ENVIRONMENTAL/CHEMICAL LABORATORY SCIENTIST
BASIC PURPOSE:
Positions in this family are responsible for planning, performing,
implementing and supervising laboratory analyses, quality assurance and
special studies. This includes analyses and studies used to
determine compliance with state and federal rules, consumer protection
regulations, agriculture products standards, highway construction
materials specifications, and environmental quality of lakes, rivers,
aquifers and air. These positions will provide consultation and
assistance in the formulation of regulations and standards.
Laboratory specialty areas will include chemistry, biology and physics.
TYPICAL FUNCTIONS:
The functions within this job family will vary by level, but may include the following:
• Analyzes air, water, soil, waste, highway
construction materials, and agricultural samples to determine levels of
compliance with state and federal regulations or applicable
specifications.
• Implements the use of approved methods and
procedures in the analysis of samples, and of Quality Assurance
practices and procedures in all analytical and study processes.
• Develops methods and procedures needed for
laboratory analyses used in the determination of quality, formulation
standards and compliance where no approved procedures exist.
• Plans or aids in the planning of special
studies requiring the collection and analysis of samples leading to the
protection of the public health and the environment.
• Maintains all equipment related to analysis within the laboratory.
• Maintains supply inventories necessary to perform all laboratory analyses.
• Serves as expert witness in the interpretation
of laboratory analysis for the enforcement of state and federal
regulations.
• Evaluates and prepares reports on the results of analyses and studies.
• Provides consultation on laboratory analyses
and studies performed both within and outside of the laboratory for
development of regulations and compliance standards, or evaluation of
environmental situations.
• Researches, develops and assists in the
implementation of long term planning for the efficient use of the
state’s air, water, land and agricultural resources.
LEVEL DESCRIPTORS:
The Environmental/Chemical Laboratory Scientist job family has four
levels of work which are distinguished by the complexity of
assignments, the level of expertise required to perform the duties
assigned, and the responsibility for providing leadership to others.
Level I: Code: R10A Salary Band: J
This is the basic level of the job family where employees are assigned
duties for performing routine entry level work in evaluating
regulations concerning analytical data and methods, applying them to
performance of assigned analysis, preparing technical reports for
special studies, and making recommendations on remedial actions to
correct problems. In this role they will perform tasks involved
with routine chemical analysis and report preparation, and will assist
with technical investigations, planning and implementing research
projects, and complex chemical analysis. Assigned duties may
include sample preparation and extraction, gas chromatography, gas
chromatography mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography, atomic
absorption spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma spectrometry (ICP)
and ICP mass spectrometry, ion chromatography, flow injection, radio
chemistry, wet chemical, biological, microbiological, and physical
analyses.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
required to perform work at this level include knowledge of chemical
laboratory testing procedures and equipment; of instruments and test
apparatus; of the purpose of the chemical analysis being performed and
of the materials being analyzed. Ability is required to operate
laboratory equipment, to write technical reports and to apply
laboratory safety procedures.
Education and Experience requirements for entry at this level consist of a bachelor's degree in chemistry, biological or environmental science.
Level II: Code: R10B Salary Band: K
This is the career level of the job family, where employees are
assigned duties and responsibilities at the full performance level
including performing less complicated analyses or studies in a
specialized area such as metals, organics, or biology, and may assist
with more complex analyses. Employees may further specialize by
moving into more refined areas such as gas chromatography mass
spectrometry. In this role they will plan and outline normal work
activities, interpret data and results, maintain records, and make
recommendations related to the analyses and studies performed.
Emphasis is placed on the accuracy and precision of testing and in the
achievement of optimum utilization of equipment methods and procedures
used in laboratory analysis.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
required to perform work at this level include those identified in
Level I plus knowledge of current research in the field and ability to
perform physical tests and analyses.
Education and Experience
requirements for classification at this level consist of the
requirements included in Level I, plus one year of professional level
experience in a laboratory; OR a master’s degree in chemistry or
biological or environmental science.
Level III: Code: R10C Salary Band: L
This is the specialist level of this job family where employees are
routinely assigned responsibilities for performing highly independent
research in a specialized laboratory area. This includes
designing special studies and projects, developing and writing
specifications, investigating inquiries and complaints from the field,
and making recommendations and reports. Employees at this level will
have a clear specialization in a laboratory science area and may be
recognized as an expert in the specialty, and may serve as an expert
witness and represent the agency at meetings or during legal
proceedings. Some positions may be assigned occasional limited
supervision of other laboratory employees during short-term special
projects or highly complex analyses.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
required to perform work at this level include the knowledge and skills
identified in Level II plus additional knowledge of chemical research,
of developments in the laboratory's specialty, and of physical science
reference materials and ability to achieve acceptable test volume and
quality targets and to present findings and research data to
professional groups.
Education and Experience
requirements for classification at this level consist of those
identified at Level II and one additional year of professional
experience in a laboratory.
Level IV: Code: R10D Salary Band: M
This is the leadership level of the job family where employees are
assigned responsibility for directing and supervising the work
activities of a laboratory area, such as Gas Chromatography, Metals,
Wet Chemistry, Radiochemistry, Mass Spectrometry Microbiology or
Quality Assurance and control. This includes implementing Quality
Assurance criteria and making recommendations on complex regulatory and
non-regulatory matters related to analysis and studies performed.
Positions are assigned responsibility for the supervision of other
laboratory staff, including reviewing and assigning work, providing
training and evaluating performance. This includes assigning and
reviewing work of other laboratory staff, ensuring completion of
assigned activities and providing training. It may also include
responsibility for direct supervision, including administrative tasks
such as completing performance evaluations, approving leave and
initiating disciplinary action.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
required to perform work at this level include those identified in
Level III plus knowledge of supervisory practices and principles and
ability to supervise and direct the work of others.
Education and Experience requirements for classification at this level consist of those identified at Level III.
SELECTIVE QUALIFICATIONS:
Some positions may require education and experience in a specific degree or laboratory area.