SR Water Systems Chemist

Salary : $102,065.60 - $136,780.80 Annually
Location : San Luis Obispo, CA
Job Type: Permanent - Hourly
Job Number: 1026PM-009613-01
Department: Public Works
Division: 40511 PW Water Quality Lab
Opening Date: 10/12/2026
Closing Date: 11/2/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

About the Position
The Senior Water Systems Chemist supervises assigned staff and oversees complex chemical and biological analyses of drinking water and wastewater. This position provides technical guidance on water and wastewater regulations, compliance, monitoring, reporting, and quality assurance/quality control.
Click to learn more about the Public Works Water Quality Division.
The Senior Water Systems Chemist also assists with special projects and serves as a technical resource to laboratory, operations, management, and regulatory personnel. As assigned, the position acts on behalf of the Water Quality Manager during their absence.
Click to view detailed job description for Senior Water Systems Chemist.
The Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate is an experienced water quality professional with a strong background in drinking water and wastewater analysis, regulatory compliance, and laboratory operations. They bring sound scientific judgment, strong leadership skills, and a commitment to maintaining the highest standards of data quality and regulatory compliance.

The successful candidate will have experience working within an ELAP-accredited and TNI-compliant laboratory environment, with a thorough understanding of laboratory quality systems, QA/QC requirements, analytical methods, data integrity, documentation, and regulatory reporting.

They will be a confident leader who can supervise, train, and mentor staff, while effectively coordinating with laboratory, field, operations, management, and regulatory personnel. The ideal candidate will be proactive in identifying compliance issues, interpreting regulatory requirements, improving processes, and developing practical solutions.

Most importantly, this individual will be committed to using their scientific expertise and leadership skills to ensure regulatory compliance, support reliable water and wastewater operations, maintain the integrity of analytical data, and protect our community's water resources.
Education and Experience
A combination of education, training, and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. A typical qualifying background includes:
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in chemistry, biology, bacteriology, chemical engineering, or a closely related field.

Senior Water Systems Chemist: Two years of experience as a Water Systems Chemist II or in an equivalent position.
How to Apply
Applications, including answers to supplemental questions, must be submitted online by the final filing date. Apply for this position at Most County recruitments require you to respond to supplemental questions as part of the application process. We recommend that you review these questions prior to beginning your application.

An initial application review will be conducted. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications and are best qualified will be invited to participate in selection activities which may include online assessments, performance exams, written exams, and interviews.

Final candidates will be required to have an in-depth background review performed before proceeding in the process. Please note that references will not be contacted until the end of the process.

If you have questions or would like to discuss the opportunity further, please contact Human Resources at Confidential inquiries are welcomed.

For further information regarding the County of San Luis Obispo, visit our website at
Reasonable Accommodation Notice
Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job or to perform your job. Examples of reasonable accommodation include making a change to the application process or work procedures, providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment. Please call [click to reveal phone number]805-781-5959 for assistance or e-mail [click to reveal email address]hr@co.slo.ca.us for more information.

Veteran's Preference Points
If you are applying for employment with the County of San Luis Obispo and you served in the United States Armed Forces, you may be eligible for veteran's preference points as part of the recruitment process. Some dependents and survivors of eligible veterans may also be eligible for preference points. for more information and to learn how to apply for this benefit. Please note that Veteran's credits must be on file with the County of San Luis Obispo Veterans Services Office prior to the recruitment closing date indicated on the job announcement.

Equal Employment Opportunity
The County is an equal opportunity employer. Objectives are directed toward assuring equal opportunity in selection / promotion, pay, and job assignments. Recruitment and selection procedures have been established to ensure non-discrimination on the basis of political or religious opinions or affiliations, age, sex, race, color, national origin, marital status, disability, sexual orientation or other non-merit factors. In addition, the County complies with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act in hiring and retaining employees. For more information contact the Human Resources Department at (805)781-5959.
Make a Difference
Employees of the County of San Luis Obispo are public servants who impact the lives of our community every day. From supporting efforts to reduce homelessness, keeping our drinking water clean, or serving the families in need in the community, County employees make a difference.
Compensation and Benefits
Your annual salary is supplemented by a generous benefit package.

In general, temporary employees are not eligible for County-sponsored benefits and may have limited benefit options available to them. For more information on benefit eligibility, please e-mail .

For additional information regarding the benefits listed that may be available to you, visit the associated .

Some benefits include:

- Medical (PPO, EPO, HDHP), Dental (HMO, PPO) and Vision Insurance
- Health enhancing programs such as Hinge Health, GIThrive and Carrum Health for medical enrollees.
- Cafeteria (County contribution to pay for insurance premiums)
- Free visits to the employee health clinic
- Mental Health resources/benefits including Headspace
- Voluntary insurance plans (life insurance, disability, critical illness and many more)
- A lifelong retirement benefit through the San Luis Obispo County Pension Trust
- Optional deferred compensation plan
- Tax savings accounts (medical and dependent care)
- Paid personal, sick and vacation days
- 12 paid holidays
- Employee Assistance Program
- Education and Wellness Allowance
- Post Employment Health Plan
- Family Friendly workplace policies
- Flexible work schedule options
-Rideshare commuter benefits
- Pet Insurance
The County of San Luis Obispo has been recognized as a Diamond Level Family Friendly Workplace by San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce. We support our employees through: childcare assistance, flexible scheduling practices, paid and unpaid leave, comprehensive health benefits, flexible spending accounts, and employee assistance programs.

Pension Benefit and Employee Contribution Rates:
The County's pension is a defined benefit plan that provides a guaranteed monthly pension payment for life based on your time in service, wages, and other factors. The County is the primary contributor to the pension fund, but the health of the pension fund also depends on mandatory employee contributions. Employees are required to pay a percentage of their base pay towards the pension fund, ranging from 5% to 19%. This amount is deducted from your paycheck pre-tax every pay period. To find out how much will be deducted from your paycheck should you be hired for this position, please contact Pension Trust at (805) 781-5465.

Healthcare Benefits and Cafeteria Contributions:
The County offers comprehensive medical coverage to you and your family, along with two dental plan options and vision coverage. All permanent employees receive a monthly employer contribution (or 'cafeteria' contribution) to help them pay for their portion of the medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums. The amount of the cafeteria contribution varies by Bargaining Unit (BU) and the extent to which employees enroll their dependents. If the cafeteria amount is greater than your selected premiums, the remainder of the cafeteria is paid out to you in your paycheck as taxable income. If the cafeteria amount is less than your monthly premiums, you pay the remainder of the premiums with pre-tax wages.

To estimate your out-of-pocket costs (or cashback from extra cafeteria),

Learning and Development
The County prioritizes your learning, personal and professional development, and career growth. Employees have access to over 1500 on-demand courses, instructor led courses, and job-specific trainings.

Employees can take courses to upskill to make themselves more competitive for promotional opportunities and further their career growth. Examples of courses include:

- Emotional Intelligence
- Supervisor/Manager academies
- Microsoft Suite courses
- Defensive Driving
- Financial management
- Retirement preparedness
- Teambuilding
- Written Communication
- Conflict Management
- Clifton StrengthsFinder and DISC
- Job specific conferences/trainings

Student Loan Forgiveness
Did you know that if you are employed by a government agency you may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program
County employees also have access to GotZoom, a program that offers tools and support to navigate your federal student loans.

Homebuyer assistance program
Employees have access to the "Assist-to-Own" program sponsored by to get a loan for the down payment.
01

Do you possess both a degree from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in chemistry, biology, bacteriology, chemical engineering, or a closely related field AND two years of experience as a Water Systems Chemist II or in an equivalent position?

• Yes
• No

02

Describe your professional experience related to water and wastewater regulations, compliance, and regulatory requirements.
03

Describe your supervisory experience in a laboratory or water/wastewater environment.
Required Question