MICROBIOLOGIST II

BID/JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

MICROBIOLOGIST II

DEPARTMENT OF WATER MANAGEMENT

Bureau of Water Quality

Number of Positions: 2

(Additional vacancies possible pending budget approval)

Starting Annual Salary: $72,000.00/year

These positions are open to the public and all current City employees covered under the City's collective bargaining agreement with AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY, AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES (AFSCME) - BARGAINING UNIT 1, 3, 4 & 5. Only employees in City job titles in this bargaining unit are eligible to bid.

BID INSTRUCTIONS: Apply on the bid site: https://chicago.taleo.net/careersection/103/jobsearch.ftl?lang=en AND

1. Check the box on your profile titled "Currently employed by the City of Chicago"

2. Enter your employee ID (located on your pay stub labeled 'payee/employee number')

3. Select your correct bargaining unit

FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS WILL RESULT IN A REJECTED BID APPLICATION

Applications for this position will be accepted from 11/20/25, until 11:59pm CDT on 12/4/25

Under the direct supervision of the Chief Biologist and/or the Director of Water Quality Labs, the Microbiologist II will prepare specimens for microscopic viewing, biochemical substances, and microscopic examinations. In addition, performs microbiological tests on raw and treated water, participates in specialized microbiological research on water, sterilizes and maintains laboratory equipment, instruments, and materials, and maintains records of research finds.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Prepares specimens for microscopic viewing using staining materials

• Performs microbiological tests on raw and treated water samples to identify pollution, bacteria, algae, and toxins

• Assesses water quality using samples collected from source water, water mains, purification plants, and water quality investigations

• Performs microscopic examinations of water to isolate, identify, assess, and study

  microorganisms

• Maintains records of research findings and prepares related reports

• Calculates, analyzes, and interprets tests results

• Prepares biochemical substances used in analyses

• Participates in specialized microbiological research on water conditions, as required

• Sterilizes and maintains laboratory equipment, instruments, and materials according to

  accepted standards, as required

• Demonstrates laboratory procedures at public educational exhibits, as required

Additional duties may be required for this position.

Location: Varies

Days: Varies

Hours: Varies

THIS POSITION IS IN THE CAREER SERVICE

* Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree or higher in Microbiology, Bacteriology, Biology, or a directly related field
* Employees are required to obtain Illinois Department of Public Health Laboratory Certification-Registry #17506 upon 6 months of employment

WORKING CONDITIONS
Exposure to hazardous chemicals
Exposure to microorganisms and infectious waste
Exposure to fumes or dust
EQUIPMENT
Standard office equipment (e.g., telephone, printer, photocopier, fax machine, calculator)
Computers and peripheral equipment (e.g., personal computer, computer terminals, hand-held computer)
Safety equipment
Microbiology equipment (e.g., microscopes, scientific calculators)
Biological and chemical testing equipment (e.g., electron microscopes, light microscopes, x-ray analyzers)
Laboratory equipment (e.g., sterilizers, scales, centrifuges)
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Some moving or lifting laboratory equipment and supplies

SELECTION REQUIREMENTS
This position requires applicants to complete an interview. The interviewed candidate(s) possessing the qualifications best suited to fulfill the responsibilities of the position will be selected. Bidders will be hired in seniority order according to the rules of the collective bargaining agreement.

For Information on our employees benefits please visit our benefits website at:
https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/fin/benefits-office.html

For Information on our salary and title structure visit our classifications website at:
https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/dhr/supp_info/JobClassification/2025_Classification_and_Pay_Plan.pdf

APPLICATION EVALUATION: Initial evaluation will be based on information provided on the application and the documents submitted. Department of Human Resource staff will review applications after the final posting date. Staff will follow any and all required Employment/Hiring Plan provisions, federal, state and local laws, and Collective Bargaining Agreements when applicable. Staff will apply hiring preferences as required by the municipal code. Placement on an eligibility list is not an offer or guarantee of an interview nor employment with the City of Chicago.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY: To further our commitment to hiring applicants with diverse experience the City of Chicago has adopted the following ordinances 2-74-020 and 2-74-075. The ordinances provide a preference to applicants who meet minimum qualifications and who are veterans of the Armed Forces, and/or residents of Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Areas (SEDA) and/or Chicago Public School (CPS) high school graduates to be referred to departments for consideration. These hiring preferences do not apply to bidders, as Collective Bargaining Agreements define the hiring process for bidders. For positions covered by a collective bargaining agreement, bidders will be considered before external candidates. To learn more about our hiring practices click here.

ALL REFERENCES TO POLITICAL SPONSORSHIP OR RECOMMENDATION MUST BE OMITTED FROM ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS SUBMITTED FOR CITY EMPLOYMENT.

The City of Chicago is an Equal Employment Opportunity, Military Friendly, and Fair Chance Employer.
City of Chicago
Brandon Johnson, Mayor