Laboratory Technician

Are you looking for the right career and lifestyle move?  Do you want to make an impact on the future of the community you live in?  Here's your opportunity to kick a career goal while you enjoy an incredible lifestyle on the beautiful Barrington Coast. 

The Role & You

MidCoast Council is seeking an enthusiastic Laboratory Technician with a strong interest in microbiology to join our Water Management and Treatment team. In this role, you will be responsible for sampling drinking and environmental waters, performing microbiological testing, and maintaining high standards of laboratory practice.

This is a varied position where you will split your time between the field, collecting samples, and the laboratory, analysing them, recording data, and ensuring all required documentation is accurate. We are looking for detail-oriented professionals who take pride in their work, thrive in collaborative environments, and want to make a meaningful contribution to the local community.

Key Responsibilities & Duties 

• Conduct sampling of drinking and environmental waters, including field measurements and documentation, following water industry best practice.
• Perform microbiological analysis and related laboratory procedures to meet operational and regulatory standards.
• Maintain, calibrate, and troubleshoot laboratory and field equipment.
• Participate in laboratory administration and contribute to quality system maintenance and improvement in line with NATA requirements.
• Provide relief across other laboratory functions as required.
• Ensure compliance with Work Health & Safety legislation and Council’s safe work procedures.
• Adhere to Council’s Equal Employment Opportunity policies.
• Undertake other duties within your skill set as required to meet business needs.

What you'll briing

• Certificate IV in Laboratory Techniques, or a degree in Biological Sciences, Life Sciences or related scientific field, or equivalent laboratory experience.
• Hands-on experience in microbiological analysis, with knowledge of industry best practices, is highly desirable. 
• Ability to perform field-based water sampling and testing in remote areas independently while meeting regulatory and operational requirements.
• Experience operating laboratory and field instrumentation.  
• Understanding of NATA requirements, quality systems and Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS). 
• Current Class C Drivers Licence.

To be successful, you will be confident performing independent water sampling and microbiological testing, with a solid understanding of laboratory and field instrumentation, NATA accreditation requirements, and quality management systems. This role offers the opportunity to work efficiently with modern lab technology and contribute to maintaining high-quality standards.

Applicants must hold a current Class C Driver’s Licence, be able to swim, and be willing and able to work at heights and safely operate in and around water bodies.

What we offer?

We are committed to the growth of our employees and have a range of benefits available to support wellbeing and career development. Click here to find out more. 

Looking to relocate? From housing and transport to community connections and personalised support - discover a range of local services designed to make your move to the MidCoast region easier.  Learn more here.

Salary: Commencing salary circa $71,190 p.a. plus superannuation. 

Location: Upon commencement your normal place of work will be the MidCoast Council Bootawa Laboratory located at 299 Bootawa Dam Road. You may also be required to be based from other Council sites across the MidCoast Council region. 

Tenure: Permanent, Full time 

Closing date: Sunday 12 April 2026 at 11.30 pm.

Want to know more?

Please review the position description in PDF or Word formats

For questions relating to the position requirements please contact Keira Anderson-King, Coordinator Scientific Services, who is the hiring manager for this role. Keira can be reached on (02) 7955 7518 or at keira.anderson-king@midcoast.nsw.gov.au

For enquiries regarding the application process contact Margot Broadfoot, Human Resources Officer, who is the HR representative for this role. Margot can be reached on (02) 7955 7334 or at margot.broadfoot@midcoast.nsw.gov.au.

How to apply: 

• When responding to the questions below, please include detailed and relevant examples of your skills and experience. Using the STAR method can help you prepare clear and concise responses using real-life examples. For more information regarding the STAR method, please click on this link.
• Please avoid using AI to generate responses to answer the questions in your application.
• You have the option to save your application prior to submitting, however please ensure you don't forget to submit your application before the closing date.
• Click the "NEXT" button at the bottom of the application form to attach your resume. We recommend using Pdf formatting where possible.
• Attaching a Cover Letter is not a requirement of the application process. However, there is an 'optional field' to attach a Cover Letter, if you wish to do so.
• We will be in touch via email.

Our organisation

At MidCoast Council our people are our most important resource and we believe that we can only reach our full potential when you reach yours. This is the place for those who seek to play a role in the community and have an enthusiasm to learn and grow. Here you can make a real difference.

Our community is our customer and is at the centre of everything we do.  We value, support and empower our people to deliver positive results for our community.

Right now, we are investing heavily in our organisation, and our people. Our Administration Centre is a state-of-the-art facility designed to inspire innovation, creativity and collaboration. The building has been named ‘Yalawanyi Ganya’ which means “sitting/meeting place” in the Gathang language of the indigenous people across the MidCoast Region.

About the MidCoast Region

From lakes and estuaries to white sandy beaches to world heritage mountain wilderness, the MidCoast region offers an attractive lifestyle for everyone. Our community is characterised by its welcoming attitude, growing economy and natural beauty. These are the pillars of the quality of life we value. 

Our commitment

At MidCoast Council we are committed to providing equal employment opportunities. Our aim is to provide all of our staff with an inclusive, safe and healthy working environment. We never discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age or marital, veteran or disability status. If you have a disability and need to request any adjustments to assist with the application process, or to discuss workplace adjustments you may require, please contact the HR representative.

Council also recognises the skills and attributes of veterans and welcomes applications from ex-service personnel.

We respectfully ask that recruitment agencies do not contact us at this stage.