Chemistry Tech II

Justice; Raleigh (NC); On-site; USD 37,000 - 51,000; Full time

Job summary

The North Carolina Department of Justice, State Crime Laboratory in Raleigh, is hiring a laboratory technician to monitor reagent usage, compile orders, and maintain equipment with routine calibration checks.

You will prepare reagents, document quality control tests, manage hazardous waste, and coordinate evidence transfers with the Evidence Control Unit, ensuring proper logging and traceability throughout analyses.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in one of the chemical, biological, microbiological, environmental or natural resource sciences including related chemistry laboratory coursework from an appropriately accredited institution; or Associate's degree in one of the chemical, biological, microbiological, environmental or natural resource sciences or a closely related curriculum including related chemistry laboratory coursework from an appropriately accredited institution and two years of directly related chemistry laboratory experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Responsibilities

• Monitor quantity used, compile orders, obtain quotations, and maintain laboratory equipment and instrumentation with repairs, upkeep, calibration checks, and logs.
• Prepare chemical reagents/buffers and quality control test samples, maintaining detailed logs.
• Maintain chemical and biological hazardous waste storage areas and perform quality control checks of extraction, quantitation, and amplification kits.
• Inventory sexual assault kits prior to analysis by a Section Forensic Scientist.
• Coordinate with the Evidence Control Unit to transfer evidence between intake and the forensic biology section vault and return it after analysis.

Skills

Laboratory safety

Record keeping

Quality control

Education

Bachelor's degree in chemistry/biological/microbiological/environmental or natural resource sciences

Associate's degree with 2 years of related chemistry lab experience

Tools

Laboratory instrumentation maintenance

Job description

About Us

The North Carolina Department of Justice, led by the Attorney General of North Carolina, represents the state, state agencies, and elected officials, and defends the rights of the people of North Carolina. The Department handles all state criminal appeals cases and assists district attorneys with complex criminal cases at their request. Additionally, the Department of Justice includes the North Carolina State Crime Lab, the North Carolina Justice Academy, and the Sheriffs’ and Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Divisions.

Description of Work

Recruitment Range: $37,377 - $51,392 IMPORTANT NOTE: This posting closes at 11:59:59 PM the night BEFORE the End Date listed.

The State Crime Laboratory of the Department of Justice maintains a full service forensic science laboratory to assist all law enforcement agencies in North Carolina in the investigation of criminal matters. The Laboratory’s mission is to provide state-of-the-art forensic services in the areas of drug analysis, blood alcohol/drug content, firearms, latent prints, footwear and tire tracks, forensic biology, computer forensics, and trace evidence.

The services are provided from a central laboratory in Raleigh, N.C. and regional laboratories located in Edneyville, N.C. and Greensboro, N.C.

Description of Duties

• This position will be responsible for monitoring quantity used, compiling orders, obtaining quotations and maintaining laboratory equipment and instrumentation by performing repairs, upkeep, monthly calibration checks and keeping logs for each instrument. There are a wide variety of instruments within the Section that require weekly, monthly, and annual maintenance, calibrations, and performance checks. The technician will also be responsible for maintaining detailed and accurate records regarding all calibrations, performance checks, maintenance and repairs. Temperature charts on incubators, refrigerators, and other equipment are also maintained.
• Preparing chemical reagents/buffers and quality control test samples and maintaining detailed logs referencing these. Maintaining chemical and biological hazardous waste storage areas. Performing quality control checks of commercially purchased extraction kits, quantitation kits, and amplification kits.
• Perform necessary inventorying steps of sexual assault kits prior to analysis by a Section Forensic Scientist.
• The technician will work with the Evidence Control Unit to ensure seamless transfer of evidence between evidence intake and placement into the Forensic Biology Section evidence vault. The technician will also be responsible for returning all evidence to the Evidence Control Unit for return to the investigating agency once analysis is completed.
• Documenting receipt for all scientific supplies. The technician will maintain all required documentation and chemical logs and perform any required quality control checks.

The selected candidate will undergo and must successfully complete a comprehensive background investigation which may take several months to complete. The background investigation includes:

• polygraph
• credit and arrest checks
• interviews with associates to include personal and business references, past employers, and neighbors
• verification of education achievement
• fingerprinting
• urinalysis drug screening

Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences

Management Preferences: Minimum Education and Experience Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.” If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide for details. Bachelor's degree in one of the chemical, biological, microbiological, environmental or natural resource sciences including related chemistry laboratory coursework from an appropriately accredited institution; or Associate's degree in one of the chemical, biological, microbiological, environmental or natural resource sciences or a closely related curriculum including related chemistry laboratory coursework from an appropriately accredited institution and two years of directly related chemistry laboratory experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Supplemental Information

Resumes and cover letters: To receive credit for your work history and credentials, you must list the information on the online application form. This information is used to determine if you meet the requirements of the position, and if you are selected, it is used to determine a salary offer. Using the terms "See Resume" or "See Attachment" will not be accepted, and your application will be rejected as incomplete. Cover letters are highly encouraged but not required. Credit for foreign degrees will only be given if verification of degree certification is attached to your application. Transcripts for foreign degrees have to be evaluated by an organization like World Education Services to determine US equivalency.

CONTACT INFORMATION

NC Department of Justice Human Resources [e-mail]

EEO Statement

The State of North Carolina is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and dedicated to providing employees with a work environment free from all forms of unlawful employment discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. The state provides reasonable accommodation to employees and applicants with disabilities; known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; and for religious beliefs, observances, and practices.

Recruiter

Andrea Evet Cannon Recruiter Email: [e-mail]

State Application Resources/Frequently Asked Questions

Valuing Education and Experience The State of North Carolina values the knowledge and experience of our jobseekers and current state employees. Approximately 91 percent of state job classifications allow experience to be substituted for education or do not require a post-secondary degree. Learn more about how you may qualify for a position through education or directly related experience, or a combination of both, with the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide.

All job postings close at 11:59pm the night before the End Date on the posting.