TITLE: Water Quality Lab Supervisor
DEPARTMENT: Facilities
REPORTS TO: VP of Environmental Operations
STATUS: Full-time, Non-Exempt
PAY RATE: $33.00 - $36.00/hour
LOCATION: Chicago, IL Onsite Required
 
POSITION OVERVIEW: The Water Quality Supervisor leads the daily operations of Shedd Aquarium’s water quality laboratory, ensuring accurate, timely, and reliable testing and data to support animal health, aquatic system performance, and environmental quality. This is a working supervisor role, with approximately 50% of the position dedicated to hands-on laboratory testing and analysis and 50% focused on team leadership, laboratory operations, quality assurance, and coordination.

Reporting to the Vice President of Environmental Quality, the Water Quality Supervisor directly supervises five staff members, including a staff member based at Shedd’s Center for Animal Care and Sustainability (CACS), and coordinates a rotating team of volunteers and interns. The position establishes laboratory priorities and workflows, supports staff development and performance, maintains strong quality assurance and safety practices, and collaborates closely with Animal Care, Facilities, Life Support, and other departments.

The ideal candidate is an experienced water quality or environmental laboratory professional who combines strong technical expertise with collaborative leadership and enjoys both performing laboratory analyses and developing others.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.  

Laboratory Operations & Technical Work 

• Lead daily laboratory operations, including workflow, testing schedules, sample prioritization, and staffing assignments.
• Perform approximately 50% hands-on laboratory testing and analysis, including microbiology, wet chemistry, spectrophotometry, and ion chromatography.
• Collect water samples from aquatic basins, exhibits, and life support systems.
• Review, interpret, and validate laboratory data to identify trends, support animal health, and evaluate aquatic system performance.
• Maintain accurate and timely water quality records and documentation.
• Maintain strong laboratory quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) practices and ensure testing is performed according to established procedures.
• Calibrate, maintain, and troubleshoot laboratory equipment and analytical instrumentation.
• Assist with the calibration and maintenance of in-line water quality probes.
• Coordinate with external laboratories for specialized testing and analytical services.
• Maintain inventory of laboratory supplies, equipment, chemicals, and other materials necessary for environmental analysis.
• Perform water treatment or system additions in accordance with established procedures.
• Conduct environmental quality studies and other analyses as directed.

Leadership & Staff Development

• Supervise, coach, train, and develop five staff members, including staff based at CACS.
• Establish clear expectations, assign work, monitor performance, and provide ongoing feedback and coaching.
• Conduct performance evaluations in accordance with Shedd’s performance management process.
• Identify training and development needs and support staff in building technical and professional skills.
• Supervise, train, and support volunteers and interns participating in laboratory operations.
• Foster a positive, inclusive, collaborative, and accountable working environment.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Animal Care, Facilities, Life Support, and other teams to communicate water quality findings, identify concerns, and support timely resolution of issues.
• Represent Environmental Quality on interdepartmental teams and initiatives.
• Travel to and provide supervisory and operational support at the Center for Animal Care and Sustainability (CACS) approximately every other week.
• Cover laboratory or water quality shifts at CACS and other areas as needed.
• Support educational and departmental initiatives, including providing tours or information about laboratory operations.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Safety & Compliance

• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe laboratory environment.
• Follow departmental procedures for the safe handling, storage, use, and disposal of hazardous materials and biological materials.
• Ensure laboratory staff, volunteers, and interns are trained in and follow applicable safety procedures.
• Identify and address potential safety, equipment, or operational concerns promptly.

QUALIFICATIONS: The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. 

Education: Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, biology, zoology, environmental science, or a related field required.
 
Experience:   

• 5+ years of progressively responsible experience in water quality, environmental, analytical, or related laboratory settings.
• Demonstrated experience performing laboratory analyses using wet chemistry and analytical instrumentation.
• Experience leading, supervising, training, or mentoring staff, interns, or volunteers.
• Experience interpreting laboratory data and identifying trends or potential water quality concerns.
• Experience maintaining laboratory QA/QC practices and documentation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with ion chromatography.
• Experience working in an aquarium, zoo, environmental monitoring, marine science, or aquatic systems setting.
• Experience troubleshooting and maintaining laboratory instrumentation.
• Experience supervising technical or scientific staff.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Strong knowledge of water quality testing methods, laboratory practices, and environmental analysis.
• Strong hands-on technical skills in wet chemistry and laboratory instrumentation.
• Ability to interpret analytical data and communicate findings clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to data accuracy and quality.
• Ability to troubleshoot laboratory equipment, analytical methods, and operational issues.
• Ability to prioritize multiple competing laboratory and operational needs.
• Strong organizational, time-management, and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated ability to coach, develop, and hold staff accountable.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively across departments and levels of the organization.
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively to a team environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Microsoft Excel.
• Ability to learn and use Shedd’s animal care and laboratory databases and other technology systems.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. 

• Lift up to 50 pounds  
• Sit 
• Stand 
• Stoop 
• Walk 
• Kneel / Bend 
• Climb ladders 
• Hazardous Chemicals 

WORK ENVIRONMENT:  

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. 

This person may be exposed to: 

• Water 
• Low noise 
• Moderate Noise 
• Loud Noise 
• Hazardous Chemicals 
• Air particles 
• Falling materials 

BENEFITS OF WORKING AT SHEDD: We offer competitive compensation packages and opportunities for professional growth within our organization. 

• Medical Insurance, including FSA and HSA plan options
• Vision and Dental Insurance 
• Accrued Paid Time Off 
• Up to 12 Paid Holidays 
• Life Insurance 
• Parental Leave and Adoption Assistance
• 401(k)
• Discounted Parking and Public Transit Subsidies
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee Wellness program, including Preventive Care Incentive 
• Employee Discounts
• Employee Tickets 

Reasonable Accommodations: 
Shedd Aquarium is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need reasonable accommodations for any part of the employment process, please email us at jobs@sheddaquarium.org. 

We strongly encourage people of color, LGBTQ+ community, veterans and active duty military, parents, individuals with disabilities, and individuals from all cultural backgrounds to apply. Shedd Aquarium is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes everyone to our team.