Starting Wage: $38.17 - $47.75 per hour

Position Open Until Filled

First Scheduled Interviews - August 4, 2026

Do you take pride in work that directly protects the health and well-being of your community? As a Water Quality Specialist with the City of Gig Harbor, you'll play a vital role in ensuring residents and businesses have access to safe, reliable drinking water every day. This rewarding position combines science, problem-solving, fieldwork, and collaboration to safeguard the city's public water system through water quality monitoring, regulatory compliance, system inspections, sampling, data analysis, and proactive maintenance programs. You'll work closely with operations staff, contractors, regulatory agencies, and the public to identify and resolve water quality concerns while helping ensure the city's water system continues to meet the highest standards for safety and reliability. If you're looking for a career where your expertise makes a meaningful difference every day, we invite you to join our team in protecting one of our community's most essential public resources.

The water quality specialist performs a variety of technical and regulatory compliance duties including inspections of new and existing water service connections for compliance with contamination and cross connection control, administers the City’s Cross Connection Backflow Program, testing and maintaining the city’s backflow assemblies, water sampling and monitoring of distribution systems for chemical and bacteriological analysis, investigation and resolving of complaints of customers concerning water quality. Administers water quality monitoring programs, wellhead protection and public outreach efforts.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The job duties and responsibilities represented in this job description do not imply that these are the only duties to be performed. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to undertake other projects consistent with the role as requested by a supervisor.

Administers the city’s Cross Connection Control and Backflow program to ensure that all water service connections comply with the Washington State Department of Health and City of Gig Harbor cross connection and backflow requirements. This work will include investigation of existing and new commercial and residential water service to determine the level of risk pertaining to backflow and ensure that the appropriate backflow assemblies are installed to protect the public water supply. Work will also include managing the city's backflow assembly tracking system, Swift Comply and making sure that all backflow assemblies are being tested and tracked on an annual basis according to the Washinton State Department of Health and City of Gig Harbor requirements. Test and maintain city’s backflow assemblies and log test results in city’s backflow data base. Receive and investigate customer complaints and trouble calls regarding water quality including complex issues, commercial and residential buildings, determine probable cause, recommends corrective action, and problem resolution;
Complex cross connection inspection and plan review, including residential, commercial and industrial: review construction documents or plans to insure compliance with all cross connection control regulations, determine backflow assembly requirements, inspect new and existing premises for adherence to all applicable cross connection regulations; maintain database, compose correspondence, and advise customers and contractors on cross connection control regulations;
Maintain accurate field records for water quality monitoring, collect water samples for water quality analysis, performs chlorine residual, iron and manganese, turbidity or other water quality measurements;
Use various computer programs, databases and spreadsheets to validate, analyze and manage data and to generate technical reports and related correspondence for water quality monitoring programs and cross connection control programs;
Coordinate with other agencies and regulatory bodies on implementation and changes in programs affecting water quality;
Operate a variety of equipment and machinery such as personal and laptop computer, radio, cell phone, digital camera, calculator and various water quality testing equipment;
Coordinate with City department, personnel and customers concerning water quality operations;
Completes water sampling.
Operates and safely uses various hand and power tools.
Operates equipment such as forklifts, cranes, portable generators, pumps, pressure washers, and related equipment.
Stores, accounts for, and safely handles hazardous chemicals per Safety Data Sheets and safety practices.
May perform duties across all disciplines of the public works operations division.
Uses a computer or tablet to effectively utilize the city’s asset management and maintenance program (OpenGOV).
Accurately completes water service requests.
Reviews plans and approves plumbing permits and business licenses pertaining to cross connection requirements.
Participates in required continuing education and training programs related to public water systems.
May assist in training of lesser-experienced staff.
Performs administrative work as assigned.
Supports water operators in the operation of the city’s eductor truck.
Maintains punctual and reliable attendance.

KEY COMPETENCIES

Knowledge of:

Material, methods, practices, and techniques commonly used in construction, maintenance, and repair activities as related to water system construction.
General principles of water system operation, repair, and maintenance.
Work hazards, safety standards and procedures, and OSHA/WISHA regulations.
Asset management program..
Computer-based systems including telemetry systems, Supervisory Control Data Acquisition (SCADA) programs, and ability to adjust them with the supervision of public works water supervisor, or their designee’s, supervision.
Backflow assembly tracking program, Swift Comply.
Confined space entry practices.
Utilization and care of materials and equipment.

Ability to:

Communicate effectively with other employees and the public, individually and in groups, verbally in-person and by phone, and in writing.
Interact with the public in an effective, customer-friendly manner and establish and maintain effective working relationships with members of the community, co-workers, and people from other organizations.
Work independently and make appropriate decisions regarding work methods and priorities, while demonstrating a strong sense of personal ethics and professional judgment and discretion.
Assist others to comply with standards and/or contract terms.
Quickly adjust priorities as new issues and/or assignments arise.
Show initiative in performing job functions.
Meet project deadlines may require working more than forty hours per week.
Wear protective clothing and equipment such as rain and snow gear, hard hat, hearing protection, respirators, boots, goggles, and gloves.

Skill in:

Operating compressors, pneumatic tools, hand tools, paint equipment, power tools, and other tools and equipment used in water utility maintenance.
Operating flatbed, light duty trucks, backhoe, street sweeper, dump truck, skid steer, bucket truck, eductor truck, and other vehicles and heavy equipment as needed.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

This job is performed in an indoor and outdoor environment. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to discomforts such as adverse and sometimes extreme weather conditions. Work may involve moderate risks, discomfort, or unpleasantness such as dust, grease, mud, and moving vehicles or machines. The noise level in the work environment is moderate to high. This job will also require spending several hours a week in an office environment working at a desk on a computer and with other office equipment.

Schedule: Typical hours of work are Monday-Friday from 7am-3:30pm with a 30-minute meal break, though the employee may be called out on evenings, early mornings, and weekends. This position will need to respond with little or no notice to city emergencies and disasters and will likely work long and/or irregular hours during these times. The employee will also be part of the scheduled on-call rotation which will require weekend and occasional holiday work. Attendance at night meetings and community events may be required. This position is considered essential and will require an on-site presence. Alternative work arrangements may be available as decided by the assistant public works director following the probationary period.

Driving and Travel: Driving would typically be up to 15 hours a workweek within the city limits. Work requires traveling to a variety of locations to perform site work or to attend meetings. Travel is required to visit other work sites in the area and to attend meetings, trainings, and/or conferences as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Any combination of education, training, and experience that indicates the individual can successfully perform the job may be considered.

High school diploma or GED.
Experience working for a public works department at a government agency preferred.
General experience with tools and equipment such as light duty or flat truck, shovel, rake, posthole digger, compactor, chainsaw etc.
General experience with tools and equipment such as eductor truck, backhoe, dump truck preferred.
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES

The following certifications and licenses are required for the position (or must be obtained within the timeframe stated) and must be maintained for the duration of employment.

Washington State Department of Health Cross Connection Specialist Certification
Washington State Department of Health Backflow Assembly Tester Certification (or ability to obtain within 12 months of hire).
State flagging card or ability to obtain within six months of hire.
First Aid/CPR card or ability to obtain within six months of hire.
A valid Washington State driver’s license (or ability to obtain one within 30 days of hire) and two years of driving experience.
Commercial Class A Washington State Driver’s License (CDL) with a Tanker endorsement,preferred.
Forklift Operators License or ability to obtain within six months of hire.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

The physical attributes described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear, and sit. The employee will use hands to finger, handle, feel, and keyboard; hand-eye coordination is necessary to operate various pieces of equipment. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

The employee is occasionally required to stand for long periods of time; walk, including over rough and uneven surfaces; engage in considerable activity including climbing ladders, balancing, bending, kneeling, stooping, squatting, crouching, crawling, and reaching; and lift moderately heavy items. An average level of physical agility and dexterity is required.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

A history of and ability to maintain safe and responsible driving that meets the city’s motor vehicle record minimum driving requirements.
Ability to pass position relevant pre-employment screening.
Ability to pass pre-employment medical exam and maintain a level of physical fitness necessary to perform the essential job functions.

The requirements outlined in this job description may be modified to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities who are otherwise qualified for employment.

This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the position change.

CITY OF GIG HARBOR

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Water Quality Specialist