DIRECTOR OF LABORATORY SERVICES

CITY OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI

The City of Kansas City, Missouri, seeks an experienced laboratory services executive to lead its Water Services Department Laboratory Services Division while serving as the next Director of Laboratory Services.

Located in the Heart of America, Kansas City, Missouri (pop. 442,000) is a world class community with a long tradition of performing arts, outstanding sports, superb restaurants and spectacular entertainment. The City’s history of strong neighborhoods gives the community a gracious and welcoming feeling that transcends its large city status. Located at the confluence of the Kansas and Missouri Rivers, Kansas City was incorporated as a Town in 1850 and by the State in 1853. It became one of the world’s largest cattle markets, shortly after the Civil War. The Kansas City Stockyard was founded in 1870 and is still home to the American Royal, an annual event that draws hundreds of thousands of people to Kansas City’s Kemper Arena and American Royal Complex for four weeks of events including the World’s Largest Barbecue contest, headlining entertainment, rodeos, and a highly sophisticated Saddle Horse Show.

In 1922 a private construction project by J.C. Nichols Co. left its mark on Kansas City with the nation’s first planned shopping center, the Country Club Plaza. Today this Spanish-style plaza covers 55 acres and includes beautiful fountains, statuary and an abundance of high-end shopping opportunities as well as outstanding restaurants. In 1968, Hallmark founder Joyce C. Hall and his son acted on a dream to create one place that would revitalize a part of Kansas City’s urban core, the Crown Center, a vibrant shopping, dining, and entertainment center, with two million square feet of office space and the City’s two largest hotels. It is filled with attractions that bring people and vitality to the urban core.

Kansas City has a rich history of supporting the cultural arts. The City hosts two renowned art museums, the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, which have extensive collections by a variety of world-renowned artists. Kansas City has commemorated its world-renowned jazz with the American Jazz Museum. There are numerous opportunities for theatre-goers, including the outdoor Starlight Theater, the American Heartland Theater located at Crown Center, the beautiful and fully restored Midland Theater, the Folly Theater and the Lyric Opera building, which hosts both opera and ballet. In addition, the Kaufman Family Foundation is in the process of constructing a $310 million Performing Arts Arena in downtown Kansas City near the Bartle Hall Exposition facility.

The City of Kansas City is served by all or parts of fourteen school districts, the largest of which is the Kansas City, Missouri School District. The Catholic Diocese sponsors 26 K-8 schools and six high schools, and there are several schools sponsored by other denominations and religions. There are more than 45 colleges and universities serving a broad and diverse population.

More than a dozen hospitals serve the City of Kansas City. In addition, Kansas City is home to the Stowers Institute for Medical Research that aspires to be one of the most innovative biomedical research facilities in the world. The Stowers Institute is a key component of the City’s Life Science Initiative. The Kansas City Area Life Sciences Institute is a not-for-profit organization jointly funded by the Kansas City Civic Council and the Kansas City Area Development Council and is dedicated to transforming Kansas City into a center for excellence in life sciences research.

Kansas City is home to numerous corporate headquarters including Hallmark Cards, H & R Block, DST Systems, Inc., Black and Veatch, Kansas City Southern Industries, and American Century (formerly Twentieth Century Investments) to name just a few. The Kansas City economy is multifaceted, with a healthy retail sales base. Continued economic growth is vital to the City’s financial condition.

Kansas City provides all of the amenities of a world-class city in an historic, charming neighborhood environment. Residents can choose from a variety of housing styles and price ranges including affordable housing in newer subdivisions or in older, renovated neighborhoods; traditional suburban homes located just minutes from the Country Club Plaza and Westport; or, beautiful mansions along scenic Ward Parkway. With more fountains than any city except Rome and more parks than any city except Paris, Kansas City is a thriving, exciting city with ambitious plans for the future.

Granted a charter in 1850, Kansas City now operates under the Council-Manager form of government. The elected leadership of the City is comprised of a Mayor elected at large and 12 Council Members. Members are elected for four-year terms of office with a two-term limit. The City Manager is appointed upon recommendation by the Mayor and confirmation/approval of the appointment by a majority of the City Council. The City Manager is responsible for a large, varied, multiple-purpose municipal organization, representing a workforce of 6,727 FTE spread across 19 departments and a current annual budget of $975 million. Additional information on the City government and its departments can be found at the City’s website: www.kcmo.org

Kansas City, Missouri Water Services Department is a Water/Wastewater/Stormwater utility serving an expanding customer base in 6 counties. Water Services operates two water treatment plants and eight wastewater treatment plants and has an active industrial pretreatment program.

The Kansas City, Missouri Water Services Department Laboratory is integral to the operation of the utility.

The Laboratory performs quality assurance, process control, system analysis, compliance, research and enforcement analyses to support the Water, Wastewater and Stormwater functions of the Department. The Laboratory is recognized by the water and wastewater industry for producing quality results and has participated with AWWARF in various research efforts.

The Laboratory Director is appointed by and reports to the Assistant Director of Water Services for Facilities and Operations and is responsible for planning, organizing and directing all routine and special laboratory services performed by a staff of 27 professional and technical personnel and an annual operating budget of $2.56 million; for procuring supplementary laboratory services; for preparing reports required by state and federal agencies; for directing research activities; and for coordination with other departments and agencies. The Laboratory Director is also called upon from time to time to deal with questions from the public related to water issues. The Laboratory Director works closely with other managers in the Water Services Department.

The Laboratory Director is expected to maintain familiarity with all current federal and state regulations and permits regarding water and wastewater quality and to provide comment on new regulations as they are developed. The Laboratory Director is also expected to actively participate in industry organizations.

Focus on leadership and management of the department, including: managing and            mentoring professional staff.

Maintaining the high standards set by the Water Services Laboratory.

Understand the new clean water and safe drinking water act amendments.

Growing work load as a result of new regulations.

Review of all QA and QC to ensure all protocols are being followed.

Oversee enhancements made to laboratory facilities.

Serves as "face of the Department" when water quality issues arise.

Qualified individuals must have graduated from an accredited four year college or university with major course work in bacteriology or chemistry, supplemented by graduate work in bacteriology or chemistry to the level of a masters degree and have four years progressively responsible laboratory experience, including at least one year of laboratory supervision experience. Favorable consideration will be given to additional supervisory experience or education. Familiarity with surface water treatment and enhanced lime softening is a plus.

Thorough knowledge of the principles, methods, and standard practices applied in water, wastewater, and related laboratory technology.

Knowledge of the use, operation, and care of standard laboratory equipment, current literature and research developments in water, wastewater, and related laboratory technology.

Knowledge of the basic principles and procedures of chemistry, bacteriology, physics, and related fields as applied to water, wastewater, and related laboratory work.

Considerable knowledge of the principles and practices applied in water and wastewater control laboratory administration and the effective methods of supervision and instruction as applied to work of a small group of professional and technical assistants.

The salary range is $53,868 to $88,280 plus excellent benefits. Final salary and compensation negotiable, D.O.Q.E. and record of achievement.

Qualified individuals should send confidential resumes (email preferred) immediately. The position will be remain open until filled. Please submit credentials and references promptly for consideration. Non-residents must establish residency within Kansas City, Missouri within 9 months after date of hire. Any offer of employment is contingent on the successful completion of a pre-employment drug screen, background check and employment verifications.

Resumes and inquiries should be directed to:

Jim C. Blagg, Sr. VP

The Mercer Group, Inc.

3133 Thomas Avenue, Suite A

Dallas, TX 75204

Voice: 972.740.3519 / Fax: 214.922.0081

Email: mercertx@sbcglobal.net

Resumes will be screened in relation to the criteria outlined in this brochure. Candidates with relevant qualifications will be given preliminary interviews by consultants. Candidates deemed qualified will be reported to the City. A final interview process will be scheduled for selected candidates.

The City of Kansas City is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity at all levels of its workplace.

The Missouri law may require disclosure of applicant information at any stage of the recruitment process.