State of California Department of Toxic Substances Control

Job Description and Duties

Per CCR 249.3, this job control may be used to fill subsequent vacancies.

Under the direct supervision of the Senior Environmental Scientist (Supervisory), the Agricultural Technician II will receive and prepare agricultural samples, perform sample extraction and chemical analysis using validated methods; maintain records and prepare reports; assist in validation and modification of scientific methods; and more. The Agricultural Technician II will, as needed, serve as a lead over sample throughput for analysis and special projects as assigned by the section supervisor.

• Prepare samples for chemical analysis in at least two sections of the laboratory. This includes, but is not limited to, grinding, weighing, digesting, titrating, and extracting samples.
• Following a variety of established laboratory standard operating procedures, perform sample cleanup on food, fertilizer and environmental samples using liquid-liquid, solid phase, and quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe extractions (QuEChERS), as well as gravimetric methodologies.
• Clean equipment and glassware used in the sample extraction area.
• Keep the sample preparatory area in good working order. This includes emptying solvent waste, washing glassware, and changing gas tanks.
• Assist Agricultural Biological Technicians and Environmental Scientists with logging in and labeling samples per documented protocols.
• Assist the section supervisors by creating laboratory work and extraction schedules to organize throughput in a centralized location such as MS Teams or SharePoint.

Candidates may perform these essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Benefits

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.