Description:

MassDEP seeks an applicant for the position of Chemist III. This position performs advanced environmental laboratory analyses of inorganic contaminants in air, water, wastewater, soil, sediment, biological tissue, hazardous waste, and other environmental samples to support MassDEP's regulatory, compliance, enforcement, and public health programs. The role is responsible for operating and maintaining sophisticated analytical instrumentation, ensuring data quality and laboratory compliance, supporting method development and research, managing laboratory information systems and documentation, and providing technical training and guidance to laboratory and agency staff.

Duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Perform complex inorganic chemical analyses of environmental samples using EPA-approved methods and advanced analytical instrumentation, including ICP-OES, ICP-MS, ion chromatography, mercury analyzers, UV-Vis spectrometry, and related laboratory equipment.
• Prepare environmental samples for analysis using specialized techniques such as microwave digestion, hot block digestion, TCLP extraction, distillation, and other standard laboratory procedures.
• Operate, troubleshoot, calibrate, maintain, and coordinate repairs of sophisticated laboratory instrumentation to ensure reliable analytical performance.
• Support and maintain the laboratory's Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) program by conducting data reviews, verifying analytical results, and ensuring compliance with laboratory quality standards.
• Develop, update, and maintain laboratory standard operating procedures (SOPs), quality documentation, and controlled laboratory records.
• Manage analytical data and sample information within the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), prepare analytical reports, and maintain accurate sample tracking documentation.
• Assist in the development, validation, and implementation of new analytical methods and technologies for inorganic environmental contaminants.
• Provide technical training and guidance to laboratory staff, interns, contractors, and MassDEP personnel on laboratory procedures, instrumentation, and environmental sampling practices.
• Conduct scientific research, review emerging analytical methods and literature, and contribute to technical reports and peer-reviewed publications supporting MassDEP programs.
• Coordinate laboratory logistics, including sample receipt, chain-of-custody documentation, shipping, scheduling, and communication with internal and external clients.
• Support laboratory operations by managing chemical inventories, assisting with equipment and supply procurement, maintaining training records, and ensuring compliance with laboratory safety and documentation requirements.
• Perform related technical, administrative, and operational duties to support the efficient operation of the Environmental Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Comprehensive knowledge of analytical inorganic chemistry principles, laboratory procedures, and instrumentation used to analyze environmental samples, including air, water, wastewater, soil, sediment, biological tissue, and hazardous waste.
• Experience operating, troubleshooting, maintaining, and calibrating advanced analytical laboratory instrumentation.
• Knowledge of laboratory Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC), laboratory safety practices, and analytical method development and validation.
• Knowledge of environmental sample collection, handling, preservation, transportation, and chain-of-custody procedures.
• Ability to analyze, interpret, and evaluate laboratory analytical data using statistical methods to develop sound conclusions and recommendations.
• Proficiency with laboratory information systems, personal computers, and software applications including Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel), Adobe Acrobat, Power BI, cloud-based applications, and AI-assisted technologies.
• Ability to prepare and maintain accurate laboratory records, analytical reports, technical documentation, templates, charts, graphs, and data summaries.
• Excellent organizational, data management, and data informatics skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and maintain data integrity.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly communicate technical information to diverse audiences.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships, collaborate across teams, provide technical guidance, and contribute as both an independent worker and team member.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, adapt to changing priorities and emergency situations, and effectively manage competing program requirements.
• Demonstrated leadership skills with the ability to train, mentor, and lead small teams while fostering a productive and collaborative work environment.

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 five (5) years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, professional or academic research experience in chemistry, organic chemistry, or biochemistry, of which (B) at least one (1) year must be in a supervisory or leadership capacity or (C) 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 (A) experience.

II. A Master's degree with a major in chemistry, organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, analytical chemistry, physical chemistry, biochemistry, or related scientific field may be substituted for three (3) years of the required (A) experience.

III. A Doctoral degree with a major in chemistry, organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, analytical chemistry, physical chemistry, biochemistry or related scientific field may be substituted for a maximum of four (4) years of the required (A) 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.

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