Laboratory Chemist Organic Division Regional Wastewater Reclamation

Job Classification: 5548 - Laboratory Chemist

Salary Grade: 11

Pay Range

Hiring Range: $27.19 - $32.63 Per Hour

Pay Range: $27.19 - $38.06 Per Hour

Range Explanation:

• Hiring Range is an estimate of where you can receive an offer. The actual salary offer will carefully consider a wide range of factors including your skills qualifications experience education licenses training and internal equity.

• Pay Range is the entire compensation range for the position.

Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department (RWRD) is seeking talented people with a keen eye for detail to become part of our Compliance and Regulatory Affairs Office Laboratory team. If you care about public health and the environment and have experience in laboratory water analysis quality review of data laboratory safety and instrument calibration we can use your skills to assist us as a Wastewater Laboratory Chemist. The Organic Chemistry Unit supports Pima Countys Waste Treatment Facilities through the analysis volatile semi-volatile and pesticide contaminates in Wastewater Effluent and Industrial Discharge Sites. Typical work assignments include the operation of GC and GC-MS instruments using established EPA methods chemical extractions and method development.

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 departments need and will be communicated to the applicant 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 documentations to comply with licensure requirements with the Arizona Department of Health Services;

• Adheres to safety procedures in accordance with the laboratorys 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.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university with a major in chemistry microbiology environmental science biology or other closely related science as determined by the department head AND two years of professional level paid non-academic experience performing chemical or microbiological analysis in a laboratory setting.

(Relevant experience and/or education from an accredited college or university 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.):

• Experience within the last five (5) years performing laboratory analyses on water or wastewater.

• Experience within the last five (5) years operating maintaining and calibrating sophisticated lab equipment such as; Gas Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer High Performance Liquid Chromatograph Ion Chromatograph Inductively Coupled Plasma.

• Experience within the last five (5) years performing the extractions or digestions on water wastewater or soil samples.

• Experience within the last five (5) years performing method development optimization and implementation.

• Experience with data entry and review into a Lab Information Management System.

• Experience handling and working with chemicals.

• Experience with/knowledge of laboratory safety and safety equipment.

• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite (PowerPoint Word and Excel).

Selection Procedure:

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

Supplemental Information:

Licenses and Certificates:Valid driver license is required at time of application. ValidAZdriver license is required at time of appointment. The successful applicant will be subject to a 39-month DOT Motor Vehicle Record review to determine applicants 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 candidates driving record

Special Notice Items: Some positions may require satisfactory completion of a personal background investigation by the court or law enforcement agencies due to the need for access to County Attorney and Court facilities records and communication systems. 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.Pima Countydetermineswhether a position is eligible for visa sponsorship at the time of recruitment. Eligibility is based on the requirements of the position and applicable laws and regulations. Not all positions with Pima County are eligible for visa sponsorship. This position will require apost-job offer physicaland/or drug screen.

Physical/Sensory Requirements: Physical and sensory abilities will be determined by position. Frequently required to lift push or pull objects weighing up to 75 pounds. Action Activity - bending climbing crawling kneeling reaching squatting stooping; Motion Activity - grasping; Hearing Activity - in noisy areas on a radio behind themselves equipment alarms; Speaking Activity - in person on the phone on a radio; Vision - operate motor vehicle operate forklift/power industrial equipment distinguish colors.

Working Conditions: Working conditions will be determined by the position.

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.