Chemist II

Position Overview

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Division of Laboratories, Quality Assurance Unit, Springfield Combined Laboratory is seeking to hire a Chemist II to serve as Assistant Quality Assurance Officer (A-QAO). The ideal candidate for this position will be organized, detailed, and possess the ability to adapt to change in a collaborative, fast paced environment. The ideal candidate will also need to be able to communicate effectively verbally, electronically and in writing with both internal and external stakeholders.

The benefits of working at the EPA include a 37 ½ hour work week, a generous salary and benefits package (paid time off for vacation, sick or personal leave, holidays) pension and other retirement benefits, tuition reimbursement, and insurance eligibility on day one (medical, dental, vision, and life). We invite all qualified candidates to apply.

Essential Function 1

45% 1. Serves as Assistant Quality Assurance Officer (A-QAO) within the Division of Laboratories, in the Springfield Combined Laboratory, Quality Assurance Unit, participating in and performing critical Quality Assurance tasks:

• Performs annual review of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for laboratory methods and provide/present updates as needed for revisions.
• Internal Audits as scheduled or as assigned.
• Tracking, preparation and updating of Method Detection Limits, as directed.
• Tracking, preparation and updating of Initial and Ongoing Demonstrations of Capability, as directed.
• Tracking, preparation and follow up of Corrective Action Reports, as directed.
• Tracking, preparation and updating of calibration records for Laboratory Support Equipment, such as Balances, Pipets and Thermometers, as directed.
• Trains lower level analysts on issues impacting data quality.

Essential Function 2

25% 2. Performs complex analyses of environmental samples of parameters on methods from State and Federal Programs including Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), Clean Water Act (CWA), and other such programs.

• Independently performs complex analyses of environmental test results obtained from the operation of highly sophisticated laboratory equipment capable of extremely low-level detection. (e.g., a nanogram or less)
• Prepares standards and reagents and/or monitors as specified by SOPs and methods.
• Processes and interprets data, entering results into the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), and processes the data packet for secondary review by another analyst.
• Maintains Demonstration of Capability (DoCs) for select laboratory methods as directed or assigned.
• Reviews data packages (as a Secondary or Peer Reviewer) certifying that the analysis is performed in accordance with the SOP and method specifications, including all Quality Control (QC) requirements and acceptance criteria.
• Analyzes and passes Proficiency Test (PT) Samples for select methods or as directed.
• Monitors that all appropriate data processing details, including instrument tuning and maintenance, auxiliary equipment and standard/reagent traceability are documented in the data packet, appropriately electronically linked and/or in a logbook.
• Maintains Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) data as it relates to Quality Assurance (QA) /Quality Control. 

Essential Function 3

15% 3. Participates in maintaining the Agency laboratory national accreditation with the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAP) Institute (TNI) and the US EPA.

• In the preparation of external assessments in support of national accreditation requirements.
• In the development and preparation of response reports to external assessments from national accreditation bodies.
• Monitoring calibration requirements within the lab.
• Documenting control requirements within the lab.
• Meeting traceability requirements within the lab.

Essential Function 4

10% 4. Provides Laboratory Support Functions as required.

• Performs oversight of the sample preparation and receiving process as it relates to QA/QC as specified in the SOP and accreditation standards.
• Participates in annual review and revision of the Laboratory Quality Management Plan.
• Serves as the backup Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) database administrator.
• At the direction of the Lab Manager, attends meetings at off-site locations representing the lab.
• Travels in performance of duties.

Essential Function 5

05% 5. Performs other duties as required or assigned, which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Specialized Skills

Of the (1) one year of required experience; requires (1) one year of experience participating in internal audits of methods and procedures used to analyze environmental samples; in review of SOPs for laboratory methods and providing/presenting updates for revisions; in utilizing the USEPA Drinking Water Manual, NELAC and TNI standards as applied to accreditation of laboratories for the analysis of environmental samples; in performing complex analyses of environmental samples obtained from the operation of highly sophisticated laboratory equipment capable of extremely low-level detection (e.g., a nanogram or less) oversight of the sample preparation process as it relates to Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) as specified in the SOP’s and accreditation standards.

Minimum Qualifications

1. Requires completion of four years of college, including at least 32 semester hours in chemistry from a recognized college or university, supplemented by one year's professional experience in the practice of analytical chemistry.

Preferred Qualifications (In Order of Significance)

1. Prefers at least (1) one year of experience participating in internal audits of methods and procedures used to analyze environmental samples.
2. Prefers at least (1) one year of experience in review of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for laboratory methods and provide/present updates as needed for revisions.
3. Prefers at least (1) one year of experience in USEPA Drinking Water Manual and the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Conference (NELAC) Institute (TNI) standards as they apply to accreditation of laboratories for the analysis of environmental samples.
4. Prefers at least (1) one year of experience in performing complex analyses of environmental samples obtained from the operation of highly sophisticated laboratory equipment capable of extremely low-level detection. (e.g., a nanogram or less)
5. Prefers at least (1) one year of experience in performing oversight of the sample preparation process as it relates to Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) as specified in the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and accreditation standards.
6. Prefers at least (1) one year of experience with the TNI accreditation standards.
7. Prefers working knowledge of quality assurance and quality control requirements as it applies to environmental analytical methods.
8. Prefers ability to solve complex problems that requires research and collaboration with others.
9. Prefers ability to prepare and present technical scientific reports.
10. Prefers completion of the TNI Basic Assessor Training Course.

Employment Conditions

1. Requires a valid and current appropriate drivers’ license.
2. Requires the ability to travel in performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate.
3. Overtime is a condition of employment, and you may be requested or required/mandated to work overtime including scheduled, unscheduled, or last-minute overtime. This requires the ability to work evenings and weekends.
4. Requires ability to attend seminars, conference, and trainings to stay current on methods, tools, ideologies, or other industry related topics to the job duties.
5. Requires ability to pass a name-based background check.

*The condition of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.