Laboratory Chemist

Job Description Summary
Department - Regional Wastewater ReclamationJob Description

REVISED

Job Type: Classified

Job Classification: 5548 - Laboratory Chemist

Salary Grade 11

Pay Range:
Hiring Range: $25.12 - $30.14 Per Hour
Full Range: $25.12 - $35.17 Per Hour

Salary offers are based on the candidate's equivalent experience and internal equity with other employees within the same job classification.

Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department is seeking a talented Laboratory Chemist with a keen eye for details to become part of our Compliance and Regulatory Affairs Office (CRAO) Quality Assurance team. If you care about public health and the environment and have experience in laboratory water analysis, data peer review, laboratory safety, and instrument calibration, we can use your skills to assist us as a Laboratory Chemist. Typical work assignments include sample collection and receiving, new method development, chemical hygiene, internal audits, and laboratory safety inspections. This position supports the CRAO team by focusing on the processes and procedures that improve data quality, training, documentation, monitoring, and audits to provide data integrity for regulatory compliance purposes.

Essential Functions:

As defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, this classification may include any of the following tasks, knowledge, skills, and other characteristics. This list is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and tasks performed by incumbents of this class. Work assignments may vary depending on the department's need and will be communicated to the application or incumbent by the supervisor.

• 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 documentation 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.
• Responsible for other duties as assigned in support of the overall goals and functions of both the Human Resources Department and Pima County.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in chemistry, microbiology, environmental science, biology, or other closely related science as defined by the appointing authority AND two years of professional level, paid, non-academic, experience performing chemical or microbiological analysis in a laboratory setting.

(Additional relevant education from an accredited college or university or experience may be substituted.)

OR:

Two years with Pima County as a Laboratory Technician.

Qualifying education and experience must be clearly documented in the "Education" and "Work Experience" sections of the application. Do not substitute a resume for your application or write "see resume" on your

application.

Preferred Qualifications: (Be specific in describing your experience in your application. Ensure the descriptions provided illustrate your competencies, specifically addressing the required and preferred qualifications.):

• 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.

Selection Procedure:

Pima County Human Resources Department reserves the right to admit to the selection process only those candidates that meet the minimum/desired qualifications. All applications will be assessed based on an evaluation of the listed education and experience. Candidates meeting the minimum/desired qualifications may be further evaluated/scored against any advertised Preferred Qualifications. The hiring authority will interview and select the successful candidates from a referral list provided by Human Resources. Additional assessments/testing may be required as part of the selection process.

Supplemental Information:

Licenses and Certificates: 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. Failure to obtain and maintain the required licenses and certifications shall be grounds for termination. Any offer of employment resulting from this recruitment is contingent upon Fleet Services' review and approval of the candidate's driving record. Failure to maintain the required licensure shall be grounds for termination.

Special Notice Items: 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. A prior criminal conviction will not automatically disqualify a candidate from employment with the County.

Physical/Sensory Requirements: Long periods of standing, sitting, and repetitive motions may be required. Regular, daily attendance is an essential function for this position. Some positions require the ability to lift and carry up to fifty pounds.

Working Conditions: The Laboratory Chemist position works primarily inside a climate controlled laboratory building, with some positions traveling to other county facilities to collect samples and field data in an outdoor industrial setting for a portion of the day. Working with or in the presence of obnoxious odors. Working with noxious or potentially hazardous chemicals, compounds, or wastewater products.

EEO Information: Pima County Government is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We are committed to an inclusive and diverse workforce and will not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, kinship, political interest, or any other characteristic protected by law.