Chemist III

Position: Chemist III Who We Are: The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) seeks to protect, preserve, and enhance Massachusetts’ environmental resources and create a clean energy future for all residents. Through the stewardship of open spaces, the protection of environmental resources, and the advancement of clean energy, EEA works tirelessly to make Massachusetts a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family. Our commitment to environmental justice ensures that every resident, regardless of background or location, can live in a safe, clean environment and share equally the benefits of the clean energy transition. About MassDEP: The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) is the state agency responsible for ensuring clean air, land, and water. Our work impacts every aspect of people’s lives and is critical to the health and wellbeing of our residents and visitors. MassDEP is the lead agency for safe management of toxic and hazardous materials, promotion of waste reduction and recycling, preservation of the state's wetlands and coastal resources, air quality monitoring and pollution reduction, and so much more. Description MassDEP seeks an applicant for the position of Chemist III. This position performs advanced environmental laboratory analyses of inorganic contaminants in air, water, wastewater, soil, sediment, biological tissue, hazardous waste, and other environmental samples to support MassDEP’s regulatory, compliance, enforcement, and public health programs. The role is responsible for operating and maintaining sophisticated analytical instrumentation, ensuring data quality and laboratory compliance, supporting method development and research, managing laboratory information systems and documentation, and providing technical training and guidance to laboratory and agency staff. Duties Perform complex inorganic chemical analyses of environmental samples using EPA-approved methods and advanced analytical instrumentation, including ICP-OES, ICP-MS, ion chromatography, mercury analyzers, UV-Vis spectrometry and related laboratory equipment. Prepare environmental samples for analysis using specialized techniques such as microwave digestion, hot block digestion, TCLP extraction, distillation and other standard laboratory procedures. Operate, troubleshoot, calibrate, maintain, and coordinate repairs of sophisticated laboratory instrumentation to ensure reliable analytical performance. Support and maintain the laboratory’s Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) program by conducting data reviews, verifying analytical results and ensuring compliance with laboratory quality standards. Develop, update, and maintain laboratory standard operating procedures (SOPs), quality documentation and controlled laboratory records. Manage analytical data and sample information within the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), prepare analytical reports and maintain accurate sample tracking documentation. Assist in the development, validation, and implementation of new analytical methods and technologies for inorganic environmental contaminants. Provide technical training and guidance to laboratory staff, interns, contractors, and MassDEP personnel on laboratory procedures, instrumentation and environmental sampling practices. Conduct scientific research, review emerging analytical methods and literature, and contribute to technical reports and peer‑reviewed publications supporting MassDEP programs. Coordinate laboratory logistics, including sample receipt, chain‑of‑custody documentation, shipping, scheduling and communication with internal and external clients. Support laboratory operations by managing chemical inventories, assisting with equipment and supply procurement, maintaining training records and ensuring compliance with laboratory safety and documentation requirements. Perform related technical, administrative, and operational duties to support the efficient operation of the Environmental Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory. Preferred Qualifications Comprehensive knowledge of analytical inorganic chemistry principles, laboratory procedures and instrumentation used to analyze environmental samples. Experience operating, troubleshooting, maintaining and calibrating advanced analytical laboratory instrumentation. Knowledge of laboratory Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC), laboratory safety practices and analytical method development and validation. Knowledge of environmental sample collection, handling, preservation, transportation and chain‑of‑custody procedures. Ability to analyze, interpret and evaluate laboratory analytical data using statistical methods. Proficiency with laboratory information systems, personal computers and software applications including Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Acrobat, Power BI, cloud‑based applications and AI‑assisted technologies. Ability to prepare and maintain accurate laboratory records, analytical reports, technical documentation, templates, charts, graphs and data summaries. Excellent organizational, data management and data informatics skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and maintain data integrity. Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly communicate technical information to diverse audiences. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships, collaborate across teams, provide technical guidance and contribute as both an independent worker and team member. Ability to exercise sound judgment, adapt to changing priorities and emergency situations and effectively manage competing program requirements. Demonstrated leadership skills with the ability to train, mentor and lead small teams while fostering a productive and collaborative work environment. Qualifications Minimum entrance requirements: At least five (5) years of full‑time or equivalent part‑time professional or academic research experience in chemistry, organic chemistry or biochemistry. Of which at least one (1) year must include a supervisory or leadership capacity. In lieu of experience, a Bachelor’s degree in a related field may be substituted for two (2) years of required experience; a Master’s degree for three (3) years; a Doctoral degree for a maximum of four (4) years. Applicants must meet related Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act (CLIA) requirements for High Complexity Testing if applicable. Incumbents may be required to have a current and valid motor vehicle driver’s license at a class level specific to assignment. Substitutions: A Bachelor’s degree may be substituted for two years of experience. A Master’s degree may be substituted for three years of experience. A Doctoral degree may be substituted for a maximum of four years of experience. Equal Opportunity Employer We are an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. Females, minorities, veterans and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Applicants who believe they have the necessary skills are encouraged to apply. #J-18808-Ljbffr