Chemist I

State of North Carolina

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The primary mission of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is to provide science-based environmental stewardship for the health and prosperity of all North Carolinians. The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is the lead stewardship agency for the protection of North Carolina's environmental resources. The organization, which has offices from the mountains to the coast, administers regulatory programs designed to protect air quality, water quality, and the public's health, and works to advance in all-of-the-above energy strategy that fits North Carolina's needs. DEQ also offers technical assistance to businesses, farmers, local governments, and the public and encourages responsible behavior with respect to the environment through education programs provided at DEQ facilities and through the state's school system. DEQ touches the lives of all North Carolinians in many ways to enhance and ensure our quality of life.
This Chemist I position is in the Laboratory Certification Branch (LCB) of the Division of Water Resources’ Water Sciences Section. The Chemist inspects certificate holders’ laboratories to assure that they conform to state and federal rules and regulations for each environmental parameter the facilities report. This position requires: occasional overnight travel; ability to tolerate exposure to chemical substances; proficiency with computers, internet research, word processing software, and spreadsheets; and driving a state-owned vehicle, which requires a valid North Carolina driver's license.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry from an appropriately accredited institution and two (2) years of progressive chemistry laboratory experience, or an equivalent combination of education and directly related experience.
• occasional overnight travel
• ability to tolerate exposure to chemical substances
• proficiency with computers, internet research, word processing software, and spreadsheets
• driving a state-owned vehicle, which requires a valid North Carolina driver's license

Responsibilities

• Audit / inspect laboratories for conformance to state and federal regulations, including NC Laboratory Certification Branch rules, EPA Code of Federal Regulations, and EPA- and DEQ-mandated methodologies and procedures, for each environmental parameter they report
• Produce and peer review written reports of inspections to inform certificate holders of findings, requirements, recommendations, comments, etc. within prescribed deadlines
• Review and respond to inspection report corrective action responses from certificate holders
• Monitor certificate holder’s analysis of blind Proficiency Testing (PT) Samples for all applicable certified parameter methods, follow up on remedial sample analyses, recommend parameter method decertification for parameter methods that do not have acceptable results
• Track amendment requests for assigned certificate holders and invoices, as necessary
• Review certificate holder’s Quality Assurance Manuals, Standard Operating Procedures, Method Detection Limit studies, and Initial Demonstration of Capability studies, and evaluate the validity of the documents and results
• Provide technical assistance to certificate holders, other auditors, DEQ staff, and others; respond to general telephone, mail, and email inquiries in a timely manner; represent the LCB by attending and/or presenting at stakeholder meetings and conferences
• Continually monitor state and federal regulations for changes in the law and analytical methodology and communicate these effectively to the regulated laboratory community, relevant DEQ employees, and affected parties
• Write/revise and/or peer review parameter method inspection checklists, LCB policies, technical assistance and guidance documents and Approved Procedures
• Review assigned initial applications for laboratory certification; ensure all requirements are met, invoice is issued, certification number is assigned and certification database updated, all applicable fees are paid, and certificate is issued.

Benefits

• If you have student loans, becoming a state employee includes eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
• This position currently qualifies for a hybrid telework option with routine office and remote workdays.
• Eligible state employees are entitled to comprehensive benefits, including a variety of leave options, professional development opportunities, insurance, and more.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees