Laboratory Chemist - Regional Wastewater Reclamation

Pima County • Tucson, AZ

1d • $26 - $37 • Onsite

About The Position

Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department is seeking talented people with a keen eye for detail to become part of our Compliance and Regulatory Affairs Office (CRAO) Laboratory team. If you care about public health and the environment and have experience in laboratory water analysis, quality review of data, laboratory safety, and instrument calibration, we can use your skills to assist us as a Wastewater Laboratory Chemist. The Organic Chemistry Unit supports Pima County’s Waste Treatment Facilities through the analysis of volatile, semi-volatile, and pesticide contaminants in Wastewater Effluent and Industrial Discharge Sites. Typical work assignments include the operation of GC and GC-MS instruments using established EPA methods, chemical extractions, and method development.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major in chemistry, microbiology, environmental science, biology, or other closely related science as determined by the department head AND two years of professional-level, paid, non-academic experience performing chemical or microbiological analysis in a laboratory setting. (Relevant experience and/or education from an accredited college or university may be substituted.) OR: Two years with Pima County as a Laboratory Technician.
• Valid driver license is required at time of application. Valid AZ driver license is required at time of appointment.
• The successful applicant will be subject to a 39-month DOT Motor Vehicle Record review to determine applicant’s suitability to operate county vehicles in accordance with Pima County administrative procedures.
• The County requires pre-employment background checks. Successful candidates will receive a post-offer, pre-employment background screening to include verification of work history, education, and criminal conviction history.
• Some positions may require satisfactory completion of a personal background investigation by the court or law enforcement agencies, due to the need for access to County Attorney and Court facilities, records, and communication systems.
• This position will require a post-job offer physical and/or drug screen.

Nice To Haves

• Experience, within the last five (5) years, performing laboratory analyses on water or wastewater.
• Experience, within the last five (5) years, operating, maintaining, and calibrating sophisticated lab equipment such as Gas Chromatograph, Mass Spectrometer, High Performance Liquid Chromatograph, Ion Chromatograph, and Inductively Coupled Plasma.
• Experience, within the last five (5) years, performing the extractions or digestions on water, wastewater, or soil samples.
• Experience, within the last five (5) years, performing method development, optimization, and implementation.
• Experience with data entry and review in a Lab Information Management System.
• Experience handling and working with chemicals.
• Experience with/knowledge of laboratory safety and safety equipment.
• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite (PowerPoint, Word & Excel).

Responsibilities

• Performs sophisticated chemical and microbial analyses
• Operates complicated analytical instrumentation such as ion chromatography (IC), atomic absorption and atomic fluorescence analyzers, gas chromatograph/mass spectrometers (GC/MS), inductively-coupled plasma/Mass spectrometers (ICP/MS) and inductively-coupled plasma/optical emissions spectra (ICP/OES)
• Obtains water samples, operates field instrumentation, and records results
• Prepares samples for testing using complex chemical extraction and digestion techniques
• Maintains manual and automated records and logbooks, enters and interprets data, and prepares reports
• Monitors laboratory data of technicians and chemists in training to validate the accuracy and precision of analytical results
• Assists Laboratory Supervisors in writing standardized operating procedures and laboratory audit procedures
• Assists Laboratory Supervisors in training Laboratory Technicians and new staff
• Performs routine Quality Assurance/Quality Control procedures and documentations to comply with licensure requirements with the Arizona Department of Health Services
• Adheres to safety procedures in accordance with the laboratory’s Quality Manual and Chemical Hygiene Plan
• Prepares, utilizes, and properly disposes of various chemical standards, solvents, reagents, and bacteriological media
• Maintains manual and automated laboratory records and logbooks for test methods and quality control measures as required by regulatory standards
• Maintains facilities and equipment in accordance with departmental and professional standards

Benefits

• competitive salaries
• generous health insurance coverage
• retirement plans
• flexible work schedules
• a generous family leave policy
• wellness programs
• opportunities for professional advancement through training programs, workshops, and educational reimbursement programs
• County-wide employee recognition program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level