Job Specification
Position Title:
Aquatic Toxicology Technologist
Job Code:
16053 - Technologist 2, Chemical Lab
Purpose of Position :
To provide general laboratory testing culturing and related activities in the Aquatic Toxicity Unit. To provide data management, interpretation and reporting as well as quality management support to the unit.
Duties / Responsibilities: :
Under general supervision of the section manager and technical supervision of the group leader, carries out well defined and documented procedures for the Aquatic Toxicology Unit in the Physical Chemistry and Litigation Services Section. Duties Include:
1. General Laboratory Testing, Culturing and Related Activities:
-carrying out routine and complex aquatic toxicity tests on effluent and sediment samples using invertebrates and fish according to standardized testing and quality management procedures;
detecting, diagnosing and intervening when test system, organism response or other factors do not meet acceptability criteria and referring non-conformances to group leader or manager;
-carrying out culturing activities to maintain organisms for testing according to standard procedures;
evaluating culture organism supply versus demand and making recommendations for the adjustments to activities to meet testing needs;
-receiving, cataloguing, preparing and storing effluent samples submitted for toxicity testing according to documented procedures that maintain sample integrity and chain of custody;
-performing wet chemistry analyses for monitoring laboratory culture and dilution water as well as toxicity test solutions by operating, maintaining and calibrating to standards, a variety of specialized laboratory equipment such as pH meters, ammonia meters, and chlorine titrators;
-calculating concentrations and preparing stock solutions;
-preparing and submitting samples for chemical analysis;
-monitoring environmental systems and equipment for proper operation and maintaining documented records of use and condition;
-carrying out minor construction and repair of lab equipment;
-assisting in the development of new or improved test methods;
-maintaining adequate stocks of laboratory supplies and ensuring that chemicals, equipment and instruments in the work area are kept clean and organized;
-ordering new equipment and supplies; maintaining expenditure summaries as assigned; sending out sampling supplies to customers as requested;
-assisting with the training and technical coordination of contract and student technologists;
-ensuring safety of self and others by strictly adhering to applicable safety policies and practices, including regularly updating WHMIS training and referring all health and safety matters to the section manager;
-cooperating with fellow staff In shared activities (e.g., laboratory housekeeping to maintain a safe and tidy workspace).
2. Data Management, interpretation and Reporting
-reviewing results of aquatic toxicity tests and performing data analysis;
-summarizing test findings and providing conclusion and recommendations to group leader;
-approving data at APPS level in LIMS
-tabulating and summarizing data from testing, culturing or other activities through the use of computer spreadsheet, presentation and word processing programs;
-designing and preparing forms and spreadsheets for recording data;
-assisting with update and maintenance of the laboratory test result database;
-preparing, updating and/or reviewing standard operating procedures;
-supporting data management by cataloguing and filing toxicity test reports and supporting documentation;
-providing verbal or written technical and scientific information to Ministry staff and/or customers including test results and interpretations.
3. Quality Management
-carrying out quality control checks of bench sheets before submission for data analysis;
-updating or checking spreadsheets used for tabulation of water quality and reference toxicant test data;
-adhering to the policies and procedures for maintaining the quality system as documented in the quality manual;
-assisting with performance of routine quality control checks by use of checklists;
-participating in reference toxicant testing rotations for proficiency testing.
4. Other duties as assigned such as:
-providing guidance or assistance with the collection of samples;
-carrying out routine tasks of other staff when absent as assigned.
Staffing and Licensing: :
Valid Ontario driver's license
Knowledge: :
Job requires the knowledge of the theories (Including the applicable principles of biology and chemistry), technologies and practices of aquatic toxicity testing to perform the tests used in the laboratory, and, under scientific guidance, assist in the development, adoption or adoption of new methods for use.
Job requires knowledge of systems for the treatment and delivery of water as well as systems for maintaining appropriate environmental conditions for testing and culturing to maintain healthy test species.
Job requires the knowledge of the techniques and practices of humane test culture maintenance to ensure healthy test specimens.
Job requires knowledge of databases, mathematical and statistical tools, word processing, data management and assessment to evaluate and summarize test results.
Job requires the knowledge of the operation and maintenance of basic analytical instrumentation to measure chlorine (amperometric titration) and ammonia content (specific ion meter) as well as pH (pH meter) and conductivity (conductivity meter) of water samples to ensure quality results.
Job requires knowledge of established quality control and assurance procedures to interpret data against predefined criteria.
Job requires knowledge of Ontario and Canadian water discharge regulations and associated toxicity testing requirements to perform tests correctly.
Job requires knowledge of the techniques for the collection and preparation of water and sediment samples for biological testing to provide advice to clients or to take samples.
Skills: :
Job requires planning and time management skills to accommodate multiple assigned tasks and delivery of information to tight and sometimes competing deadlines.
Job requires technical skills to perform laboratory tasks safely and in accordance with good laboratory practices.
Job requires analytical and investigative skills to summarize test findings and provide conclusions and recommendations, (e.g. recommending follow-up actions to management on standard method requirements or best professional judgment, Job requires problem solving skills to detect and react to a problem.
Job requires verbal communication skills to present and describe test results to other colleagues and clients.
Job requires written communication skills to document test conditions and results, contribute to the review and editing of methodologies according to standard policies and procedures, as well as contribute to reports, publications and presentations.
Freedom of Action: :
Job requires operating within a team setting, sharing responsibility for overall delivery of services with other technologists and scientists under the general leadership of the group leader or section manager. Routine communication with peers and group leader or manager is required to report status and solicit Information or guidance. Work is completed independently and judged on merits of timeliness, completeness, technological ruggedness and overall quality compared to predefined criteria, core business goals and annual work plan delivery. The work performed is accepted as accurate and requires referring problems (e.g. test non-conformance, laboratory health and safety questions, equipment purchases) to group leader and manager.
The position provides input into unit planning, budget and workload management,