What are the responsibilities and job description for the Associate Chemist position at NYC Mayor's Office of Talent and Workforce Development?
***IMPORTANT NOTE: Candidates selected to fill a Associate Chemist 02 position from this posting will be appointed on a provisional basis. As a provisional employee, you will be required to take and pass the next Associate Chemist civil service examination and be given a list number by the NYC Dept. of Citywide Administrative Services in order to be considered for probable permanent employment in this title. Anyone who does not take and pass this examination, or who is not reached on the established list, will be terminated as a provisional Associate Chemist.***
The NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) enriches the environment and protects public health for all New Yorkers by providing 1.1 billion gallons of high quality drinking water, managing wastewater and stormwater, and reducing air, noise, and hazardous materials pollution. DEP is the largest combined municipal water and wastewater utility in the country, with nearly 6,000 employees. DEP's water supply system is comprised of 19 reservoirs and 3 controlled lakes throughout the system’s 2,000 square mile watershed that extends 125 miles north and west of the City.
The Bureau of Wastewater Treatment (BWT) is responsible for the operation and maintenance of all facilities related to the treatment of sewage within the five boroughs of the City. This includes 14 wastewater treatment plants, sludge dewatering facilities, collections facilities (pumping stations, combined sewer overflow retention facilities, regulators, tide gates, etc.), wastewater laboratories and harbor vessels.
Under general supervision of the Technical Director/Assistant Technical Director of one of the BWT Laboratories, and with some degree of independent decision, the selected candidate will perform and/or supervise the performance of chemical analyses and physical or chemical tests of various complexities on wastewater (sewage), bio-solids, and other substances as required.
Job Tasks/Duties
Qualification Requirements
A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college, including or supplemented by 16 semester credits in chemistry and 8 semester credits in any one or a combination of the following areas: chemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, environmental science, forensic science, or other natural science.
Certificate Requirement
At the time of appointment to a clinical laboratory, candidates must possess a valid License as a Clinical Laboratory Technologist issued by the New York State Education Department. This license must be maintained for the duration of employment.
Additional Qualification Requirements For Assignment Level II And Above.
To be eligible for placement in Assignment Level II and above, individuals must have, after meeting the minimum requirements described for Assignment Level I, at least two years of fulltime satisfactory experience performing chemical or physical analyses in a laboratory.
Education may be substituted for experience on the basis of 30 graduate semester credits from an accredited college in any of the areas of study described in the qualification requirements above for one year of experience. However, all candidates must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college with the specialized credits as described above.
Preferred Skills
This position is also open to qualified persons with a disability who are eligible for the 55-a Program. Please indicate at the top of your resume and cover letter that you would like to be considered for the position through the 55-a Program.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness
As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.
Residency Requirement
New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.
Additional Information
The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.
The NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) enriches the environment and protects public health for all New Yorkers by providing 1.1 billion gallons of high quality drinking water, managing wastewater and stormwater, and reducing air, noise, and hazardous materials pollution. DEP is the largest combined municipal water and wastewater utility in the country, with nearly 6,000 employees. DEP's water supply system is comprised of 19 reservoirs and 3 controlled lakes throughout the system’s 2,000 square mile watershed that extends 125 miles north and west of the City.
The Bureau of Wastewater Treatment (BWT) is responsible for the operation and maintenance of all facilities related to the treatment of sewage within the five boroughs of the City. This includes 14 wastewater treatment plants, sludge dewatering facilities, collections facilities (pumping stations, combined sewer overflow retention facilities, regulators, tide gates, etc.), wastewater laboratories and harbor vessels.
Under general supervision of the Technical Director/Assistant Technical Director of one of the BWT Laboratories, and with some degree of independent decision, the selected candidate will perform and/or supervise the performance of chemical analyses and physical or chemical tests of various complexities on wastewater (sewage), bio-solids, and other substances as required.
Job Tasks/Duties
- Process samples for analysis.
- Prepare and standardize solutions and reagents and utilize required quality control procedures.
- Prepare reports on results of analysis.
- Test, calibrate and maintain automated and/or computerized instruments and equipment.
- Review lab analysis results performed by others.
- Participate in required proficiency tests.
- Devise tests and install new methods and procedures.
- Assist supervisor in the implementation of safety and health procedures, inventory control and purchase of laboratory supplies and equipment.
- Train subordinates and peers and provide technical advice on questions relating to materials and methodologies for instruments and/or non-instrumental analyses.
- May supervise, if so designated, the performance of staff conducting sample processing, instrumental and/or chemical analysis, quality control, and safety aspects of the Wards Island Process Control Laboratory.
Qualification Requirements
A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college, including or supplemented by 16 semester credits in chemistry and 8 semester credits in any one or a combination of the following areas: chemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, environmental science, forensic science, or other natural science.
Certificate Requirement
At the time of appointment to a clinical laboratory, candidates must possess a valid License as a Clinical Laboratory Technologist issued by the New York State Education Department. This license must be maintained for the duration of employment.
Additional Qualification Requirements For Assignment Level II And Above.
To be eligible for placement in Assignment Level II and above, individuals must have, after meeting the minimum requirements described for Assignment Level I, at least two years of fulltime satisfactory experience performing chemical or physical analyses in a laboratory.
Education may be substituted for experience on the basis of 30 graduate semester credits from an accredited college in any of the areas of study described in the qualification requirements above for one year of experience. However, all candidates must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college with the specialized credits as described above.
Preferred Skills
- Experience in a NELAC- regulated environmental laboratory to provide technical leadership in the area of instrumental analyses. - Knowledgeable about the SOPs, equipment and Instruments. Examples of instruments used in BWT laboratories are Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP), Inductively Coupled Plasma- Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), UV/VIS Spectrophotometer, low level mercury analyzer, segmented flow analysis system, Gas Chromatograph (GC) , GC- Mass Spectrometer(GC- MS), BOD analyzer, analytical balances and pH meter. - Instrument/ equipment troubleshooting and analytical skills to quickly solve problems and to formulate corrective and preventive actions. - Inter-personal, communication and technical writing skills, basic knowledge of MS Word and MS Excel. Working Instruments: Must be able to operate, calibrate, troubleshoot and maintain computer controlled automated analysis instruments. Must be able to use and navigate a desktop computer to perform tasks that include use of instrument operating software, review of large online data sets, statistical calculations/review for quality control charts and preparation of lab analyses reports. Laboratory working equipment and supplies are available on the job-site. Health and Safety/Working Conditions: Environment and Physical: 1) Safety supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) are available on-site. 2) Use of Engineering and Administrative controls for mitigation of hazards such as fume hoods, emergency showers, and eye wash stations are in place as per Laboratory’s Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP).
This position is also open to qualified persons with a disability who are eligible for the 55-a Program. Please indicate at the top of your resume and cover letter that you would like to be considered for the position through the 55-a Program.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness
As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.
Residency Requirement
New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.
Additional Information
The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.
