Chemist I

State of North Carolina; North Carolina; On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Join the Food & Drug Protection Division of North Carolina to conduct essential analyses for the safety of agricultural inputs. In this analytical laboratory role, you'll utilize advanced techniques like ICP-OES and AAS to assess the quality of fertilizers and feeds. This position is ideal for professionals with a chemistry background and hands-on analytical skills in a laboratory environment. Enjoy a meaningful career supporting public health and agricultural standards while working with a dedicated team to ensure food and drug safety.

Qualifications

• Experience with ICP-AES, ICP-OES, or ICP-MS is required.
• 3 years of progressive analytical lab experience preferred.
• Ability to document analyses per ISO 17025 standards.

Responsibilities

• Determine elemental or nutritional content using ICP-OES and AAS.
• Maintain laboratory equipment and prepare samples for analysis.
• Document all analyses following quality management procedures.

Skills

Inductively Coupled Plasma Analysis

Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy

Sample Preparation

Troubleshooting Laboratory Equipment

Technical Writing

Mathematics and Statistical Analysis

Using Computer Software

Maintaining Effective Relationships

Ability to Multi-Task

Heavy Lifting (up to 50 pounds)

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry

Job description

The Food & Drug Protection Division (FDPD) has five functioning sections, including the Food Section, the Dairy Section, the Feed Section, the Drug Section, and the Administrative Services Section. In addition, analytical support is provided to the Food and Feed Sections by FDPD’s three laboratory sections, i.e., the Inorganic Chemistry Section, Organic Chemistry Section, and Microbiology Section. The Division protects the health, welfare, and economic interests of consumers of foods, drugs, livestock feeds, fertilizers, and medical devices by ensuring, through inspections and analysis, that these products are wholesome and properly labeled.

The FDPD Inorganic Chemistry Section provides compositional analyses of food, animal feed, and fertilizer samples. Specifically, this section quantifies nutrients, minerals, and heavy metals in samples using a variety of instrumentation and analytical chemistry techniques. The Inorganic Chemistry Section is comprised of 5 laboratories: the Microanalytical Laboratory; the Core Analytical Laboratory; the Ion Chromatography Laboratory; the Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry Laboratory; and the General (Wet) Chemistry Laboratory.

This position is specifically located in the Core Analytical Laboratory, which is responsible for the determination of minerals in fertilizer, feed, and forage using microwave assisted acid digestion, hot block acid digestion, atomic absorption spectrometry (AA), continuous flow analysis, elemental analysis (combustion), and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). This laboratory analyzes feed, forage, and fertilizer samples as a service to the farmers of North Carolina and to support regulatory actions by the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Plant Industry Division and the FDPD Feed Section

The employee’s primary job functions are: 1) determining elemental or nutritional content of feed, forage, and fertilizer samples using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), and other elemental analyzers; 2) documenting all analyses per ISO 17025 requirements and FDPD quality management system procedures; 3) performing laboratory maintenance functions such as preparing samples for analysis, preparing reagents, maintaining equipment, and washing labware to ensure testing readiness; and 4) reviewing data.

The employee may additionally be assigned quality assurance functions such as method verification, equipment evaluation and maintenance, preparation and review of technical documentation, inventory management, and training other laboratory employees. Work includes other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Incumbent works with acids, bases, solvents, as well as allergenic matrices such as grass, hay, and nuts.

Hazard assessments, job safety analyses, and training are provided to ensure safe work practices.

Click Here to Learn more about State Employee Benefits.

The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services provides services that promote and improve agriculture, agribusiness, and forests; protect consumers and businesses; and conserve farmland and natural resources for the prosperity of all North Carolinians. The Department employs approximately 2,000 employees.

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The Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities listed below, along with the Minimum Education and Experience requirements, are REQUIRED to qualify for this position. We will not review resumes in lieu of the Experience and Education listed on the application.

To qualify for this position, applicants must document on the application that they possess ALL of the following:

• Experience with at least two of the following: inductively coupled plasma analysis (ICP-AES, or ICP-OES or ICP-MS); Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS), continuous flow analyses, IC, HPLC, or mass spectrometry (e.g., GC-MS; LC-MS; GC-MS/MS; LC-MS/MS).
• Experience with sample and reagent preparation.
• Ability to troubleshoot and repair laboratory equipment.
• Ability to understand and follow complex oral and written instructions.
• Ability to independently perform and record complex standardized and non-standardized laboratory tests and procedures.
• Ability to write technical documents such as test methods, standard operating procedures, and safety documents.
• Ability to perform advanced mathematics and statistical analysis.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to use computer spreadsheets, databases, and different software packages.
• Ability to multi-task and change work assignments on short notice.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to work with matrices such as grass, hay, and nut.

*Employment may be contingent upon the ability to pass a respirator medical and fit test.

MANAGEMENT PREFERENCES:

• 3 or more years of progressive analytical laboratory experience including instrumentation experience with AAS and ICP-OES.

You may qualify by an equivalent combination of education and experience, either through years of education or years of directly related experience, or a combination of both.

Bachelor's degree in chemistry from an appropriately accredited institution and two years of progressive chemistry laboratory experience; or an equivalent combination of education and directly related experience.

Any employment offer may be less than the maximum of the range due to salary equity with similarly situated employees or the selected candidate's related education and experience.

Please follow the instructions to apply online. It is important that your application includes all of your relevant education and experience. Text or attached resumes ARE NOT accepted as a substitution for a completed application. Applicants seeking veteran's/National Guard preference should submit a copy of their Form DD-214, NGB 23A (RPAS), DD256 or NGB 22.

All Law Enforcement positions, aviation safety-sensitive positions, and positions requiring a Pilot's License or a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) shall be subject to pre-employment drug testing. All positions requiring a Commercial Driver's License shall also be subject to pre-employment DMV physicals. Selected applicants must obtain a U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) medical certificate prior to employment. If a CDL is listed as a preference and the selected applicant has a CDL at the time of hire, then the CDL will become a requirement for the position.

*Note: When required, you must answer the question(s) for this position, or your application will be considered incomplete.*

Questions regarding this posting? Contact 919-707-3201.