About the Department

Why it’s a Great Opportunity:

We are seeking an experienced Environmental Sampling professional to lead and develop our comprehensive sampling program. In this role, you will have the opportunity to support Metro’s environmental compliance and annual charge programs, as well as wastewater treatment operations. This position combines leadership, subject matter expertise, and real environmental impact within a complex technical environment.

You will be overseeing sampling both at our wastewater treatment plants and across our Denver Metro service area. Specifically, you will work to ensure that all sampling activities meet strict regulatory and scientific standards, while managing the sampling schedule and ensuring all sampling events get completed successfully within the required timeframes. You will be supervising Environmental Sampling Technicians and Specialists, assigning daily tasks, monitoring and adjusting staffing coverage as priorities evolve, ensuring staff are properly trained, and managing sampling assets and inventory. This role allows you to manage and expand the program, develop SOPs and supporting workflows, and help drive continuous improvement in a new and growing division.

Additionally, the position provides the opportunity to work across Metro’s various departments. You will be supporting internal stakeholders, participating in regulatory and technical groups, and contributing expertise that informs planning decisions.

Overall, it’s an opportunity to lead high-impact quality sampling work that ensures reliable environmental data, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence for Metro, while supporting our mission to protect the region’s health and environment.

Why It's a Great Department:

The Environmental Sampling Manager is situated within the Quality Assurance and Sampling Division of the Environmental Services Department. Our department has a terrific culture that is built on continuous improvement, accountability, collaboration and fun. We believe in fostering a work environment that encourages teamwork, problem solving, creativity, and personal growth. Our team members have the opportunity to work on meaningful assignments and contribute to making a difference across Metro. The Environmental Services Department also includes the Pretreatment, Laboratory Services, Regulatory Compliance, and Water Quality Divisions, making it a dynamic and diverse work environment.

How to be Successful in the Role:

You will thrive in this role if you:

Have a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of environmental sampling
Can take a detailed-oriented approach to daily tasks, with an emphasis on thorough documentation and effective communication
Can interpret scientific methods and regulatory guidance to make sound technical decisions
Engage confidently in discussions with agencies, stakeholders, and work groups
Are comfortable making independent decisions that align with broader goals
Work effectively across teams to meet the needs of various stakeholders
Are comfortable working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment while proactively managing deadlines and competing priorities
Can provide clear direction and effective delegation to staff
Enjoy mentoring and sharing your knowledge and experience
Are safety-oriented

We value excellence, integrity, inclusion and collaboration, and we're looking for someone who shares these values.

Manages the Environmental Sampling Team (EST) staff and activities in support of Metro’s environmental compliance and Annual Charge programs. Supervises Environmental Sampling Technicians and Specialists. Reports to the Senior Data Quality and Sampling Manager (SDQSM).

Position Duties

Manages EST field and associated technical work to ensure sampling operations and related activities meet established standards for efficiency, effective resource utilization, safety, and field-related data quality; conducts routine team meetings to communicate updates, reinforce expectations, and address operational issues.
Develops, manages, reviews, and adjusts EST sampling schedules and staff work schedules to ensure alignment with programmatic needs, staffing availability, organizational priorities, and data quality requirements.
Coordinates daily staff assignments and workload distribution, monitoring staffing coverage, on-call and overtime usage to confirm effective use of personnel, equipment and materials, while adjusting for changing priorities, field conditions, external lab availability, and resource constraints. Communicates regularly with Specialist IIIs regarding workload balance, coverage needs, and schedule conflicts.
Tracks completion and status of all sampling events, ensuring failed, missed, incomplete, or rescheduled events are addressed within required timeframes. Coordinates with the SDQSM and other Environmental Services (ES) divisions and Metro departments as assigned to understand/clarify support needed from EST.
Manages flow verification tasks for Annual Charge and other Metro metering stations. Provides oversight to ensure the status of Annual Charge metering stations is tracked.
Reviews and monitors field work to verify compliance with approved protocols and standard operating procedures (SOPs); ensures work orders, chain-of-custody records, and associated documentation are accurate, complete, and properly closed out. Monitors metrics related to completion rates, schedule efficiency, and supply usage; identifies areas for process improvement. Reviews SOPs related to field sampling and ensures they are updated on a regular basis and as needed.
Enters, updates, and manages work orders associated with EST field activities in Metro’s asset management system; maintains accurate tracking of operational status, equipment readiness, and metering station data, and provides status updates to leadership and the Annual Charge Collaboration team.
Manages inventory, procurement, and distribution of sampling supplies, equipment, vehicles, PPE, and other materials to ensure adequate availability and support for field operations; develops and maintains systems to track equipment maintenance, calibration, and field readiness.
Provides budget input regarding EST materials, supplies, equipment, and staffing needs, and ensures operations conform to approved budget allocations.
Develops and provides training, sets clear expectations for staff, and enforces expectations. Reviews data and information from field activities to identify areas needing additional staff training, clarification, or process improvements. Ensures staff are properly trained and equipped to perform work safely and effectively, including appropriate PPE, tools, and vehicles.
Evaluates employee performance and skill levels; supports employee development, provides training, coaching, counseling, and discipline as needed. Participates in the selection process for new personnel as assigned.
Communicates effectively with colleagues and collaborates with internal stakeholders to align sampling activities with organizational goals. Coordinates with other departments in the planning of cross-departmental efforts.
Manages communication between EST day and night shifts and ensures effective handoff of operational information.
May be required to work outside normal business hours/standard workdays, including nights and weekends, cover on-call, and respond to Metro facilities or field locations to support EST sampling workload, environmental release response, additional emergencies, or other business needs.
Responsible for maintaining and promoting a safe working environment. Ensure employees complete all required training on time, maintain compliance with organizational requirements, and follow all safety protocols. Ensures employees maintain required certifications.
Performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge of:

Advanced knowledge of sample collection, preservation and handling requirements pursuant to 40 CFR part 136, 40 CFR 403
Chain-of-Custody documentation and procedures applicable to the collection of compliance samples and/or evidence which may be used in administrative investigations and enforcement actions
Open channel and closed-pipe flow measurement principles
Set up and programming automatic sampling equipment
Confined space entry rules and regulations
Work order and scheduling systems, databases, and related software tools
Inventory management principles and procurement procedures
Safety standards applicable to wastewater and stormwater field operations
General office processes and procedures
MS Office (or equivalent, e.g. Google) software programs

Skilled at:

Setting up, programming and trouble-shooting automatic sampling equipment
Identifying open channel and closed pipe flow metering equipment and supporting evaluation of monitoring facility installations
Reviewing documentation for completeness, accuracy, and compliance with established procedures
Effectively communicating verbally and in writing
Reading and understanding regulations and discharge permit monitoring requirements
Writing and reviewing standard operating procedures (SOPs) and sampling protocols
Using spreadsheets and other tools to analyze data and information
Developing and managing complex work and sampling schedules
Tracking work progress, completion, and performance metrics using work order and scheduling software tools
Maintaining and managing equipment, materials, and supply inventories
Identifying operational and logistical issues and implementing practical solutions
Active and empathetic listening
Training and mentoring staff
Performing basic mathematical calculations
Project management including work planning, resource allocation and progress reviews through project completion
Skilled at managing disagreements, de-escalate conflicts and negotiating win-win solutions

Ability to:

Effectively manage field and technical work associated with the collection of samples used for compliance
Evaluate staff schedules, workloads, and resource utilization for efficiency and balance
Coordinate multiple work streams while maintaining situational awareness of workload, priorities, and resource needs
Interpret and apply sampling, safety, and documentation procedures
Anticipate and address potential conflicts in staffing, schedules, or materials availability
Support continuous improvement of scheduling, documentation, and operational practices
Using reference materials (e.g. Teledyne-Isco Open Channel Flow Manual), identify and evaluate open channel primary and secondary device installations
Evaluate and provide input regarding monitoring facilities
Operate Metro vehicles legally, travel to Metro facilities and businesses throughout the service area and work outside normal business hours as required
Assign and track the work of others
Manage the performance of direct reports, provide mentoring and coaching and correct performance issues as needed
Review the work of others and provide clear and concise feedback
Develop and provide training specific to EST job duties
Establish and maintain effective working relationships
Communicate effectively and build cooperative working relationships across teams
Work in a team environment
Direct, persuade, and motivate others
Identify problems, craft effective solutions, act decisively and demonstrate good judgement
Maintain emotional control under ambiguous and stressful circumstances
Implement and enforce policies and procedures fairly and consistently
Effectively supervise staff

Education, Certifications, and Licenses
B.S. degree in a science field. Requires a valid driver’s license. A combination of education and relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.

Other Qualifications

Typical Work Environment
Variety of floor surfaces including concrete, gravel, asphalt, dirt, tile, loose stones, uneven surfaces, slippery surfaces, and wet surfaces; Inside environment; Outside environment all year in all weather conditions and temperatures; Residential and commercial wastewater/Biosolids; Chemicals; Lighting conditions including natural light, fluorescent, incandescent, and low light; Vibration; Moving equipment; Work in confined spaces

Body Position Demands
Standing; Walking; Climbing stairs; Climbing Ladders; Reaching forward and overhead; Balancing; Object handling; Simple hand/ Firm hand grasping; Operating controls; Sitting; Stooping; Kneeling; Crouching; Typing; Fine hand coordination

Physical Demands (max forces are expected to be infrequent)
Max Weight Lifted: 65 lbs
Max Weight Carried: 65 lbs
Max Force Pushed: 23 lbs
Max Force Pulled: 128 lbs

Sensory Requirements
Wide field of view; Perception - Spatial; Olfactory (Smelling); Vision - Near; Depth perception; Color discrimination; Perception - spatial and form; Feeling without seeing; Speaking; Vision - near and far; Hearing