What are the responsibilities and job description for the Environmental Laboratory Auditor/Organic Chemist-Liquid Chromatography Specialist (Chemist 4) position at State of Washington Dept. of Ecology?
Description
Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen
The Department of Ecology is hiring an Environmental Laboratory Auditor/Organic Chemist-Liquid Chromatography Specialist (Chemist 4) within the Environmental Assessment Program.
Location:
- Manchester Environmental Laboratory in Port Orchard, WA.
- Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.
Schedule:
- This position is eligible for telework and flexible schedule options.
- A minimum of one day per week is required in the office.
- Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.
Application Timeline:
- Apply by April 24, 2025
- This position will remain open until filled. The agency reserves the right to make a hire at any time after application review begins. Applications received after April 24, 2025, may not be considered.
Duties
In this role, you will process requests for WA Laboratory Accreditation to ensure our accredited laboratories are capable of producing accurate and defensible data. The emphasis for this position includes technical reviews for organic chemistry parameters analyzed by liquid chromatography techniques such as LCMSMS. You will serve as the unit subject matter expert for PFAS and 6PPD-Q analysis, including technical support to laboratories performing these analyses. You will audit laboratories both onsite and using virtual tools and write reports relating to Organic Chemistry analysis of environmental and drinking water samples. You will also stay current on the latest technology and methodology for PFAS and 6PPD-Q, along with State and Federal regulations for drinking water, wastewater, and hazardous waste for organic chemistry. This is an opportunity to perform critical work to help protect human health and the environment from emerging contaminants.
What you will do:
- Provide technical assistance to laboratories seeking accreditation for Organic Chemistry parameters.
- Serve as dedicated subject matter expert in Liquid Chromatography for the Laboratory Accreditation unit.
- Serve as dedicated subject matter expert on the analysis of 6PPDQ and PFAS.
- Process annual accreditation renewal applications each month for assigned laboratories.
- Perform laboratory audits to ensure the laboratories meet WA Laboratory Accreditation standards.
- Respond to inquiries about environmental sample preparation, testing and results, for Organic Chemistry.
- Review Organic Chemistry Standard Operating Procedures, bench sheets, instrument data, demonstrations of capability, and Performance Testing results for laboratories assigned to you and other auditors.
- Write reports for Organic Chemistry accreditation reviews.
Qualifications
For detailed information on how we calculate experience, please visit our Recruitment website.
Required Qualifications:
Ten years of experience and/or education as described below:
-
Experience performing chemical analysis in an analytical laboratory. Experience must include:
- At least one year of experience mentoring, leading, or supervising professional chemists.
- Five years of conducting bench scale laboratory testing, using similar methods and techniques for which auditing services would be provided.
- Education involving a major study in chemistry, or with a minimum of 30 semester hours, or 45 quarter hours, of college level chemistry.
Examples of how to qualify:
- 10 years of experience.
- 9 years of experience AND 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter college credits.
- 8 years of experience AND 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter college credits (Associate’s degree).
- 7 years of experience AND 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter college credits.
- 6 years of experience AND a Bachelor’s degree.
- 5 years of experience AND a Master’s degree or higher.
Desired Qualifications:
- Experience with Quality Assurance/Quality Control procedures of environmental laboratories, with particular emphasis on Organic Chemistry.
- Demonstrated experience writing and editing laboratory SOPs and corrective actions.
- Demonstrated experience training and helping others in a laboratory setting.
- Hands on Laboratory experience with Liquid Chromatography testing procedures using instrumentation such as LC/MS, LCMSMS HPLC.
If you are excited about this role but not sure if your experience aligns perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply. Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At the Department of Ecology, we are dedicated to building a diverse and authentic workplace centered in belonging. You may just be the needed candidate for this or other roles.
Supplemental Information
Ecology does not use the E-Verify system; therefore, we are not eligible to extend STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT). For more information, please visit www.uscis.gov.
Application Process
Ecology seeks diverse applicants: We view diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect through a broad lens including race, ethnicity, class, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, immigration status, military background, language, education, life experience, physical disability, neurodiversity, and intersectional identities. Qualified job seekers from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
How to Apply
Click “Apply” at the top of this page. Complete the entire application, including full work history and responses to all supplemental questions, and attach:
- Cover letter, describing your interest in and qualifications for this position
- Resume
Because we base our selection on the information you provide, it is in your best interest to complete the application thoroughly. A resume will not substitute for the “work experience” section of the application or vice versa. Applications with blank fields or supplemental question responses with comments such as “see resume” may be considered incomplete.
For detailed application information, please visit our Recruitment website.
Application Attestation: By submitting an application, you are affirming that the information contained in your application and on all attachments is complete and truthful. The state may verify this information, and any false or misleading answers may result in rejection of your application or dismissal if employed.
Need an Accommodation?
If you need reasonable accommodation during the application and/or screening process, including this job announcement in an alternate format:
- Please contact us at 360-407-6186 or careers@ecy.wa.gov
- If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 711 or 1-800-833-6384.
Questions?
- For specific questions about the position location options, schedule, or duties, please contact Rebecca Wood at Rebecca.Wood@ecy.wa.gov
- If you need assistance applying for this job, are inquiring about the status of your application, would like to request the full position description, or have any other questions, please contact the Recruitment Team at careers@ecy.wa.gov
About the Environmental Assessment Program
The mission of the Environmental Assessment program is to measure, assess, and communicate environmental conditions in Washington. We work to improve the environment for current and future generations through innovative and excellent science and thriving partnerships. This position, located in the Business Operations section of the Environmental Assessment program, supports this mission by accrediting environmental laboratories in order to assure that they are capable of providing accurate and defensible data to the Departments of Ecology, and Health, the Environmental Protection Agency, and other entities that require the use of accredited laboratories. The Laboratory Auditor Organic Chemistry reviews and processes applications for accreditation and performs assessments of laboratory capabilities for analyzing Organic Chemistry parameters.
About the Department of Ecology
As the State of Washington’s environmental protection agency, we are deeply committed to protecting, preserving, and enhancing Washington’s environment for current and future generations. Joining Ecology means becoming part of a team dedicated to protecting and sustaining healthy land, air, water, and climate in harmony with a strong economy. A career in public service at Ecology allows you to help solve some of the most challenging problems facing our state, while keeping your health and financial security a priority. We combine one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation with a strong commitment to life/work balance. We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, effective resource management, teamwork, professionalism, and accountability.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect (DEIR) are core values central to Ecology's work. We strive to be a workplace where we are esteemed for sharing our authentic identities, while advancing our individual professional goals and collaborating to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment for current and future generations.
We believe that DEIR is both a goal and an action. We are on a journey, honoring our shared humanity and taking steps to demonstrate our commitment to a vision where each of us is heard, seen, and valued.
Ecology employees may be eligible for the following: Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s), Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Vacation, Sick, and other Leave*, 11 Paid Holidays per year*, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver, Long Term Disability & Life Insurance, Deferred Compensation Programs, Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP), Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), Employee Assistance Program, Commute Trip Reduction Incentives (Download PDF reader), Combined Fund Drive, SmartHealth *Click here for more information
To learn more about Ecology, please visit our website, explore Working at Ecology, check out our Strategic Plan, and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or our blog.
Equal Opportunity Employer: The Washington State Department of Ecology is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, veterans, military spouses or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.
Collective Bargaining: This is a position covered by a bargaining unit for which the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) is the exclusive representative.
Note: This recruitment may be used to fill other positions of the same job classification across the agency. Once all the position(s) from the recruitment announcement are filled, the recruitment may only be used to fill additional open positions for the next sixty (60) days.
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