Chemist III Quality Assurance Officer

Department ofHealth and Human Services (DHHS)

Chemist III

Opening Date: March 13 2025

Closing Date: March 26 2025

Job Class Code: 6403

Grade: 27 (Supervisory)

Salary: $61942.40 $87464.00 per year*

*plus an additional 10 stipend

Position Number:

Location: Augusta

In this position you will serve as a Quality Assurance Officer (QAO) for the Environmental section of the Maine Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory (HETL). This position will be responsible for ensuring all aspects of the laboratorys quality system and quality assurance program are effectively performed maintained and evaluated to meet necessary accreditation requirements of that of Maine Laboratory Accreditation Program (MLAP) Radiation Control Program (RCP) American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA LAP) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). You will have oversight of the quality system and quality assurance program that includes but is not limited to the maintenance and implementation of standard operating procedures quality policies manuals and procedures and documentation practices performance and oversight of internal and external laboratory audits overseeing proficiency tests developing quality assurance training and ensuring accreditation certification is secured.

Core Responsibilities:

As a key member of the HETL team your core responsibilities will include:
Oversight of quality assurance manual policies procedures training and associated daily quality control verifications
Oversee equipment indexing equipment calibrations and assure procurement requirements are maintained for the service and preventative maintenance of equipment used in analyses
Review and ensure appropriate QC data are well documented and meet regulatory QC acceptance criteria to substantiate validity of results issued to clients/customers
Responsible for review and approval of method validations
Ensure that established corrective action procedures for outofcontrol situations are established and followed
Communicate and collaborate with staff supervisors and accreditation agencies to perform external audits ensure accreditation requirements are met and the laboratory maintains certification
Order proficiency tests (PT) and develop and communicate PT schedules and results to section supervisors who coordinate performance of the PTs
Maintain organize and retain documentation and traceable records of all testing standard operating procedures (SOPs) quality assurance manuals processes or procedures individual competency records sample analyses PTs audits calibrations authorizations and current method detection limits (MDLs) for all analytes
Serve as contact for internal and external agencies and customers regarding problems
Oversee and document training of all staff prior to analyzing samples
Manage the archiving document management system of obsolete and superseded SOPs manuals records and files associated with sample analyses
Annually evaluate the management and quality systems to ensure they meet accreditation requirements provide effective guidance in the success of laboratory operations and analyses and develop quantitatively measurable quality objectives for continual quality improvements
Serve as an ethics member to evaluate and develop ethics and data integrity training and investigate any ethical issues or concerns

Minimum Qualifications:

A Bachelors Degree in Chemistry Biochemistry or related laboratory science and four 4 years professional level experience in analytical chemistry. Equivalent experience may be substituted for education on a yearforyear basis.

Preferred candidates will also have:
Documented training and/or experience in quality assurance/quality control procedures and knowledge of the approved analytical methods and quality system requirements
Knowledge and experience with state and federal laboratory accreditation standards including ISO 17025 AIHA EPA MLAP Laboratory Accreditation standards
and Standard Methods for the analysis of environmental samples
Experience leading internal and external audits or working with regulatory agencies
Experience working both independently and within a team in an analytical laboratory
Solid foundations in chemistry and instrumental analysis to aid in method development and review and approve validations
Strong computer skills including Microsoft Office and Excel
Well organized and goal oriented to develop plans of actions necessary to meet stringent deadlines
Harbors and encourages a teamoriented environment through excellent oral and written communication skills
Ability to gather diverse collective ideas and develop solutionoriented improvements for the quality system and its analyses that meets the need of accreditation requirements and that Environmental team
Operates with honesty and integrity while being open minded and considerate to the opinions and skillset of each individual

Thinking about applying

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Agency information:

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is dedicated to promoting health safety resilience and opportunity for Maine people. The Department provides health and social services to approximately a third of the States population including children families older Mainers and individuals with disabilities mental illness and substance use disorders. The Department also promotes public health operates two state psychiatric hospitals and provides oversight to health care providers.

The mission for the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) within which this position is located is to develop and deliver services to preserve protect and promote the health and wellbeing of the citizens of Maine.

Application Information:

Please submit all documents or files in PDF format.

*To apply please upload a resume and cover letter with your application.

For additional information about this position please contact Samson Omole Associate Director at.

To request a paper application please contact

Benefits of working for the State of Maine:

No matter where you work across Maine state government you find employees who embody our state mottoDirigo or I leadas they provide essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforces health and wellbeing with a valuable total compensation package including:

• WorkLife Fit Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays 12 days of sick leave and 3 weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service and overtimeexempt employees receive personal leave.
• Health Insurance Coverage The State of Maine pays 8595 of employeeonly premiums $11196.96 $12514.32 annual value) depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs for you and your family including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State.
• Dental Insurance The State of Maine pays 100 of employeeonly dental premiums $387.92 annual value).
• Retirement Plan The State contributes the equivalent of 13.29 of the employees pay towards the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS).

• Parental leave is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a childincluding fathers and adoptive parentsreceive six weeks of fully paid parental leave. Additional unpaid leave may also be available under the Family and Medical Leave Act.

State employees are eligible for anextensive and highly competitive benefits package covering many aspects of wellness. Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness.

Note: Benefits may vary somewhat according to specific collective bargaining agreements and are prorated foranything less than fulltime.

Theres a job and then theres purposeful transformative work. Our aim is to create a workplace where you can learn grow and continuously refine your skills. Applicants demonstrate job requirements in differing ways and we appreciate that many skills and backgrounds can make people successful in this role.

As an Equal Opportunity employer Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness. We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members and our process ensures an inclusive environment to applicants of all backgrounds including diverse race color sex sexual orientation or gender identity physical or mental disability religion age ancestry national origin familial status or genetics.

If youre looking for a great next step and want to feel good about what you do wed love to hear from you. Please note reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.