those still in school or just entering the workforce, scroll down to the section Creating the Next Generation of Workers for the Water Industry to learn about our internship and apprenticeship programs as well as other educational resources to help prepare you for a career in the water industry.
What We Offer
When you come to work at Metropolitan, you don’t come just for a job; you come for a career. We want to support your career pathway along with your well-being. One way to do that is to offer very competitive salaries and excellent benefits. We also provide top-notch health and insurance options, as well as retirement benefits.
Our benefits package is above industry standards. Metropolitan contracts with CalPERS, the California Public Employee Retirement System, to provide a wide choice of medical coverages to both active employees and qualified retirees.
As a regular full-time; regular part-time union represented employee will be eligible for excellent benefits.
Also available to Metropolitan employees through CalPERS are pension and survivor benefits as well as deferred compensation benefits that include our 401(k) and 457(b) savings plans. Metropolitan matches 401(k) contributions to increase the amount of your annual savings toward retirement.
Dental coverage, through Delta Dental, is offered at no cost to regular full-time; regular part-time employees pay a pro-rated fee. Qualified dependents can be added to the dental plan at no extra cost. Metropolitan contracts with Vision Service Provider, or VSP, for vision coverage and covers the cost for regular full-time employees. Costs are prorated for regular part-time employees. Qualified dependents can be added for a flat monthly fee.
We have insurance programs covering life, long-term disability and accidental death and dismemberment. There are also some voluntary benefits to choose from. These include Flexible Spending Accounts for health and dependent care, long-term care and cancer coverage. You and your family members will also have access to our Employee Assistance Plan for confidential professional counseling and referral services at no cost. A Wellness Program offers certain reimbursements to employees based on work location and bargaining unit.
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