Quality Assurance Officer (Chemist 4)

State of Washington•Lacey, WA

45d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Department of Ecology is hiring a Quality Assurance Officer (Chemist 4) within the Environmental Assessment Program. In this role, one challenge will be maintaining and leading a consistent, agency-wide quality assurance system that meets both U.S. EPA standards and Ecology's internal scientific rigor, while coordinating across multiple programs with distinct monitoring goals, data systems, and laboratory practices. You will be required to balance technical QA/QC expertise, policy-level oversight, and collaborative conflict resolution among diverse program QA Coordinators and leadership teams - all while ensuring data credibility that underpins Ecology's environmental decisions.

Requirements

Ten (10) years of experience and/or education as described below:
Experience performing chemical analysis in an analytical laboratory, in laboratory data quality assurance, laboratory operations, or related QA/QC program management or experience developing, implementing, or managing Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPPs), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), or quality management systems.
Education must include a major in chemistry or in a closely related field-such as environmental science, biology, engineering, or statistics-and must include at least 30 semester hours (or 45 quarter hours) of college-level chemistry.
Examples of how to qualify:
10 years of experience.
9 years of experience AND 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter college credits in a major above.
8 years of experience AND 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter college credits (Associate's degree) in a major above.
7 years of experience AND 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter college credits in a major above.
6 years of experience AND a Bachelor's degree in one of the above majors including the chemistry credits.
4 years of experience AND a Master's degree in one of the above majors including the chemistry credits.
3 years of experience AND a Ph.D in one of the above majors including the chemistry credits.

Nice To Haves

Graduate level chemistry degree or coursework.
15 or more semester hours or 20 quarter hours in college-level statistics.
Experience implementing a quality assurance system.
5 or more years of experience writing QAPPs and/or SOPs.

Responsibilities

Agency-wide Quality System Oversight
Develop, document, implement, and continuously improve Ecology's QA/QC systems and procedures in alignment with EPA requirements and agency policy.
Policy and Planning Leadership
Maintain and update the Executive Policy Establishing Quality Assurance (22-01) and Quality Management Plan (QMP); ensure all program managers understand and sign off on the plan; advise executive leadership on QA matters.
Coordination and Liaison with EPA and Other Agencies
Serve as Ecology's principal contact for QA/QC with the U.S. EPA; coordinate requirements, update the QA section of the EPA/Ecology Performance Partnership Agreement, and represent Ecology in external QA discussions.
Program Oversight and Technical Assistance
Provide guidance, technical assistance, and conflict resolution for Program QA Coordinators (QACs); review and approve QAPPs, SOPs, and requests related to laboratory accreditation waivers.
Training and Capacity Building
Manage QA training needs across programs; develop and deliver "train-the-trainer" initiatives for QACs; organize and lead QA/QC training for environmental monitoring and data management staff.
Environmental Assessment Program (EAP) QA Coordination
Serve as QAC for EAP by managing SOP reviews and updates, maintaining QA documentation, supporting staff in QA/QC implementation, and ensuring continuous compliance with EPA QA expectations.