Chemist II

State of South Carolina; Columbia (SC); Presencial; USD 60 000 - 85 000; Tempo integral

Vantagens oferecidas por esta oferta de emprego

Remote work 2 days per week

Excellent benefits

Resumo da oferta

South Carolina Department of Environmental Services is seeking a Chemist II in the Metals Section of the Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory. You will prepare samples, perform metals analyses using GFAAS/ICP-OES/ICP-MS, maintain instruments, and ensure data quality per approved methods to support environmental monitoring and regulatory compliance across South Carolina.

Responsibilities include preparing calibration standards, maintaining equipment, documenting results, and updating SOPs as needed.

Qualificações

• Experience in a laboratory setting involving analytical instrumentation such as gas or liquid chromatographs and data systems.
• Experience with instrumentation software and Microsoft Office applications.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel for training or emergencies.
• Ability to communicate effectively with peers, scientists, and service engineers.
• Strong task prioritization and time management skills.

Responsabilidades

• Operate and maintain instrumentation for metals analyses by GFAAS, ICP-MS, and ICP-OES.
• Perform instrumentation maintenance and assist others with shared duties and periodic checks.
• Prepare calibration standards, spike solutions, reagents, and clean the laboratory.
• Digest metals samples, check pH and turbidity, and manage waste per plan.
• Review SOPs annually and update as needed; participate in emergency response.
• Ensure safe work practices and attend safety meetings.

Descrição da oferta de emprego

About the Role:

Join the Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory’s Metals Section as a Chemist II and help protect the health and environment of South Carolina. Working within the Bureau of Regional and Laboratory Services, you will prepare and process samples, conduct quality control tasks, maintain instrumentation, and ensure the delivery of accurate analytical data in accordance with approved methods and protocols. Your work supports reliable, defensible results essential to environmental monitoring and regulatory compliance across South Carolina.

Job Responsibilities:

• Operate and maintain analytical instrumentation to include analyses of various sample matrices for metals by Graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (GFAAS), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Participate in peer review of data generated in the Metals laboratory.
• Perform maintenance on all instruments that the analyst is responsible for and assist other analysts as needed with shared duties, including but not limited to, morning and afternoon temperature checks, daily balance checks, routine maintenance on deionized water systems and dishwasher systems, and the preparation of wash and preservative acids.
• Perform the preparative and interpretative phases of the analysis process to include, but not limited to, preparing calibration standards, spike solutions, reagents, and cleaning the laboratory. Interpret, calculate, and record data. Ensure supportive QC functions are performed.
• Digest metals samples in preparation for analysis; check pH of samples and perform turbidity screening upon receipt; discard expired samples according to the section's waste management plan.
• Serve as backup as needed for Mercury section.
• Review SCDES Standard Operating Procedures and its reference methods annually, updating SOPs as needed.
• Prepare for and participate in emergency response as required.
• Ensure safe work practices by attending all safety meetings, completing annual review of the safety manual, and adhering to the safety policies as prescribed by the Building Safety Manual and the Agency.
• Perform other duties as required, including attending periodic staff meetings and participating in training.

Why Join Us?

As a state employee, you’ll enjoy:

• Job Stability & Purposeful Work: Make an impact on your community as you contribute to protecting SC'S environment
• Great Benefits:Including paid holidays, 30 total days of leave per year, insurance options for you and your family and retirement benefit choices.
• Career Growth: Ongoing training, professional development, and a clear path for advancement.
• Work-Life Balance: A career that lets you enjoy South Carolina, inside and outside of your job.

Institutions of Higher Learning must be recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Applicants indicating college credit or degree(s) on the application are encouraged to upload an unofficial copy of the transcript as an attachment to the application. Please note that the agency may require an official, certified copy of the transcript or diploma prior to hiring.

• A master’s degree in chemistry; OR
• A bachelor’s degree in chemistry and one (1) year of chemistry experience; OR
• A bachelor’s degree in the natural or physical sciences with 16 semester hours in chemistry and two (2) years of laboratory experience.
  • Relevant degree fields include but are not limited to branches relating to Physics, Chemistry, Biology, etc.

Additional Requirements:

• Experience in a laboratory setting related to the area of employment, including experience in operating, maintaining, and interpreting results from advanced analytical instrumentation such as gas or liquid chromatographs and associated data systems.
• Experience with general instrumentation software and Microsoft Office applications.
• Must have a valid driver’s license, 10-year driving record that complies with State and Agency Fleet guidelines, and the ability to drive Agency vehicles.
• Must be able to occasionally travel overnight for training and emergency response purposes.
• Must be able to perform scientific mathematical calculations, highly complex tasks, and maintain accurate records.
• Ability to communicate effectively with peers, other scientists, and service engineers.
• Skilled in prioritizing tasks and managing time effectively.
• Must maintain strict adherence to approved methods and standard operating procedures for the proper collection of quality and technically defensible data.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment:

• Ability to move and change 150-pound gas cylinders using a hand truck.
• Must adhere to all safety requirements, including wearing required safety equipment such as eye protection, laboratory coats, and nitrile gloves to assure the safe handling of commonly used laboratory chemicals.
• Ability to stand for long periods of time and lift at least 50 lbs. to countertop level.
• Able to perform occasional work outdoors in various weather conditions.
• This position involves safely working with various types of glassware, the physical shaking of samples, the performance of repetitive tasks, and meticulous attention to detail.
• The workplace exposure to chemicals of record will be kept below the published OSHA thresholds through the use of administrative and engineering controls, specialized PPE, and appropriate adjustments in job assignments.

• Work experience in an inorganic chemistry laboratory setting.
• Previous work experience with GFAAS, ICP, ICP-OES, ICP-MS and/or metals digestion.
• Familiarity with environmental laboratory protocols and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and data management skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

• This position may be required work outside of normal hours or weekends in emergency situations.
• Transcript: A transcript (unofficial or official) for relevant degree(s) MUST be included with application. Please note that the agency will require an official, certified copy or the transcript prior to hiring.

SCDES is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, including, but not limited, to lactation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.

The Department will not sponsor H1B visas for this position.

The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services offers an exceptional benefits package for full time (FTE) employees:

• Health, dental, vision, long-term disability, and life insurance for employees, spouse, and children. Click here for additional information.
• 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year
• 15 days sick leave per year
• 13 paid holidays
• Paid parental leave
• S.C. Deferred Compensation Program available (S.C. Deferred Compensation)
• Retirement benefit choices
  • State Retirement Plan (SCRS)
  • State Optional Retirement Program (State ORP)
• Remote Work: The option to work remotely 2 days per week is available after successful completion of 1 year of employment with SCDES, based on job functions.

*Enrollment in one of the listed plans is required for all FTE employees; please refer to the contribution section of hyperlinked retirement sites for the current contribution rate of gross pay.