Job Description

　　The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) is the state agency responsible for ensuring clean air and water, the safe management of toxics and hazards, the recycling of solid and hazardous wastes, the timely cleanup of hazardous waste sites and spills, and the preservation of wetlands and coastal resources. MassDEP's mission is to protect and enhance the Commonwealth's natural resources - air, water, and land - to provide for the health, safety, and welfare of all people, and to ensure a clean and safe environment for future generations. In carrying out this mission, MassDEP commits to address and advance environmental justice and equity for all people of the Commonwealth; provide meaningful, inclusive opportunities for people to participate in agency decisions that affect their lives; and ensure a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

　　MassDEP seeks applicants with experience in the analysis of inorganic chemical contaminants and parameters in drinking water and other environmental matrices for a Chemist II position in the Division of Environmental Laboratory Sciences (DELS) within the Bureau of Planning and Evaluation (BPE). DELS serves as the state principal drinking water laboratory as required for primacy under the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act. DELS programs generate scientific information/data from the laboratory analysis of environmental samples and other activities that directly support MassDEP's mission to protect human health and environmental quality and serve as critical links in the state's disaster and homeland security preparedness efforts.

　　This position will be based in MassDEP's historic Senator William X. Wall Experiment Station (WES), Lawrence, MA (Massachusetts' state environmental laboratory facility) and will function as an Environmental Chemist in the DELS Environmental Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory (EICL). Duties for this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

　　1. Performing highly complex analyses of potable and non-potable water, wastewater, biosolids, fish/biological tissue, soil, sediment, industrial liquid waste, solid and hazardous waste, and other types of environmental samples, including enforcement samples, for regulated and unregulated inorganic chemical contaminants and parameters, including sanitary chemistry analytes, cyanide species, nutrients, inorganic anions, inorganic disinfection by-products, mercury, other metals/elements, and hazardous waste characterization according to U.S. EPA and other standard methods, and maintaining analytical proficiency. This work includes sample preparation using microwave or hot block digestion, Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) extraction, and distillation, and instrumental analysis using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), ICP-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), ion chromatography (IC-UV/Vis or IC-conductivity), direct mercury analyzer (DMA-80), segmented flow auto-analyzer, auto-titrator, and UV-VIS spectrometry.

　　2. Operating, repairing, servicing, and maintaining the advanced laboratory instrumentation listed above.

　　3. Assisting in the implementation and maintenance of the EICL's quality assurance (QA)/quality control (QC) program. Performing first-level QA reviews of inorganic analytical data produced by other EICL analysts.

　　4. Preparing/updating standard operating procedures (SOPs) and applicable sections of the DELS-WES Laboratory Quality Assurance Plan (QAP) for the EICL.

　　5. Entering sample information and analytical data into the MassDEP Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) and generating sample analytical reports from the LIMS.

　　6. Assisting in the development and validation of new methods for the analysis of inorganic chemical contaminants and parameters in environmental samples.

　　7. Reviewing scientific literature to keep informed of new procedures, methods, materials, and findings in the field of environmental inorganic analytical chemistry.

　　8. Training new EICL employees (including contract employees and interns) in the operation of analytical instrumentation and good laboratory practices. Supervising contract employees and interns.

　　9. Developing specifications for the procurement of new laboratory equipment and of expendable supplies for the EICL.

　　10. Training and providing other assistance to MassDEP regional and program staff in the proper environmental sampling procedures for the analysis of inorganic chemical contaminants and parameters.

　　11. Advising MassDEP regional, program, and legal staff on environmental analytical matters and providing courtroom testimony (oral and written) on analytical test results.

　　12. Assisting in the conduct of applied research pertinent to MassDEP programs on the analysis of inorganic chemical contaminants and parameters in the Massachusetts environment, and documenting research results for publication, including publication in peer-reviewed journals.

　　Preferred Qualifications at Hire:

　　1. A bachelor's or graduate degree with a major in the field of chemistry.

　　2. Three or more years of experience with inorganic analytical chemistry laboratory procedures and instrumentation used to test water and other environmental samples as described in the duties listed above.

　　3. Skill in operating and maintaining complex analytical laboratory equipment.

　　4. Knowledge of and experience with analytical laboratory quality assurance/quality control and safety procedures.

　　5. Knowledge of and experience with the development and validation of analytical chemistry methods.

　　6. Knowledge of the techniques used for collecting, handling, and transporting environmental samples.

　　7. Knowledge of statistics as applied to environmental laboratory analytical data.

　　8. Ability to analyze and determine the applicability of chemical laboratory data to draw conclusions and make appropriate recommendations.

　　9. Experience with personal computers and associated software.

　　10. Excellent oral and written communication skills.

　　11. Ability to adjust to changing situations and to meet emergency or changing program requirements.

　　12. Ability to assist in the training and supervision of subordinate personnel.

　　13. Ability to work independently and as a member of a team.

　　14. Ability to respect confidentiality and exercise sound judgment/discretion in a professional manner.

　　Qualifications

　　First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.

　　Minimum Entrance Requirements:

　　Applicants must have (A) at least three (3) years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, professional or academic research experience in chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, or (B) any equivalent combination of the required experience and the substitutions below.

　　Based on assignment, applicants must meet related Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act (CLIA) requirements for High Complexity Testing.

　　Incumbents may be required to have a current and valid motor vehicle driver's license at a class level specific to assignment.

　　Substitutions:

　　I. A Bachelor's degree with a major in chemistry, organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, analytical chemistry, physical chemistry, biochemistry, or related scientific field may be substituted for two (2) years of the required experience.

　　II. A Master's degree or higher with a major in chemistry, organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, analytical chemistry, physical chemistry, biochemistry or related scientific field may be substituted for the required experience.

　　Comprehensive Benefits

　　When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

　　Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!

　　An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

　　The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.