Laboratory Technician

State of Alaska; Anchorage (AK); On-site; USD 48,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

The State of Alaska's Environmental Health Lab in Anchorage is seeking a Laboratory Technician to join the chemistry section and help produce high quality, legally defensible data while maintaining certifications and accreditations. This role operates in a dynamic, fast-paced environment with frequent interruptions and changing priorities, requiring excellent organizational and self-management skills.

You will perform sample prep, quality checks, data entry, audits, and support safety and

Qualifications

• Associate degree or equivalent in medical laboratory science or chemistry.
• Relevant science coursework and lab experience preferred.
• Background check and immunization may be required.

Responsibilities

• Produce chemical and microbiological data for environmental samples.
• Perform sample, reagent, and standard preparation and quality checks.
• Maintain SOPs, participate in audits, and assist with data review.
• Support accreditation activities and documentation updates.

Skills

Decision Making

Technical ability

Attention to Detail

Interpersonal Skills

Knowledge Management

Education

Associate of Science degree

Postsecondary science courses

Job description

This position is open to Alaska Residents only.

Please check our residency definition to determine if you qualify.

This position is being recruited for in Anchorage.

What you will be doing:

The Environmental Health Lab (EHL) is recruiting for a Laboratory Technician to join the chemistry section and help produce high quality, legally defensible data and maintaining individual and organizational certifications and accreditations. This position operates in a dynamic work environment that is often fast paced and is subject to frequent interruptions and frequently changing priorities and will require an individual with exceptional organizational and self-management skills. Activities may range from sample, reagent, and standard preparations, quality checks, basic testing, peer review, SOP/document reviews and updates, peer training, cleaning, data entry and review, internal and external audits and more. The EHL conducts chemical and microbiological sample preparation and analysis of food, water, and environmental samples in support of DEC mission-related activities at both state and national levels. The data provided by the laboratory supports the Department's goal to protect our environment and provide safe food and drinking water to Alaskans.

Our organization, mission, and culture:

DEC's mission is to conserve, improve, and protect Alaska's natural resources and environment to enhance the health, safety, economic, and social well-being of Alaskans. The Environmental Health Laboratory (EHL) supports this mission by providing analytical and technical information for environmental health programs that monitor air, food, seafood, soil, water, and zoonotic diseases. This position advances that work by performing chemical and microbiological testing that produces accurate, legally defensible data essential for safe food, clean drinking water, and strong public health protections statewide.

The benefits of joining our team:

Build your laboratory skills while doing work that matters to communities across Alaska. You’ll gain hands‑on experience with a variety of sample types, opportunities for training and professional development, and experience working both independently and alongside other laboratory professionals. Your work will help protect consumers and support industries that depend on reliable testing.

The working environment you can expect:

The EHL is located in its own building near Anchorage’s U-Med district, offering free parking, access to public transportation, and proximity to Far North Bicentennial Park and Campbell Tract trails with frequent wildlife viewing. The facility includes bike racks, shower amenities, and well‑equipped laboratory spaces that support a mix of independent and collaborative work, making it easy to incorporate alternate transportation, lunchtime exercise (walk, run, ski or bike, etc.), or outdoor breaks into your day.

We are looking for a candidate that has experience in the following areas:

• Decision Making: Uses a logical, systematic, and sequential approach to address problems or opportunities or manage a situation by drawing on one’s knowledge and experience base and calling on other references and resources as necessary.
• Technical ability: Knowledge of the scientific principles, methods, and processes used to conduct a systematic and objective inquiry of contaminated sites; including study design, collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; and the reporting of results.

• Attention to Detail: Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.
• Interpersonal Skills: Shows understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, concern, and politeness to others; develops and maintains effective relationships with others; may include effectively dealing with individuals who are difficult, hostile, or distressed; relates well to people from varied backgrounds and different situations; is sensitive to cultural diversity, race, gender, disabilities, and other individual differences.
• Knowledge Management: Knowledge of the value of collected information and the methods of sharing that information throughout an organization.

Special Notice:

• This position will be exposed to corrosive chemicals such as hydrochloric and nitric acid in addition to other chemicals and may encounter common allergens including shellfish, crustaceans, rodents, feathers; dead animals, whole carcasses, tissues, bodily fluids; live animals, including mice and potentially poultry; and parasites such as ticks, in specimen containers. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is required.
• Valid Alaska Drivers License is desired due to need for operation of motor vehicle being present, but not mandatory.
• The incumbent will receive specific training on lab safety procedures and sample testing from the senior laboratory staff and may attain state or national accreditation to analyze regulatory samples under a controlled analytical environment.

An Associate of Science degree from an accredited college in Medical Technician, chemistry, or other laboratory science.

OR

Two years of postsecondary education from an accredited college that includes 60 semester hours/80 quarter hours with either 24 semester hours/36 quarter hours of medical laboratory technology courses or 24 semester hours/36 quarter hours of science courses with six semester hours/eight quarter hours of chemistry, six semester hours/eight quarter hours of biology, and 12 additional semester hours/16 quarter hours in any combination of chemistry, biology, or medical laboratory technology.

Some positions in this class require a background investigation in accordance with the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002.

Some positions in this class require the incumbent to be immunized against infectious diseases.

For specific information about the position please contact the hiring manager:

Jackie Knue

Chemist 5

907-375-8229

[e-mail]