CHEMIST III - 42005712

Florida; Tallahassee (FL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services seeks a Chemist III in Tallahassee to perform complex analytical work supporting state regulatory testing and grant requirements. The role develops and refines analytical methods, evaluates new technologies, and ensures a safe, compliant laboratory environment.

Training and cross‑functional collaboration are essential. The ideal candidate holds a doctorate in chemistry or biochemistry and will ensure alignment with ISO 17025 and GLP

Qualifications

• A doctorate from an accredited college or university with a major course of study in chemistry or biochemistry.
• Certain positions within this class require individuals to meet specific federal or state regulations as identified by the employing agency.

Responsibilities

• Perform complex analytical work supporting the state regulatory testing program or grant requirements.
• Develop analytical methods to improve laboratory efficiency, sensitivity, and reliability.
• Evaluate new technologies, instruments, and techniques to enhance laboratory capabilities.
• Maintain a clean, safe, and efficient laboratory environment and manage supplies and reagents.
• Provide training to analysts on new laboratory methods and instrumental techniques.
• Assist with routine testing for state regulatory or grant programs as needed.
• Ensure ISO 17025 and GLP compliance and monitor QA performance.

Skills

Analytical chemistry

Quality assurance

Data analysis

Laboratory instrumentation

Independent work

Education

Doctorate in Chemistry or Biochemistry

Job description

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Requisition No:884763

Agency: Agriculture and Consumer Services

CHEMIST III

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

A doctorate from an accredited college or university with a major course of study in chemistry or biochemistry.

Certain positions within this class require individuals to meet specific federal or state regulations as identified by the employing agency.

***ATTENTION CANDIDATES***

To be considered for a position with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services:

• All fields in the Candidate Profile must be completed (an attached resume is not a substitution for the information required on the candidate profile).
• Work history, duties and responsibilities, hours worked, supervisor, and formal education fields, etc. must be filled out to determine qualifications for this position.
• Responses to Qualifying Questions must be verifiable in the Candidate Profile.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services values and supports employment of individuals with disabilities.Qualified individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Occasional travel required.

NOTES

To maintain fairness and integrity, applicants are required to provide honest and authentic responses during all stages of the evaluation and selection process. Applicants must rely on their own personal knowledge, thoughts, and impressions. A candidate’s use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to answer qualifying questions or participate in interviews will be taken into consideration when determining qualification for the position. Successful applicant must pass a background screening, including fingerprinting, as a condition of employment.

JOB DUTIES

Independently performs complex analytical work, developing analytical methods in support of the state regulatory testing program or grant requirements. Supports activities related to refining and improving existing analytical methods to enhance laboratory efficiency, sensitivity, and reliability, as needed. Assists in evaluating new technologies, instruments, and techniques that may improve laboratory capabilities or support emerging regulatory needs. Supports the Environmental Manager by helping maintain a clean, safe, and efficient laboratory environment and assisting with the inventory and organization of supplies, reagents, and chemicals used within the section. Provides input to support smooth laboratory operations, including coordinating equipment maintenance needs, maintaining adequate supplies, and ensuring that laboratory work areas remain clean, organized, and compliant with safety practices. Provides training to analysts on new laboratory methods and new instrumental techniques. This role offers ongoing technical guidance, clarifies analytical processes, and answers questions that arise within the laboratory environment to ensure accurate, consistent, and efficient analytical practices. Assists with routine testing for the state regulatory or grant programs, as needed. Collaborates with Laboratory Staff and the Laboratory Quality Manager to ensure compliance with ISO 17025 and Good Laboratory Practice (GLP). Ensures the accuracy, reliability, and technical integrity of the laboratory’s analytical data by evaluating internal and external QA performance, reviewing control charts, initiating corrective actions when necessary, checking report calculations, verifying standard checking procedures, and ensuring that analytical standards are current and properly maintained. Maintains regular communication with colleagues, both individually and during staff meetings, to support effective information sharing and a collaborative laboratory environment. Contributes to improving the quality and efficiency of work by providing technical insight, sharing updates, and promoting teamwork within the section. Supports the Environmental Manager by assisting with operational improvements, encouraging cross-section collaboration, and coordinating effectively with administrators, supervisors, and staff from other section. Maintains personal expertise in analytical procedures, instrument technology, quality assurance and improvement, and management through self-motivation. Complies with state and department policies and procedures for analysis of foods. Performs other related duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of the terminology, concepts, principles and techniques of chemical research, analysis or testing.
• Knowledge of the procedures, techniques, and equipment used in laboratory testing and analysis.
• Knowledge of experimental design and method development procedures.
• Knowledge of the methods of data collection.
• Knowledge of quality assurance concepts, techniques, and processes.
• Skills in the use of various scientific instrumentation technologies, discernment of factors influencing analytical variations, application of techniques of analytical chemistry, and appropriate interpretation and communication of chemical concepts and generated data.
• Ability to understand and apply acquired knowledge of the principles of chemistry, perform chemical analyses using appropriate scientific methodology, exercise independent judgment and perform chemical analyses.
• Ability to collect, record, and analyze scientific data relating to chemistry.
• Ability to conduct chemical analyses using scientific methods and techniques.
• Ability to perform quantitative analysis of scientific data.
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments.
• Ability to think critically.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to train others.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to keep accurate research records.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to utilize problem-solving techniques.
• Ability to understand and apply applicable rules, regulations, policies, and procedures relating to the chemical sciences.
• Ability to comply with strict procedural and quality control/quality assurance guidelines in an ISO 17025 accredited laboratory.
• Ability to perform calculations.
• Ability to use laboratory computer applications (email, data processing, spreadsheet, database, word processing).
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida

Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits including:

• Annual and Sick Leave benefits;
• Nine paid holidays and one Personal holiday each year;
• State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision and other supplemental insurance options;
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions (For more information, please visit www.myfrs.com ;)

For an estimate of the total compensation package for this position, please visit the “Total Compensation Estimator Tool” located above under the “Posting Closing Date.”

SPECIAL NOTES

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE. Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes,candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply. Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements. Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code. Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here . All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.

Location

TALLAHASSEE, FL, US, 32301 TALLAHASSEE, FL, US, 32317 TALLAHASSEE, FL, US, 32304 TALLAHASSEE, FL, US, 32308 TALLAHASSEE, FL, US, 32302 TALLAHASSEE, FL, US, 32316 TALLAHASSEE, FL, US, 32307 TALLAHASSEE, FL, US, 32310 TALLAHASSEE, FL, US, 32303 TALLAHASSEE, FL, US, 32311 TALLAHASSEE, FL, US, 32305 TALLAHASSEE, FL, US, 32312 TALLAHASSEE, FL, US, 32309 TALLAHASSEE, FL, US, 32399

For assistance, call the People First Service Center at [phone] Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Eastern time. Pursuant to Florida Law, 110.211 F. S., the State of Florida is an EEO employer.