Chemist 2

Please Note: The pay listed above includes the 3.25% pay increase that will go into effect on July 1, 2022. 

Per Governor Inslee’s Proclamation 21-14.2 (Download PDF reader), Washington State employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. As a condition of employment, the successful candidate will be required to provide proof of their COVID-19 vaccination as part of the hiring process, prior to their start date. Requests for medical and religious exemptions will be considered. If you have questions, please contact Careers@ecy.wa.gov with “COVID-19 vaccination” in the subject line.  

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Environmental Assessment Program (EAP) is looking to fill a Chemist 2 position. This position will be located at the Manchester Environmental Laboratory (MEL) in Port Orchard, WA.

You will join a part of the Environmental Assessment Program (EAP) whose mission is to measure, assess, and communicate environmental conditions in Washington. We work to improve the environment for current and future generations through innovative and excellent science and thriving partnerships. To support this mission you will analyze complex chemical tests on water, wastewater, sediment, tissue and hazardous waste in a production environmental laboratory creating legally binding data. You will gain experience in a production laboratory atmosphere, implementing EPA Methods, Standard Methods and following quality assurance protocol. You can build a network and collaborative relationships in this field of work.

The Environmental Assessment Program provides a range of scientific, monitoring, laboratory, and quality assurance services.  Its mission is to measure and assess environmental conditions in Washington State.
 
The Manchester Environmental Laboratory (MEL) is the leading environmental laboratory for the State of Washington. We conduct environmental laboratory analyses on samples collected throughout Washington State for organic, inorganic, and microbiological contaminants. The laboratory also conducts analyses for toxics in children's and consumer products.

Protecting Washington State's environment for current and future generations is what we do every day at Ecology. We are a culture that is invested in making a difference. Join a team that is highly effective and collaborative, with leadership that embraces the value of people.
Ecology cares deeply about employee wellness; we go beyond traditional benefits, proudly offering:

• A healthy life/work balance by offering flexible schedules and telework options for most positions.
• Continuous growth and development opportunities. 
• A wellness program that offers education, fitness classes, and an agency-wide fondness for outdoor meetings.
• Opportunities to serve your community and make an impact through meaningful work.

Diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect (DEIR) are core values central to Ecology’s work. We strive to be a workplace where we are esteemed for sharing our authentic identities, while advancing our individual professional goals and collaborating to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment for current and future generations.

Diversity: We celebrate and appreciate diversity; our unique perspectives and abilities enrich us all and lead to innovative approaches and solutions. 

Equity: We champion equity, recognizing that each of us need different things to thrive. 

Inclusion: We intentionally create and hold space so that we all have meaningful opportunities to participate and contribute to Ecology’s work. 

Respect: We treat each other with respect and dignity, acknowledging the inherent worth of our diverse perspectives and lived experiences, even in times of uncertainty and disagreement. 

We believe that DEIR is both a goal and an action. We are on a journey, honoring our shared humanity and taking steps to demonstrate our commitment to a vision where each of us is heard, seen, and valued. 


This position is required to be in the laboratory 5 days a week. Occasional telework may occur. Ecology is following current state guidance regarding mask requirements, health screening questions before entry, and social distancing.

Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled, with an initial screening date of June 27, 2022. In order to be considered for initial screening, please submit an application on or before June 26, 2022.  The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date. 

Duties

What makes this role unique? 

You will join a part of the inorganics unit at Manchester Environmental Laboratory (MEL), a highly active production lab.  In this role, you will follow EPA Methods, Standard Methods, and strict QC protocol and you will operate state of the art instrumentation. As a chemist in this unit you must be detail oriented, organized, collaborative, communicate well, and be able to work independently as well as part of a team.

What you will do: 

• Perform sample digestions and chemical analysis on water, wastewater, sludge, sediment, tissue and hazardous waste samples for metals by ICP-OES and mercury by CVAA.
• Perform sample digestions and chemical analysis on water samples for Hg by CVAFS.
• Prepare, digest and analyze water, wastewater, sludge, sediment and hazardous waste samples for TCLP metals by ICP-OES.
• Back up to primary analyst for ICPMS in prep and analyses.
• May assist in the research and development of new methodology
• Cross-train to backup primary nutrient analyst and general chemistry technicians in preparations and/or analyses.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

Experience for both required and desired qualifications can be gained through various combinations of formal professional employment, educational and volunteer experience. See below for how you may qualify.

A Bachelor's degree with a major in chemistry or a Bachelor's degree with a minimum of 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours of college-level chemistry.
 
AND 
 
Experience – Two years of experience preparing and analyzing environmental samples for Inorganic analytes (general chemistry and/or metals).
 
OR

One year of experience preparing and analyzing environmental samples for Inorganic analytes (general chemistry and/or metals) as a Chemist 1 or higher. at the Department of Ecology
 
Note: A Master’s degree will substitute for two years of the required experience provided a Bachelor’s degree and the required college-level chemistry has been achieved.

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment: 

• Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment.
• Valid driver’s license required.

Desired Qualifications:

We highly encourage you to apply even if you do not have some (or all) of the desired experience below.

Preferred knowledge

• EPA preparation and analysis methods (245.1, 245.5, 245.6, 7470 and/or 7471) for Hg by CVAA.
• EPA method 1631 for the preparation and analysis for Hg by CVAF.
• EPA preparation methods (200.2, 3010, 3050, 3051 and/or 3052) and analysis methods (200.7 and 6010) for metals by ICP-OES. 

Preferred experience 

• One year preparing and analyzing environmental samples for metals by ICP-OES. 
• One year preparing and analyzing environmental samples for Hg following CVAA and/or CVAFS.   
• Experience in Flow Injection Analyzer (FIA), Ion Chromatographer(IC), automated titrator, carbon hydrogen nitrogen (CHN) analyzer. 

Preferred competencies: Familiar with Element data management system.

Note: Having some (or all) of this desired experience may make your application more competitive in a highly competitive applicant pool.

Supplemental Information

Ecology seeks diverse applicants: We view diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect through a broad lens including race, ethnicity, class, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, immigration status, military background, language, education, life experience, physical disability, neurodiversity, and intersectional identities. Qualified candidates from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.


Need an Accommodation in the application and/or screening process or this job announcement in an alternative format?

• Please call: (360) 407-6186 or email: careers@ecy.wa.gov and we will be happy to assist.
• If you are deaf or hard of hearing you can reach the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.
• If you need assistance applying for this job, please e-mail careers@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not send an email to this address to follow-up on the status of your application. You can view the latest status of your application on your profile's main page.
• If you are reading this announcement in print format, please enter the following URL to your search engine to apply: https://ecology.wa.gov/About-us/Get-to-know-us/Jobs-at-Ecology.   

Application Instructions:

It's in the applicant's best interest to submit all of the documents listed below. Applications without these documents may be declined.

• A cover letter describing why you are interested in this position.
• A resume outlining your experience and education (if applicable) as it relates to the minimum qualifications of this position.
• Three professional references.

Please do NOT include your salary history. Wage/salary depends on qualifications or rules of promotion, if applicable.  
 
For Your Privacy:
When attaching documents to your application (such as Resume, Cover Letter, Transcripts, DD-214, etc.):

• Please be sure to remove private information such as your social security number, date of birth, etc. 
• Do not attach documents that are password-protected, as these documents may not be reviewed and may cause errors within your application when downloaded. 

Additional Application Instructions for Current Ecology Employees: 
 
Please make sure to answer the agency-wide questions regarding permanent status as a classified employee within the Washington General Service or Washington Management Service. Do not forget to select Department of Ecology as a response to question 2, and type your personnel ID number for question 3. If you are not sure of your status or do not know your personnel ID number, please contact Human Resources.

Application Attestation: 

The act of submitting application materials electronically is considered affirmation that the information is complete and truthful. The state may verify this information and any untruthful or misleading answers are cause for rejection of your application or dismissal if employed. 

Other Information:

If you have specific questions about the position, please email Heidi Chuhran at: Heidi.chuhran@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Heidi to inquire about the status of your application.
 
To request the full position description: email careers@ecy.wa.gov

Why work for Ecology?

As an agency, our mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington's environment for current and future generations. We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, effective resource management, teamwork, professionalism, and accountability.

Joining Ecology means becoming a part of a team committed to protecting and restoring Washington State's environment. A career in public service allows you to help solve some of the most challenging problems facing our state, while keeping your health and financial security a priority. We combine one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation with a strong commitment to life/work balance.

Ecology employees may be eligible for the following:
Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s), Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Vacation, Sick, and other Leave*, 11 Paid Holidays per year*, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver,  Long Term Disability & Life Insurance, Deferred Compensation Programs, Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP),  Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), Employee Assistance Program, Commute Trip Reduction Incentives (Download PDF reader), Combined Fund Drive, SmartHealth *See the Benefits tab in this announcement for more information 

Student debt: how working for Ecology can help
The Department of Ecology is a qualifying employer for the Public Service Forgiveness Program (PSLF). See https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service for more details.

To learn more about The Department of Ecology, please visit our website at www.ecology.wa.gov and follow, like or visit us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or our blog.

Collective Bargaining: This is a position covered by a bargaining unit for which the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) is the exclusive representative.   

Equal Opportunity Employer: The Washington State Department of Ecology is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, veterans, military spouses or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply. Persons needing accommodation in the application/testing process or this job announcement in an alternative format may call (360) 407-6186. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.

Note: This recruitment may be used to fill other positions of the same job classification across the agency. Once all the position(s) from the recruitment announcement are filled, the recruitment may only be used to fill additional open positions for the next sixty (60) days. 

Chemist 2