Job Description

EMERGENCY APPOINTMENT NOTICE

Water Microbiologist I

Environmental Monitoring Division (EMD), Two (2) Positions

DATE: 09/22/26

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 10/02/26, 3:00PM

POSITIONS AVAILABLE:

Two Water Microbiologist I's in the Biology Section, Microbiology Unit of Environmental Monitoring Division (EMD).

LOCATION: EMD

Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant

12000 Vista del Mar

Playa del Rey, CA 90293

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in Microbiology or Bacteriology; or
• Graduation from an accredited four-year university or college with 24 semester or 36 quarter units in any combination of Microbiology, Bacteriology, Parasitology, Virology, Microbial Ecology, Microbial Physiology, Molecular Biology, Mycology, Biochemistry, Public Health, or Statistics.
• Candidate must have a valid California Driver License and must be able to drive on freeways.

NOTICE REGARDING EMERGENCY APPOINTMENT:

When a civil service eligible list does not exist for a class, a Department can fill the vacancy by "Emergency Appointment." A candidate selected for emergency appointment will not gain civil service status rights to the class or position. An emergency appointment is not a regular appointment. It is a temporary appointment, which does not require that you successfully compete in the Civil Service examination process. Emergency appointments are subject to the approval of the Personnel Department. The length of an emergency appointment is a maximum of one year, or until the establishment of an eligible list, whichever comes first, and shall be terminated immediately when a regular appointment can be made (City Charter Section 1013). Once the civil service announcement is made, all employees interested in the position, including the individual selected for the emergency appointment, must compete for the position. An emergency appointment does not guarantee selection to fill a permanent/regular position.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The position will be in Microbiology. Job responsibilities include:

• Investigates, develops and performs microbiological analyses using both standard and experimental methods to detect microorganisms in wastewater, stormwater, receiving water, sewage spills, recycled water, compost, biosolids, and other environmental matrices;
• Reviews data and sample processing of Santa Monica Bay Beaches, Ballona Creek, and Marina del Rey Harbor Bacteria TMDLs monitoring programs, MS4 permit, and NPDES permits;
• Reviews data and sample processing of the biosolids and compost management programs of multiple City facilities;
• Assists Senior Microbiologist and Water Microbiologist II in assigning, scheduling, and organizing tasks pertaining to unit operations;
• Ensures timely dissemination of critical TMDL-related data to clients on a regular basis;
• Checks raw data, gets data release approval from the Senior Microbiologist or Water Microbiologist II, and prepares reports for the program;
• Promptly informs the Senior Microbiologist and Water Microbiologist II of any problems;
• Adheres to all QA/QC protocols or guidance necessary or required for Unit operations;
• Performs higher-level QA/QC monthly, quarterly, semiannual and annual ELAP required tests as needed;
• Keeps abreast of microbiological protocols and follows QA/QC procedures and suggests possible improvements to lab function;
• Stays current with scientific literature and confers with other professionals in the microbiology field;
• Participates in professional meetings (including presentation delivery), seminars, and workshops;
• Maintains and purchases equipment and supplies necessary for Unit operations;
• May train other microbiologists and laboratory technicians; and
• Performs other related duties as required.

How to apply

METHOD OF EVALUATING CANDIDATES:

Depending on the number of candidates who apply, all applications will be reviewed in order to identify candidates whose past and present work experience are most closely related to the position's duties and requirements. Final selection will be based on an oral interview where candidates will be interviewed for their skills, knowledge, abilities, and personal qualifications. In addition, the interviewers may contact present and former supervisors and may review candidates' personnel folders as part of the selection process.

HOW TO APPLY

Candidates interested in applying for this position must email a City of Los Angeles application. You can download an application online at: . The application must be scanned and emailed by the application deadline date and time to:

EMAIL: [click to reveal email address] san.jobapplications@lacity.org

The subject line should read:

EA Water Microbiologist I, ATTN: India

All application materials must be received by 3:00 pm on 10/2/2026

Emergency Appointment

An emergency appointment is not a regular appointment. It is a temporary appointment which does not require that you successfully compete in the Civil Service examination process. The appointment may not exceed one year and must be terminated immediately when a regular appointment can be made from an eligible list. No emergency appointment can exceed one year. (City Charter Section 1013).

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