Chemist III

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS•Austin, TX

20h•Onsite

About The Position

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) seeks highly qualified candidates to fill this Chemist III position within the Environmental Chemistry Unit (ECU) of the DSHS Public Health Laboratory Division (PHLD). DSHS plays an important role with a mission to improve the health, safety, and well-being of Texans through good stewardship of public resources, and a focus on core public health functions. This position in the ECU's Radiochemistry Group is responsible for performing moderately complex chemical analysis of drinking water and environmental samples for radionuclides according to standard operating procedures (SOPs) as well as preparing and analyzing food samples for the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Laboratory Flexible Funding Model (LFFM) cooperative agreement. The position requires all DSHS Performance Dimensions for Personal Responsibility be met as well as, consistently complying with DSHS Laboratory, local, state and federal guidelines to ensure a safe functioning laboratory. In addition to rewarding, meaningful work, DSHS offers a variety of benefits, which can be found at https://ers.texas.gov/Benefits-at-a-Glance, and generous leave based on years of service. A list of State of Texas holidays is available at: http://www.hr.sao.texas.gov/Holidays. Attends work on a regular and predictable schedule in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Must have earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, environmental sciences, biological sciences, or physical sciences from an accredited college or university with a strong concentration in chemistry.
Recent laboratory experience performing drinking water or environmental analyses or recent experience working in a high-volume testing laboratory environment.

Responsibilities

Performs the assigned analysis of drinking water and environmental samples for radioactive isotopes.
Performs complex chemical separation and purification procedures requiring a high degree of skill and expertise.
Prepares sample batches for environmental isotopic analysis, sequential Radium (Ra-228 and Ra-226) analysis, gross alpha and gross beta analysis, tritium analysis, Uranium analysis, and Strontium analysis as detailed in the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
Cooperates and communicates effectively with coworkers concerning the workload and assignments.
Completes all subsequent calculations and initial data review.
Performs data entry.
Assists the team leader in investigating causes for analytical problems, implementing solutions, and documenting corrective actions.
Prepares and labels all reagents used in analysis procedures in an accurate and timely manner.
Requests supplies and chemicals as necessary so that sample analyses are not delayed.
Operates the analytical instruments used in the assigned analysis procedures according to written SOPs and manages the counting instruments to maximize use of available counting time.
Performs instrument calibration verifications and preventative maintenance as specified in the SOP to assure acceptable instrument performance.
Evaluates and verifies instrument performance daily before use, reports instrument problems to the team leader, and assists with troubleshooting efforts.
Completes and documents all required quality control (QC) steps as defined in the SOPs and Quality Manual for assigned test procedures.
Includes the designated QC samples with each batch of samples processed.
Evaluates analytical QC data after analysis to determine data acceptability and notifies the team leader of any questionable data.
Completes all calculations and data review and submits to team leader for review.
Conducts initial processing and preservation of incoming samples.
Verifies incoming sample identity, demographic data, requested testing, and preservation status.
Performs routine housekeeping and decontamination protocols.
Performs routine cleaning and decontamination of beakers, pipets, centrifuges, hoods and other equipment as required.
Performs routine surveys of laboratory work surfaces to monitor radiological contamination levels and submits results to team leader.
Coordinates with the gamma spectroscopist or team lead to prepare soil, vegetation, tissue and food samples for gamma analysis as assigned.
Performs dry weight determinations, ashing, grinding and other sample preparation procedures as assigned.
Assists with the training of other staff members with strict adherence to SOPs.
Assists team leader in determining causes for analytical problems, implementing solutions, and documenting corrective actions.
Functions as a member of the radiological emergency response team.
Assists in the preparation of the mobile lab for travel and onsite operations within two hours of notification.
Participates as assigned in training and graded emergency response exercises.
Provides observations and suggestions that may improve emergency response procedures.
Safe operation of either a state owned vehicle or personal vehicle is required to conduct state business and an acceptable driving record must be maintained in accordance with DSHS Policy OS-3901, Fleet Operations and Management & Procedures and standards developed by the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Performs other duties as assigned, which include but are not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation.
May include training for and performing, as needed, additional methods or tasks not specifically listed above.
Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.