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 Functions

• 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 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.
• Participates in maintaining the Agency laboratory national accreditation with the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAP) Institute (TNI) and the US EPA.
• Provides Laboratory Support Functions as required.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned, which are reasonably within the scope of the duties.

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

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

• Prefers at least (1) one year of experience participating in internal audits of methods and procedures used to analyze environmental samples.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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)
• 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.
• Prefers at least (1) one year of experience with the TNI accreditation standards.
• Prefers working knowledge of quality assurance and quality control requirements as it applies to environmental analytical methods.
• Prefers ability to solve complex problems that requires research and collaboration with others.
• Prefers ability to prepare and present technical scientific reports.
• Prefers completion of the TNI Basic Assessor Training Course.

Conditions of Employment

• Requires a valid and current appropriate drivers’ license.
• Requires the ability to travel in performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate.
• 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.
• Requires ability to attend seminars, conference, and trainings to stay current on methods, tools, ideologies, or other industry related topics to the job duties.
• 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.

Work Hours: 8:30AM - 5:00PM Mon - Friday  
Work Location: 825 N Rutledge St, Springfield, Illinois, 62702-4956  

Joe Mercier

Email: Joseph.Mercier@illinois.gov

Phone #:217-785-2361

Job Family:  Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics 

Date:  Dec 5, 2024

Location: 

Springfield, IL, US, 62702-4956

Job Requisition ID:  43370

Job Requisition ID: 43370 
Closing Date/Time: 12/19/2024
Agency: Environmental Protection Agency
Class Title: CHEMIST II - 06942 
Skill Option: None 
Bilingual Option: None 
Salary: Anticipated Starting Salary $6,005 monthly; Full Range $6,005 - $8,678 monthly.
Job Type: Salaried
Category: Full Time 
County: Sangamon
Number of Vacancies: 1
Plan/BU: RC062