Chemist IV

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS • Austin, TX

42d • Onsite

About The Position

DSHS is committed to hiring skilled and dedicated individuals who share a passion for public health to pursue our vision of A Healthy Texas. If you are looking to make an impact and tackle new challenges, we encourage you to consider a career with us.

Employee Benefits:
DSHS offers insurance coverage and other benefits available through the State of Texas Group Benefits Plan administered by the Employee Retirement System of Texas (ERS). To learn more about all the benefits available to you as a DSHS employee and other DSHS opportunities for early career pathways, visit the DSHS Careers Page.
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Functional Title: Chemist IV Job Title: Chemist IV Agency: Dept of State Health Services Department: Emergency Preparedness Posting Number: 11127 Closing Date: 03/30/2026 Posting Audience: Internal and External Occupational Category: Life, Physical, and Social Science Salary Group: TEXAS-B-23 Salary Range: $5,874.80 - $6,764.00 Pay Frequency: MonthlyShift: Day Additional Shift:  Telework: Not Eligible for Telework Travel: Up to 10% Regular/Temporary: Regular Full Time/Part Time: Full time FLSA Exempt/Non-Exempt: Nonexempt Facility Location:  Job Location City: AUSTIN Job Location Address: 1100 W 49TH ST (DBGL) Other Locations:  MOS Codes: 8831,43EX,43TX,4B0X1,4T0X1,61CX,9S100    
 Brief Job Description:
Serves as a Chemist for the Chemical Threat Laboratory in support of Cooperative Agreement for Public Health Emergency Preparedness (CDC PHEP) required grant activities. Under the supervision of the Emergency Prep. Branch Manager and the Chemical Threat Team Lead, participates in activities to ensure the Chemical Threat Team is prepared to analyze clinical specimens using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), liquid chromatograph tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MSMS), or biotechnology laboratory automation (BLA) within 24 hours of notification of a suspected or actual chemical terrorism incident. Provides training in Laboratory Response Network (LRN) Protocols for Chemical Threat testing utilizing the ICP-MS, GC-MS, BLA, and LC-MSMS technology. Maintains quality control and preventive maintenance documentation. Implements new LRN methods and procedures as they become available ensuring adherence to the protocols. Cross trains in other LRN test procedures and serves as a surge capacity analyst for all team procedures. Assists with the preparation and maintenance of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the Chemical Threat Laboratory. Provides training to Level 3 laboratories in Chemical Threat specimen collection, packaging, and shipping protocols. Interacts with the Biological LRN laboratories ensuring response capacity to a chemical threat event. Assists with activities supporting CDC PHEP grant deliverables. Characterize/identify unknown compounds (“white powders”) using wet chemistry or the laboratory’s equipment for law enforcement agencies. Performs all tasks with minimal supervision and extensive latitude for using initiative and independent judgment. Supports the creation of a laboratory-wide safety culture by serving as a liaison to the Safety Office to ensure a healthy and safe workplace. 

Requirements

• Knowledge and skill of operating ICP-MS, GC-MS, Liquid Handlers, and LC-MSMS instruments.
• Knowledge and skill of programming and operating liquid handlers.
• Knowledge of working with clinical urine, serum, and blood samples
• Knowledge of chemical and biological safety and disposal protocols
• Knowledge of clinical method development for analytical procedures.
• Knowledge of chemicals that can be used as terrorism agents
• Knowledge of shipping and packaging regulations for biological materials.
• Knowledge of laboratory training techniques
• Knowledge of QA and QC principles as required by CLIA/CAP
• Ability to follow complex standard operating procedures
• Ability to be on call 24/7 on a rotating basis.
• Ability to work effectively 24/7 when required.
• Skilled in the use of Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS)
• Skilled in communicating effectively oral and written
• Skilled in working as a team under time constraints and high-pressured emergency situations
• Experience operating ICP, GC, or LC instruments
• Education: BS/BA, Masters, or Doctorate in a chemical, physical, biological, or clinical laboratory science or medical technology from an accredited institution.
• Must possess a valid Class C Texas driver’s license, or equivalent license from another state.

Responsibilities

• Ensure that the Chemical Threat Team is prepared to analyze clinical specimens using ICP-MS, GC-MS, BLA, and LC-MSMS methods within 24 hours after notification of a suspected or actual chemical terrorism event as indicated in the CDC PHEP grant.
• Understands and applies the quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) principles required for clinical specimen analysis as required by CLIA/CAP.
• Prepares Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) as assigned for the Team’s activities.
• Maintains the ability to operate and troubleshoot all instruments used by the Team in support of CDC PHEP grant deliverables.
• Leads and assists in the development of designing and implementing automation protocols with various BLA equipment.
• Plans and evaluates, as assigned, the technical requirements for adding new analytical and automated workflow methods.
• Performs other duties and activities in support of the EP branch as assigned, including but 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.
• Assists with analyses in the Newborn Metabolic Screening, Clinical Chemistry, Microbiological or Environmental Sciences Groups as necessary.
• Participates and supports DSHS/Chemical Threat Laboratory Safety Program activities.

Benefits

• DSHS offers insurance coverage and other benefits available through the State of Texas Group Benefits Plan administered by the Employee Retirement System of Texas (ERS).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees