Laboratory Chemist - Regional Wastewater Reclamation

Pima County • Tucson, AZ

23h • $26 - $37

About The Position

Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department is seeking detail-oriented and motivated professionals to join our Compliance and Regulatory Affairs Office (CRAO) Laboratory team. As part of our Quality Assurance /Quality Control (QA/QC) Unit, you will play a critical role in supporting Pima County’s Waste Treatment Facilities by ensuring the accuracy, reliability, and integrity of laboratory data, while promoting a safe and compliant work environment. Typical work assignments include laboratory and contract lab review, Laboratory document and SDS management, managing sample receiving processes, conducting internal audits, safety meetings, and safety orientations, and maintaining safety equipment. This is an excellent opportunity to contribute your expertise to meaningful work that safeguards both community health and the environment. If you are passionate about protecting public health and the environment and have experience in laboratory water analysis, data quality review, laboratory safety, and instrument calibration, we encourage you to apply.

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.

Nice To Haves

• Minimum two (2) years professional experience performing analysis on water or wastewater within the last five years using EPA-approved methods.
• Experience within the last five (5) years acting as a reviewer of laboratory raw data, looking for data quality issues.
• Experience editing Excel spreadsheets, creating PowerPoint presentations, and using Adobe Acrobat Pro to edit PDFs.
• Experience within the last five (5) years in performing laboratory instrument calibrations.
• Experience using a Laboratory Information Management System.
• Experience performing laboratory internal audits and root cause analysis.
• Professional experience evaluating and revising laboratory standard operating procedures.

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

• Employees enjoy competitive salaries, generous health insurance coverage, and retirement plans that contribute to long-term financial security.
• Pima County recognizes the importance of a healthy work-life balance, offering flexible work schedules, a generous family leave policy and wellness programs that prioritize employee well-being.
• Employees benefit from opportunities for professional advancement through training programs, workshops, and educational reimbursement programs.
• In addition, a County-wide employee recognition program rewards employees who exemplify the County values of being accountable, respectful and ethical as well as providing great customer service.

What This Job Offers

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