Senior Analytical Chemist

The Senior Analytical Chemist performs challenging and intricate chemical analysis of the City of Boca Raton’s drinking water, wastewater, and production wells utilizing advanced technical instruments. This role is critical in coordinating and managing various compliance projects mandated by federal, state, and local regulations. This role provides high-quality customer service when interacting with the City’s residents.  Work is performed with considerable independence under the general direction of the Laboratory Supervisor and Director.

• Operates and utilizes advanced laboratory equipment, including Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS), Electron Capture Detector (ECD), Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS), Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP/MS), and Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS) instrumentation to perform specialized analyses.  This includes the detection and quantification of volatile organic compounds, disinfection by-products, inorganic substances, heavy metals, and per/polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water, production wells, and wastewater.
• Develops and implements new analytical procedures and methodologies, standard operating procedures (SOPs), preventative maintenance schedules, and quality control procedures based on current regulatory policies and anticipated changes.
• Develops short and long-range laboratory objectives; evaluates work methods, policies and procedures, on an ongoing basis.
• Collects samples from various locations within the drinking water plant, wastewater plant, and throughout the distribution system as needed.
• Ensures laboratory operations align with the latest TNI (The Nelac Institute) guidelines and maintains certification through demonstrations of capability, internal audits, proficiency testing, and analyst training.
• Manages PFAS Laboratory, Organics Laboratory, or Metals Laboratory to ensure compliance with state certification, licensure requirements, and other local, state, and federal regulations.
• Coordinates and manages various specialized projects, including tri-annual lead and copper testing, disinfection-by-products, semi-annual wells, annual reclaim, annual nitrate and nitrite, reuse monitoring wells (RMW), water quality parameters (WQP), annual raw and east finish, annual local limits and priority pollutants, cryptosporidium and giardia testing, annual YMW-05 sample collection, radionuclides, and asbestos.
• Oversees other analysts in sample receiving, field sampling, laboratory analysis, and reporting of results during specialized projects.
• Participates, samples, and reviews data for the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR).
• Adheres to safety regulations and protocols within the laboratory.
• Maintains all laboratory specific inventory for all associated instruments and testing. 
• Manages laboratory inventory for analytical instruments and testing materials. Responsible for the maintenance of all laboratory instrumentation, ensuring preventive maintenance is conducted and repairs are handled efficiently, including coordinating with vendors for repairs and upgrades.
• Prepares, organizes, and archives laboratory records such as bench sheets, calibration logbooks, reagent logbooks, chain of custody (COC) forms, non-conformance forms (NCFs) and demonstration of capability forms (DOCs).
• Reviews and interprets complex analytical data to generate accurate, detailed reports for internal use and regulatory submission to the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
• Reviews and interprets complex analytical data to generate reports.
• Utilizes Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) to create sample identification, record analyses, track sample preparation, generate reports, and ensure data integrity.
• Supports Laboratory Director and Laboratory Supervisor with internal audits and various activities to maintain TNI certification.

Additional Responsibilities

• Works closely with various departments within the utilities division to support laboratory-related projects and initiatives.
• Collaborates with City of Boca Raton departments as needed, offering laboratory services to support their operations and ensure timely and accurate results.
• Works closely with laboratory management and team members to address laboratory-related issues, troubleshoot problems, and improve laboratory operations.
• Assists Laboratory Director and Supervisor in preparing technical specifications for the purchase of specialized laboratory equipment, reviewing bids, and provides input on final award recommendations for equipment.
• Serves on-call for public safety events such as high-priority boil waters, low pressure incidents, and lift station spills, ensuring a timely response.
• Provides back up coverage for team members in the event of staffing shortages.
• Has the ability to act as the backup Laboratory Supervisor when needed.  Responsibilities include supervising laboratory staff, ordering and receiving of laboratory consumables, training analysts in various methods, and responding to customer concerns regarding water quality issues.
• Provides exceptional customer service to City’s residents, addressing inquiries related to water quality and public health concerns.
• Participates in audits conducted by the DOH and DEP ensuring that laboratory operations comply with all regulatory requirements.
• Communicates with the DOH, DEP, and EPA regarding various compliance sampling and reporting requirements.
• Assists in the organization and housekeeping of all laboratories, ensuring that they remain clean, safe, and compliant with all regulatory standards.
• Undertakes additional laboratory-related responsibilities as needed providing support in various analytical and operational tasks to meet the needs of the department.

• Extensive understanding of complex chemistry, laboratory analysis techniques, and the principles, methods, and procedures used in water and wastewater testing.
• In-depth knowledge of local, state, and federal regulations concerning drinking water and wastewater, including compliance with environmental quality standards.
• Strong understanding of water and wastewater treatment processes, including the impact of various chemicals and contaminants on water quality.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple projects, and meet deadlines effectively. Strong organizational and time management skills are required.
• Ability to clearly and concisely communicate technical information, both verbally and in writing, to colleagues, management, customers, and external agencies.
• Ability to work effectively with the public in a professional and friendly manner.
• Skilled in troubleshooting complex laboratory instruments, with the ability to perform repairs or work collaboratively to ensure minimal downtime and optimal performance.

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in chemistry, biology, or environmental sciences.   
• A minimum of 3 years of experience in a laboratory environment, with at least 2 years focused on water quality analysis. 
• Previous experience with advanced analytical instrumentation (GC/MS, AAS, ICP/MS, etc.) 
• Experience with Microsoft programs and laboratory data reporting systems such as LIMs.

POST OFFER PRE-EMPLOYMENT SCREENING REQUIREMENTS:

Final offer and employment are contingent upon successful completion of the following post-offer, pre-employment screening items:

• Criminal Background Check
• Employment Verification
• Educational Verification
• Drug and Alcohol Screen

Salary : $32 - $35