City of New York

Job Description

The NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) enriches the environment and protects public health for all New Yorkers by providing 1.1 billion gallons of high quality drinking water, managing wastewater and stormwater, and reducing air, noise, and hazardous materials pollution. DEP is the largest combined municipal water and wastewater utility in the country, with nearly 6,000 employees. DEP's water supply system is comprised of 19 reservoirs and 3 controlled lakes throughout the system’s 2,000 square mile watershed that extends 125 miles north and west of the City.

The Bureau of Water Supply seeks to hire an Associate Chemist IV for a position in Wet Chemistry Section, Distribution Laboratory, Distribution Water Quality Operations Division, Water Quality & Innovation Directorate located in Queens, New York.

Under general direction, of the Deputy Chief of Distribution Water Quality Laboratory Operations, Laboratory Director, the Associate Chemist IV will serve as Supervisor, Wet Chemistry Section of the Distribution Laboratory and will supervise and provide technical and administrative oversight to the daily operation of the Wet Chemistry section of the Distribution Laboratory for the analyses of routine and complex analytical testing of drinking water samples using advanced instrumentation following NYS approved testing methods, including developing goals, methods, and research projects for the section, managing protocols and standard operating procedures, and ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements, and professional accrediting organizations' recommendations and guidelines. Specific duties include:

• Managing existing protocols and standard operating procedures for the section, maintaining Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) objectives and ensuring compliance with all environmental health and safety laws, rules, and regulations.
• Developing goals and coordinating research objectives for the section according to the mission of the Distribution Laboratory and the Division.
• Implementing methods for Wet Chemistry analysis of drinking water samples. Which includes but is not limited to selecting reagents, preparing specifications for equipment to be purchased, preparing method SOPs, and obtaining initial QC objectives.
• Directing quality control for the section: reviewing QC data generated by analysts, monitoring QC charts and tables for accuracy, supervising entry of data into QC charts and tables, and devising protocols for the preparation of calibration standards and QC solutions.
• Conducting assigned research and investigations, and collaborating with City, State, and federal officials on related matters, carrying out activities to develop effective coordination between the research efforts of the agency and outside collaborators.
• Providing technical direction to the section for method evaluation, verification, and accuracy of results.
• Identifying errors or potential problems that could result in errors, and taking corrective actions, and evaluating the corrective actions taken, to prevent recurrence.
• Assisting with the development and implementation of an automated Laboratory Information System (STARLiMS) for data record keeping and report generation to meet the needs for the section including appropriate QC validation rules and electronic transfer of data. Reviewing data and generating reports.
• Handling all personnel issues including monitoring performance of staff, hiring, training and disciplinary actions.
• Instructing and assigning work to and evaluating performance of subordinate staff.
• Determining contract requirements and laboratory budget to ensure adequate inventories of equipment and supplies.
• Operating and maintaining analytical instruments in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions, diagnosing instrument problems and performing routine maintenance of analytical instrumentation making minor repairs, adjustments and calibrations as needed.

Please note this is not a clinical laboratory, and a Clinical Laboratory Technologist License is not required for this position.

(This is a brief description of what you might do in this position and does not include all the duties of this position.)

Some of the physical activities performed by Associate Chemists and environmental conditions experienced are: lifting and carrying packages weighing approximately 20 pounds for a distance of 30 feet, performing duties in confined work areas, wearing protective garments such as respirators, gloves, lab coats, and goggles; handling and manipulating laboratory equipment and instruments/tools such as glass and plastic ware and lab tools, etc., adjusting settings on machines which require fine finger and hand coordination and control, and collecting samples at sites in all weather conditions.

Special Working Conditions: Associate Chemists may be required to work all hours of the day or night and Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.

Preferred Skills:

• Familiarity with of Microsoft Office Suite including Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint.
• Experience with lab oratory information management systems i.e., Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).
• Familiarity with data compilation protocols, including use of data reporting programs associated with assigned instruments(s).
• Ability to maintain accurate electronic records and ensuring data entries and files of computer output are complete and accurate is critical.
• Ability to promptly submit reports and records for review by specified deadline.
• Ability to study and evaluate literature in related scientific fields of specialization.
• Ability to write papers on research results or findings suitable for publication.
• Strong supervisory skills.
• Analytical ability.
• Strong writing and communication skills.
• Interpersonal skills.
• Time management

Hours/Shift:

35 Hours per week / Day shift, may be required to work Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.

Work Location:

96-05 Horace Harding Expressway

Flushing, NY 11368

Qualifications

Qualification Requirements

A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college, including or supplemented by 16 semester credits in chemistry and 8 semester credits in any one or a combination of the following areas: chemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, environmental science, forensic science, or other natural science.

Certificate Requirement

At the time of appointment to a clinical laboratory, candidates must possess a valid License as a Clinical Laboratory Technologist issued by the New York State Education Department. This license must be maintained for the duration of employment.

Additional Qualification Requirements For Assignment Level II and above.

To be eligible for placement in Assignment Level II and above, individuals must have, after meeting the minimum requirements described for Assignment Level I, at least two years of fulltime satisfactory experience performing chemical or physical analyses in a laboratory.

Education may be substituted for experience on the basis of 30 graduate semester credits from an accredited college in any of the areas of study described in the qualification requirements above for one year of experience. However, all candidates must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college with the specialized credits as described above.

Additional Information

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.