This is a Citywide Exam posting. Your application to this posting is an application to take a citywide exam.

If you pass the exam, you will be emailed your score and ranking on the eligible candidate list. When a department has an open position with this job classification they will use this eligible list to hire for that position. Departments will contact candidates from this list to gauge interest in their specific roles. Learn more about the City’s hiring process here: https://careers.sf.gov/knowledge/process/

About:

• Application Opening: Monday, April 27, 2026
• Application Filing Deadline: The job ad will close at 12:00 am PST on Friday, May 8, 2026. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 pm PST on May 8, 2026.
• Annual Salary: $102,752-$144,638
• Recruitment ID:  REF60430L (U00049)

San Francisco is a vibrant and dynamic city, on the forefront of economic growth & innovation, urban development, arts & entertainment, as well as social issues & change. This rich tapestry of culture and ideas is sustained by our City's commitment to heighten the quality of life for the diverse population of San Franciscans and residents of the greater Bay Area. Our employees play an important role not only in making our City what it is today, but also in shaping the future of San Francisco. 

Under general supervision, performs laboratory analytical tasks and professional duties to evaluate source and receiving waters, drinking water, and distribution/transmission system water quality, water and wastewater plant operations and to determine compliance with state regulations; conducts quantitative and qualitative chemical analyses using a variety of laboratory instruments and wet chemistry, microbiological or toxicity bioassay techniques; keeps detailed and accurate analytical records; uses a laboratory information management system to track, control and report analytical data to variety of water quality clients; conforms to laboratory safe practices; assists bureau and laboratory personnel as necessary to achieve the goals of the department.

Essential Duties

• Coordinates and performs chemical and physical analyses of water, wastewater, solids, and a variety of environmental matrices using Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and appropriate Standard Methods approved methodology to determine regulatory compliance; and performs analyses and whole effluent toxicity tests.
• Maintains detailed and accurate instrumental and analytical records; prepares updated control charts for regularly scheduled water and wastewater analyses.
• Batches, prepares, analyzes, and reports results of environmental samples using the current laboratory information management system.
• Interprets and summarizes data collected from analytical instruments and wet chemical analyses; summarizes quality assurance data in report form; prepares oral and written reports of analytical activities for management.
• Troubleshoots and diagnoses rudimentary problems with laboratory instruments and equipment and takes corrective action; performs routine maintenance on laboratory instruments and equipment.
• Coordinates and performs quantitative and qualitative organic constituent analysis using approved methods of ion and gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), and other related instrumentation.
• Coordinates and performs quantitative and qualitative trace element analysis using approved methods of inductively coupled plasma - atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) and atomic absorption spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma-spectroscopy (ICP-MS), and other related instrumentation.
• Maintains assigned working areas in a clean and organized manner.
• Performs related duties and responsibilities as assigned in Class 2486.

Minimum Qualifications: These minimum qualifications establish the education, training, experience, special skills and/or license(s) which are required for employment in the classification. Please note, additional qualifications (i.e., special conditions) may apply to a particular position and will be stated on the exam/job announcement.

• Possession of baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with a major in chemistry or closely related science.
• Possession of a current valid California driver's license

Desirable Qualifications: The stated desirable qualifications may be considered at the end of the selection process when candidates are referred for hiring:

• Experience with Gas Chromatography/Mass spectrometry(GC-MS), Inductively Coupled Plasma(ICP-AES), Inductively Couple Plasma/Mass spectrometry(ICP-MS), and other laboratory instrumentation performing analyses on environmental samples.
• Knowledge and understanding of The NELAC Institute (TNI)QC requirements for CA ELAP certified laboratories
• Knowledge and experienced using Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS)

Note: Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed to advance through all of the steps in the selection process. Candidates must achieve a passing score on all selection procedures in order to be ranked on the eligible list.

Verification of Education and Experience:

Every application is reviewed to ensure that you meet the minimum qualifications as listed in the job ad. Review SF Careers Employment Applications for considerations taken when reviewing applications.  

Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. If education verification is required, information on how to verify education requirements, including verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found at https://careers.sf.gov/knowledge/experience-education/. 

Note: Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.

Selection Procedures: After application submission, candidates deemed qualified must complete all subsequent steps to advance in this selection process, which includes the following:

Supplemental Questionnaire (SQ) (100%)
Candidates who meet minimum qualifications will be invited via a separate online link to complete the SQ Examination. The SQ is designed to measure applicant’s relative knowledge, skills and abilities in job-related areas, identified as critical for successful performance. These may include but are not limited to: 

• Quantitative and Qualitative techniques of analytical chemistry.
• Knowledge of Instrumental Analysis: fundamental knowledge of conducting chemical analysis with analytical instruments that include Gas Chromatography, High-Performance Liquid Chromatography, Inductively Couple Plasma etc.
• Ability to apply quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) guidelines.
• Ability to learn and operate laboratory equipment within safe/good laboratory practices.
• Interpersonal Skills: Ability interact with diverse workforce of technical and non-technical personnel, managers, and public constituents.

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Security Clearance: Candidates for employment with the San Francisco Airport Commission are required to undergo a criminal history record check, including FBI fingerprints, and Security Threat Assessment in order to determine eligibility for security clearance and may be required to undergo drug/alcohol screening. Per Civil Service Commission Rule Section 110.9.1, every applicant for an examination must possess and maintain the qualifications required by law and by the examination announcement for the examination. Failure to obtain and maintain security clearance may be basis for termination from employment with the Airport Commission.

Eligible List/Score Report: A confidential eligible list of applicant names that have passed the civil service examination process will be created, and used for certification purposes only. An examination score report will be established, so applicants can view the ranks, final scores and number of eligible candidates. Applicant information, including names of applicants on the eligible list, shall not be made public unless required by law. However, an eligible list shall be made available for public inspection, upon request, once the eligible list is exhausted or expired and referrals resolved. The eligible list/score report resulting from this civil service examination process is subject to change after adoption (e.g., as a result of appeals), as directed by the Human Resources Director or the Civil Service Commission.

The duration of the eligible list resulting from this examination process will be of 12 months and may be extended with the approval of the Human Resources Director.

To find Departments which use this classification, please see the city’s Position Counts by Job Codes and Departments.

Terms of Announcement and Appeal Rights: Applicants must be guided solely by the provisions of this announcement, including requirements, time periods and other particulars, except when superseded by federal, state or local laws, rules or regulations. [Note: The correction of clerical errors in an announcement may be posted on the Department of Human Resources website at https://careers.sf.gov/.]

The terms of this announcement may be appealed under Civil Service Rule 110.4.  Such appeals must be submitted in writing to the Department of Human Resources, 1 S Van Ness Avenue, 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103-5413 by close of business on the 5th business day following the issuance date of this examination announcement. Information concerning other Civil Service Commission Rules involving announcements, applications and examination policies, including applicant appeal rights, can be found on the Civil Service Commission website at https://sf.gov/departments/civil-service-commission.

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco:

• Information About the Hiring Process
• Conviction History
• Employee Benefits Overview  
• Equal Employment Opportunity
• Disaster Service Worker
• ADA Accommodation
• Veterans Preference
• Right to Work
• Copies of Application Documents
• Diversity Statement

Where to Apply 

All job applications for the City and County of San Francisco must be submitted through our online portal. Please visit https://careers.sf.gov/ to begin your application process.  

Computers are available for the public (9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday) to file online applications in the lobby of the Dept. of Human Resources at 1 South Van Ness Avenue, 4th Floor and at the City Career Center at City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 110. 

Ensure your application information is accurate, as changes may not be possible after submission. Your first and last name must match your legal ID for verification, and preferred names can be included in parentheses. Use your personal email address, not a shared or work email, to avoid unfixable issues. 

Applicants will receive a confirmation email from [email protected] that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records. Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received. 

If you have any questions, you may contact Jessica Wong at [email protected]. Recruitment ID: CBT-2486-U00049

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.