Chemistry Technician II

North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; North Carolina; On-site; USD 10,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player in agricultural protection is seeking a dedicated laboratory technician to join its Core Analytical Laboratory. This role involves performing essential elemental analyses of agricultural samples, ensuring compliance with safety and quality standards. The ideal candidate will possess a strong background in inorganic chemistry and laboratory practices, ready to contribute to the health and welfare of North Carolina's agricultural community. Join a team committed to protecting consumer interests and enhancing agricultural practices through rigorous scientific analysis and support.

Qualifications

• Experience in performing sample digestions and chemistry testing.
• Ability to prepare analytical standard solutions and reagents.

Responsibilities

• Perform basic elemental analysis of feed, fertilizer, and forage samples.
• Document all activities per ISO 17025 requirements.

Skills

Sample Digestions

Chemistry Testing

Preparation of Analytical Solutions

Inorganic Chemistry Methodology

Laboratory Safety Practices

Complex Instruction Understanding

Physical Lifting (up to 50 pounds)

Matrix Handling (grass, hay, nuts)

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Chemical Sciences

Associate's Degree in Related Sciences

Job description

Description Of Work

This position is located in the Food & Drug Protection Division. 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 & Feed Sections by the Food & Drug Protection Division’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 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) performing basic elemental analysis of feed, fertilizer, and forage samples; 2) performing laboratory support activities such as preparing samples for analysis, preparing reagents, and washing labware;and 3) documenting all activities per ISO 17025 requirements and FDPD quality management system procedures.

The employee in this position is responsible for understanding, performing, and evaluating a wide-range of standard wet chemistry and instrument-based methods and procedures, including Kjeldahl titration, gravimetric analyses, continuous flow analyses, and elemental analysis by combustion. The employee must complete analyses within established turnaround times. The employee is also responsible for verifying and maintaining instrumentation and ensuring adequate laboratory supplies are available. 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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Knowledge, Skills And Abilities / Competencies

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 performing sample digestions and / or chemistry testing.
• Ability to prepare analytical standard solutions and reagents.
• Ability to apply knowledge of inorganic chemistry methodology and laboratory safety practices.
• Ability to understand and follow complex oral and written instructions.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to work with matrices such as grass, hay, and nut.
• *Employment is contingent upon the ability to pass a respirator medical and fit test.
  
  

Minimum Education And Experience Requirements

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 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 and Contact Information

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.