Plant / Staff Chemist

Philadelphia Gas Works•Philadelphia, PA

46d•Hybrid

About The Position

Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) is seeking a motivated individual to join their team as a Mid Level / Plant / Sr Staff Chemist. This role is crucial for ensuring the safe, economical, and efficient operations of natural gas processing and distribution. PGW is the largest municipally owned gas utility in the nation, committed to becoming the Greenest Natural Gas Delivery Company in the region. This position is located at the Passyunk Plant in Philadelphia, PA. Initially, the role requires being on-site five days a week, with potential for a hybrid work week after six months for PA residents (4 days in, 1 remote). An on-call rotation is also required.

Requirements

Bachelor degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Industrial Hygiene, Safety, or similar degree required.
2 years’ work experience with exposure to science or technical disciplines. Field experience is highly preferred.
Valid PA Driver`s License with good driving record.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
Working knowledge of scientifically approved and recognized methodologies with the ability to apply learned skills/knowledge to ensure the accuracy of results through appropriate quality control and quality assurance measures.
Knowledge of federal, state, and local public safety regulations covered by Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Centers for Disease Control, etc.
Self-motivated with the ability to work independently on both routine and non-routine duties and assignments, with little or no assistance supervision required to perform job functions.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to interpret and convey technical information in clear terms for non-technical staff of all business disciplines.

Nice To Haves

40-hour Hazardous Waste Operations Training (HAZWOPER) preferred but training can be provided for the right candidate.
Knowledge of gas chromatography and instrumental analyses as well as experience maintaining instrumentation is highly desirable.
Certifications from the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (CSP), Institute of Hazardous Materials Management (CHMM), or the American Board of Industrial Hygiene (CIH) are desirable.

Responsibilities

Assist in planning, coordinating, and executing laboratory and fieldwork to support safe, economical, and efficient operations for natural gas processing and distribution.
Conduct routine and non-routine sampling of natural gas for quality control, safety assurance, and troubleshooting.
Collect and analyze, or coordinate external laboratory analysis of, samples of other materials as needed to assist other PGW Departments with operational problems or safety concerns.
Assist in the analytical assessment of PGW properties, facilities, and jobsites for safety and environmental hazards prior to renovation or demolition work, or in response to requests. This includes assisting with asbestos-containing material (ACM) surveys, lead-containing paint (LCP) surveys, and indoor air quality surveys.
Oversee the work of contractors remediating asbestos, lead paint, mold, or other hazards at PGW locations, and recommend personal protective equipment, work practices, and other remedial actions.
Coordinate and/or assist with health and safety assessments, annual respirator fit testing, and annual odorant recognition testing to ensure employee and facility safety.
Provide guidance to PGW personnel on health and safety protocols and policies, and ensure these policies are current, documented, and distributed.
Manage and/or assist with the management of testing, evaluating, and recommending new products and materials for PGW based on toxicity, flammability, reactivity, routes of exposure, protective equipment requirements, and product effectiveness. Recommend personal protective equipment and work practices for employees handling hazardous materials and/or wastes.
Manage and/or assist with the management of PGW’s Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)/Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and Right-to-Know (RTK) programs, and assist with advanced training, instruction, and lectures for Operations and Service Department employee education and awareness.
Assist with PGW’s storage tank compliance program, including monthly inspections, leak detection system recordkeeping, system troubleshooting, and oversight during contractor work. Recommend repairs and upgrades to storage tank systems and implement corrective actions.
Coordinate and/or assist with waste characterization and oversee waste pickups, review and sign PGW waste manifests, and support annual waste reporting activities.
Respond on an on-call basis to Field Operations and Gas Processing for unknown product analysis requests, Field Operations mercury spills, spilled material analysis, low and supplemental odorant verification requests, explosions or potential explosions, and suspected asbestos or chemical releases.
Provide supplemental odorization services, including liquid odorant injections, wick odorizer installation, and portable odorizer installation and monitoring.
Assist with calibration, maintenance, and troubleshooting of field and laboratory instrumentation, as well as certain instruments used by Field Operations and Gas Processing.
Assist with maintenance and servicing of environmental remediation systems and assist with wastewater sampling and compliance reporting for NPDES permits and industrial wastewater discharge permits.
Generate various reports on a daily, weekly, monthly, and annual basis.
Be flexible to work between sites and out-of-hours for various projects and emergency responses to PGW jobsites at non-PGW locations.
Perform other special projects and assignments as requested.