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Posted: 31-Jan-26
Location: Ventura, California
Type: Full Time
Applications are accepted exclusively through the City of Ventura Career Site:
www.cityofventura.ca.gov/jobs. Submissions through other websites or methods will not be accepted.
Applications and supplemental questions will be accepted until Monday, February 16, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
Pay & Benefits
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$86,165.46 - $115,461.63 Annually DOQ
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Medical Insurance options include HMO, PPO,
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City Paid Dental and Vision Insurance
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Life Insurance
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Vacation & Holiday Compensation
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Deferred Compensation
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CalPERS Retirement
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Tuition Reimbursement & Bilingual Pay
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About the Opportunity
The City of Ventura is seeking a Water Quality Specialist to join Ventura Water and fill a critical role in protecting public health and ensuring compliance with drinking water quality standards. This position supports the development, implementation, and oversight of water quality monitoring, regulatory compliance, and water management programs for the City’s drinking water systems.
This is an excellent opportunity for a water quality professional who enjoys technical analysis, regulatory work, and collaboration across operations, engineering, and regulatory agencies. The Water Quality Specialist works closely with internal staff and external partners to ensure water quality data is accurate, compliant, and used to support sound operational and planning decisions.
What You’ll Do
In this role, you will perform a variety of technical, analytical, and regulatory duties, including:
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Reviewing and evaluating water quality data from sanitation labs, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems, and United States Geological Survey (USGS) sources to ensure compliance with Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and related regulatory requirements and maintaining data on groundwater and surface water production, consumption, and projections
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Overseeing water facility operations and monitoring sampling and reporting activities to ensure regulatory compliance
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Developing and implementing sampling plans for treatment and distribution systems, including coordinating schedules and verifying chain-of-custody documentation
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Investigating water quality issues within treatment and distribution systems and recommending corrective or optimization measures
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Preparing regulatory compliance reports, consumer confidence reports, and water quality reports for agency submittal and public release
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Reviewing and interpreting analytical data, design plans, specifications, and environmental documents related to water treatment and supply
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Evaluating water source quality and system conditions to optimize supply, corrosion control, and disinfection practices
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Coordinating permitting activities for water operations and hazardous materials storage, including responding to notices of violation and inspections
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Monitoring proposed regulations and treatment technologies and evaluating impacts to City operations
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Providing technical guidance and training to staff on monitoring, reporting, and regulatory procedures
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Supporting long-term water management initiatives, including water loss reduction and system reliability programs
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Preparing detailed technical reports, spreadsheets, maps, and records to support compliance audits and program evaluation
The Ideal Candidate – Preferred Qualifications
This position offers an opportunity for a technically skilled and detail-oriented professional who is passionate about water quality, regulatory compliance, and public service.
The ideal candidate will:
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Possess a strong understanding of drinking water quality regulations, monitoring, and compliance requirements
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Have experience compiling, evaluating, and monitoring water or wastewater data and regulatory standards
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Demonstrate the ability to analyze water quality data and identify trends, discrepancies, and compliance issues
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Be experienced in developing and coordinating sampling plans and reviewing analytical results
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Communicate effectively with operations staff, regulators, consultants, and the public
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Exercise sound judgment and work independently on complex regulatory and technical matters
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Be highly organized, accurate, and comfortable managing multiple projects and deadlines
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Bring a collaborative approach and a commitment to protecting public health and water system reliability
About Ventura Water
Ventura Water provides drinking water to more than 109,000 people through approximately 32,000 water service connections. This complex water system has more than 391 miles of pipeline, 3 water treatment plants, 23 pump stations and 31 reservoirs. Our community relies on three 100% local water sources - the Ventura River, Lake Casitas, and local groundwater wells, as well as, providing reclaimed water from the Ventura Water Reclamation Facility to two municipal golf courses, the Ventura Marina area, and private customers for landscape irrigation. We maintain a full-service laboratory and monitor our water quality daily.
For more information about Ventura Water, visit https://www.cityofventura.ca.gov/2268/Ventura-Water.
How to Apply
Submit an online City job application and supplemental questionnaire by the filing deadline or first review date at www.cityofventura.ca.gov/jobs.
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It is important that your city job application show all the relevant education, training, and experience you possess. Resumes, CVs, and cover letters may be attached to your application but will not be accepted in lieu of a completed job application or supplemental questionnaire. Submitting an incomplete application or supplemental questionnaire may disqualify you from further consideration in the recruitment process.
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After you apply, all future correspondence from the city will be via E-Mail. Please check your messages regularly and keep your contact information up to date using your on-line application.
Selection Process
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All applications and supplemental questionnaires submitted will be screened in relation to the criteria outlined in this job announcement. Candidates will be reviewed, and only those candidates determined to be most qualified based on experience, training, and education, as submitted, will be invited to participate further in the selection process. Candidates will be notified about their status after the filing deadline.
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Those candidates whose qualifications most closely match the requirements of the position will be invited to a qualifying panel interview process. Candidates will be notified of specifics after the examination process has been completed. Initial panel interviews may be conducted in-person or via video teleconference. Candidates will be notified of specifics at the appropriate time.
The Eligibility List established for this classification may be used to fill other regular and temporary vacancies at the discretion of the City.
THE SCHEDULE
The timeline dates are subject to change. Candidates will be notified as necessary.
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Monday, February 16, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. – Application Deadline. Applications and supplemental questionnaires must be submitted by this date to be considered for the position.
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Week of February 16, 2026 - Candidates will be notified by email of their status by this date.
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Week of March 2, 2026 - Oral Panel Interviews are tentatively scheduled for this date. Qualifying candidates will be notified by email or phone if they are invited to the panel interview process.
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Department Selection Interviews will be scheduled promptly after the oral panel interviews have been completed. Qualifying candidates will be notified by email if they are invited to the panel interview process.
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March 2026 – Candidates will be notified of the outcome of the interview by this date.
Additional Information
For additional information on the duties and responsibilities of the position, refer to the job descriptions located on the City’s Career Page at City of Ventura Jobs or by viewing here Water Quality Specialist.
To learn more about the City’s hiring process, visit the City of Ventura Hiring Process page.
Questions? Contact the Recruitment Team at:
[email protected] or (805) 654-7802.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), if you need an accommodation in a selection process, please notify the Human Resources Department in writing by the final filing date of the position you are interested in. The Human Resources address is: 501 Poli Street, Room 210, Ventura, CA 93001, (805) 654-7853, e-mail: [email protected].
The City is an equal opportunity employer and strives to attract qualified applicants from all walks of life without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military and veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state and/or local law. We aim to create an environment that celebrates and embraces the diversity of our workforce. We welcome you to join our team!
Minimum Qualifications – Required
Education and Experience: A combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Biology, Environmental Science, or a closely related field, and three years of compiling, evaluating, and monitoring water or wastewater data and regulations is required.
Highly Desirable: Experience analyzing water or wastewater sampling data and maintaining compliance with California Code of Regulations Title 22.
License: Possession of a valid California Class C driver license.
Certificates: A Water Quality Laboratory Analyst certification from the American Water Works Association (AWWA) is highly desirable.