Organic Chemist

City of New York • Queens, NY

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) enriches the environment and protects public health for all New Yorkers by providing 1.1 billion gallons of high quality drinking water, managing wastewater and stormwater, and reducing air, noise, and hazardous materials pollution. DEP is the largest combined municipal water and wastewater utility in the country, with nearly 6,000 employees. DEP's water supply system is comprised of 19 reservoirs and 3 controlled lakes throughout the system’s 2,000 square mile watershed that extends 125 miles north and west of the City. The Bureau of Water Supply, Division of Distribution Water Quality (DWQ) is seeking to hire an Associate Chemist Level III, to serve as an Organic Chemist in the Organic Chemistry section of the Distribution Laboratory. Under direction, of the Organic Chemistry Section Supervisor, the Associate Chemist III will serve as the Organic Chemist and will perform routine and responsible qualitative and quantitative analyses of trace organic contaminants in drinking water using complex gas chromatographic methods and analyze water samples for volatile and semi-volatile compounds following New York State approved drinking water testing methods in compliance with all applicable environmental, health and safety regulations and DEP’s policies and procedures.

Requirements

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college, including or supplemented by 16 semester credits in chemistry and 8 semester credits in any one or a combination of the following areas: chemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, environmental science, forensic science, or other natural science.
• At the time of appointment to a clinical laboratory, candidates must possess a valid License as a Clinical Laboratory Technologist issued by the New York State Education Department. This license must be maintained for the duration of employment.
• After meeting the minimum requirements described for Assignment Level I, at least two years of fulltime satisfactory experience performing chemical or physical analyses in a laboratory.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office suite software including Excel, Word, Power Point, SharePoint and Teams
• Familiarity with database systems such as STARLIMS brand Laboratory Information Management System
• Ability to analyze samples accurately and precisely
• Ability to utilize the New York State Environmental Laboratory Approval Program (ELAP) administered in accordance with directives of the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Conference (TNI), and Standard Methods for assigned analysis to obtain Quality Control objectives
• Analytical ability
• Interpersonal skills
• Communication skills both written and oral
• Time management

Responsibilities

• Performing routine analytical testing using drinking water organic chemistry approved methods following written protocols.
• Conducting routine laboratory quality control procedures according to Environmental Laboratory Approval Program (ELAP)/ The Nelac Institute (TNI) protocols and the DWQ Quality Assurance Manual while ensuring that analyses are performed in accordance with regulatory requirements for drinking water.
• Implementing methods for organic analysis of drinking water samples. Which includes but is not limited to: Selecting reagents, preparing specifications for equipment to be purchased, preparing method standard operating procedures (SOPs), and obtaining initial Quality Control (QC) objectives.
• Reviewing QC data generated by analysts; monitoring QC charts and tables for accuracy; entry of data into QC charts and tables; and devising protocols for the preparation of calibration standards and QC solutions.
• Identifying errors or potential problems that could result in errors; and taking corrective actions; and evaluating the corrective actions taken, to prevent recurrence.
• Assisting with the enhancement to the automated Laboratory Information System (STARLiMS) for data record keeping and report generation to meet the needs for the section including appropriate QC validation rules and electronic transfer of data. Reviews data and generates reports.
• Maintaining inventories of equipment and supplies.
• Operating and maintaining analytical instruments in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions, diagnosing instrument problems and performing routine maintenance of analytical instrumentation making minor repairs, adjustments and calibrations as needed.

What This Job Offers

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