Environmental Water Testing Manager

A technical director’s responsibilities shall include, but not be limited to, development and implementation of a quality system, including:

• Monitoring standards of performance in quality control and quality assurance.
• Monitoring the validity of analysis performed and data generated to ensure reliable data.
• Ensuring that sufficient numbers of qualified personnel are employed to supervise and perform the work of the laboratory and providing educational direction to laboratory staff.
• An individual may not be the technical director of more than one accredited laboratory without authorization from ELAP. Circumstances to be considered in the department’s decision to grant such authorization may include, but not be limited to, the extent to which the operating hours of the laboratories to be directed overlap, adequacy of supervision in each laboratory, and availability of environmental laboratory services in the area served.

Required Work Experience

• A technical director approved in chemical analysis shall be a person with a bachelor’s degree in the chemical, environmental, physical or biological sciences, or engineering, with at least twenty-four (24) college semester credit hours in chemistry and at least two (2) years of appropriate experience in environmental analysis of representative inorganic and organic analytes for which the laboratory is approved or seeking approval. A master's or earned doctoral degree in one of the above disciplines may be substituted for one (1) year of experience.
• A technical director approved in chemical analysis that is limited to inorganic chemical analysis, other than metals analysis, shall be a person with at least an earned associate’s degree in the chemical, physical or environmental sciences, or two (2) years of equivalent and successful college education, with at least sixteen (16) college semester credit hours in chemistry. In addition, such a person shall have at least two (2) years of appropriate experience performing such analysis.
• A technical director approved in microbiological and/or biological testing shall be a person with at least a bachelor’s degree in the chemical, environmental, physical or biological sciences, or engineering, with at least sixteen (16) college semester credit hours in the biological sciences, including, for microbiological testing, at least one course having microbiology as a major component, and at least two (2) years of experience in environmental analysis of representative analytes for which the laboratory is approved or seeking approval. Those technical directors with post undergraduate degrees shall have at least one (1) year of experience in environmental analysis of representative analytes for which the laboratory is approved or seeking approval.
• A technical director approved in microbiological and/or biological testing limited to fecal and total coliform bacteria and standard plate count shall be a person with at least an associate’s degree in an appropriate field of the sciences or applied sciences, with at least four (4) college semester hours in general microbiology or a biological science course with a major microbiological component, and one (1) year of experience in environmental analysis of representative analytes. Two (2) years of equivalent and successful college education, including the microbiology requirement, may be substituted for the associate’s degree.
• A technical director approved in microbiological testing for anthrax shall be a person with an earned doctoral degree or master’s degree in the chemical, environmental, physical or biological sciences, or engineering, with at least sixteen (16) college semester credit hours in the biological sciences, of which at least one (1) course has microbiology as a major component, and at least one (1) year of experience in environmental analysis of representative analytes; or a person with a bachelor’s degree in the chemical, environmental, physical or biological sciences, or engineering, with at least sixteen (16) college semester credit hours in the biological sciences, of which at least one (1) course has microbiology as a major component, and at least two (2) years of experience in environmental analysis of representative analytes.
• A technical director approved in radiochemical analysis shall be a person with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, physics or engineering with twenty-four (24) college semester credit hours of chemistry and at least two (2) years of experience in radiochemical analysis of environmental samples. A master's or earned doctoral degree in one of the above disciplines may be substituted for one (1) year of experience.
• Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a full-time employee of a drinking water or sewage treatment facility who holds a valid treatment plant operator’s certificate appropriate to the nature and size of such facility shall be deemed to meet the educational and experience requirements for serving as the technical director of the approved laboratory devoted exclusively to analysis of environmental samples taken within such a facility. Such approval for a water treatment facility shall be limited to determination of total dissolved solids, pH, temperature, alkalinity, acidity, total coliform organisms and standard plate counts. Such approval for a sewage treatment facility shall be limited to determination of biochemical oxygen demand, total solids, suspended solids, pH, temperature, alkalinity, acidity, and fecal coliform organisms. However, such approval for a sewage treatment facility shall be extended to include determination of ammonia, total Kjeldahl nitrogen, nitrate or total phosphorus, provided such full-time employee has successfully completed a specialized course of study in the analysis of these substances, generally recognized by leading authorities in the field.
• Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a full-time employee of an industrial waste treatment facility with at least one (1) year of experience in environmental analysis, under supervision, shall be deemed to meet the requirements for serving as the technical director of an approved laboratory devoted exclusively to analysis of environmental samples taken within such a facility for determination of biochemical oxygen demand, total solids, suspended solids, pH, temperature, alkalinity, acidity and fecal coliform organisms.
• A technical director approved in microscopic examination of asbestos and/or airborne fibers shall meet the following requirements:
  • For procedures requiring use of a transmission electron microscope, a bachelor’s degree, successful completion of specialized courses in use of the instrument, and one (1) year of experience, under supervision, in use of the instrument. Such experience shall include identification of minerals.
  • For procedures requiring use of a polarized light microscope, an associate’s degree or two (2) years of equivalent and successful college study, successful completion of formal coursework in polarized light microscopy, and one (1) year of experience, under supervision, in use of the instrument. Such experience shall include identification of minerals.
  • For procedures requiring use of a phase contrast microscope, as in determination of airborne fibers, an associate’s degree or two (2) years of equivalent and successful college study, documentation of successful completion of formal coursework in phase contrast microscopy, and one (1) year of experience, under supervision, in use of the instrument.
• A technical director approved in determination of radon in air shall be a person with at least an associate’s degree in the physical sciences, two (2) years of equivalent and successful college education, and one (1) year of experience in radiochemical measurements, including at least six (6) months of experience in measurement of radon and/or radon progeny.
   

For radon determinations using a direct continuous monitoring device, as in on-site measurement of residential radon levels, at least a high-school diploma or high school equivalency diploma, and certification of successful completion of a training course in operation of the instrument, as six (6) months of experience, under supervision, in use of the instrument.

A person who meets the experience requirements but not the educational and/or credential requirements of Subpart 55-2, and is functioning in a technical director’s capacity on the date the laboratory becomes subject to these regulations, shall qualify as technical director of that laboratory, or any other laboratory approved by the department and performing similar analyses, provided such person can demonstrate the ability to comply with the proficiency testing and quality system requirements of this Subpart.

Skills

• Ability to inspire and guide cross-functional teams with integrity and clarity.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills for effective collaboration with staff, clients and regulators.
• Maintain high standards of integrity, scientific responsibility, and environmental stewardship.
• Ability to manage shifting priorities, regulatory changes and technological advancements.

People Leader Responsibility

This leader will directly manage a QA officer.

Work Environment

This person will be in the same clinical environment as anyone else in our clinical labs, so default to standard language used here.

Travel Required

English Required

Education

• See above qualifications that determines required education.