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Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |
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POSITION DESCRIPTION FOR JOB POSTING |
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Position Number: 00095396 |
Description Activated On: 8/8/2025 9:01:40 AM |
Position Purpose: Describe the primary purpose of this position and how it contributes to the organization’s objectives. Example: Provides clerical and office support within the Division to ensure its operations are conducted efficiently and effectively. Analytical Application: Analyze environmental samples for the presence of environmentally significant analytes using specialized equipment and techniques and employing accepted methods (e.g., U.S. EPA, Standard Methods, and DEP validated methods and procedures). Primary Analytical Emphasis: Volatile analysis of non-potable water by 624.1 using GC/MS, HP5977, ISQ7610 Secondary Analytical Emphasis: Volatile analysis of soil and COWS by GC/MS, HP5977, ISQ7610 Volatiles in Drinking Water by Method 524.3, GC/MS HP5977, ISQ7610 Carbonyls in air by 8315A using HPLC EDB/DBCP in potable and non-potable water by 504.1 and 8011 using GC/ECD Work Unit: Volatile Analysis Unit |
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Description of Duties: Describe in detail the duties and responsibilities assigned to this position. Descriptions should include the major end result of the task. Example: Types correspondence, reports, and other various documents from handwritten drafts for review and signature of the supervisor. Understand and promote the four pillars of the DEP Vision - Operational Excellence, Climate Leadership, Cultural Competence and Environmental Justice. Sample receiving: 1. Organizes and logs received samples, complying with all documentation and chain of custody requirements. 2. Notifies supervisor and collector of samples broken in transit, received with insufficient sample, received in an inappropriate container or any other conditions that would have a negative impact on the analytical results. 3. Maintains custodial control of special priority samples when assigned. 4. Maintains necessary records in laboratory notebooks and/or computer systems to ensure proper chain of custody. Extract pollutants of interest from various matrices: 1. Uses a variety of solvents and techniques such as SFE, SPE, CLE, sep funnel, and PFE to extract analytes of interest from various matrices. 2. Ensures that all required extraction batch QC samples are included with each sample batch. Analyze samples utilizing chromatography: 1. Ensures that analyses are completed within the required time frames. 2. Properly operates analytical instruments and associated software. 3. Evaluates the raw instrument data to determine the analyte identifications and quantitates results. 4. Reviews the final data report for unusual data. Notifies supervisor of abnormal or elevated results. Reviews the final data report for accuracy prior to releasing the results to the client. Implement methodologies. At the request of a supervisor, and under the direction of a supervisor or Chemist 2, assist in the implementation, modification, adaptation or improvement of existing methodologies. This may include any or all of the following activities: 1. Modify instrument and/or extraction conditions to meet the desired specifications for identification, precision, accuracy, and/or sensitivity. 2. Ensure that all method-specified criteria are met. 3. Perform a method detection limit study, initial demonstration of capability, precision and accuracy study, method comparison study, holding time study, and/or analytical time study. 4. Generate control charts to establish in-house control limits. 5. Revise or create a Standard Operating Procedure. Perform necessary maintenance of analytical instrumentation: 1. Performs preventive maintenance of analytical instruments. Maintains a logbook of preventive maintenance, malfunctions, and repairs. 2. Reports instrument malfunctions to supervisor and attempts to correct malfunction and/or contacts contract vendor technical support for guidance. 3. As necessary, contacts contract vendors to arrange for on- or off-site repairs. Lab safety: 1. Complies with all lab and workplace safety protocols at all times. 2. As directed, performs checks on safety showers and eyewash stations. Maintains records of these tests. 3. Reports any safety-related malfunctions or unsafe conditions to Section Chief and Safety Officer. 4. Properly labels all hazardous waste containers, and arranges for their pickup at the correct intervals. Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC): 1. Inputs appropriate data in a prescribed format to meet data quality standards set forth by guidance, training, and policy across all of DEP’s electronic data systems; to include ensuring accuracy and completeness of entries, and where available, the use of system specific tools to ensure duplicative entries and data quality issues are minimized. 2. Participates in on-site evaluations as required by EPA and TNI. 3. Uses Good Laboratory Practices at all times. 4. Uses certified analytical standards and reagents of known quality. 5. Performs and maintains records of all required QA studies (MDL, DOC, PT). Performs an annual review and update of SOPs. 6. Performs and maintains records of all required analytical and extraction batch QC (ICAL, CCAL, LFB, LFM, etc.). 7. Is familiar with the requirements of the reference methods and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and ensures that regulatory requirements are met. 8. Evaluates QC records to identify trends and/or quality problems, and initiates corrective action as required. 9. Reads, understands, and performs the most recent revision of SOPs for all test methods. Training: 1. At the direction of the Section Chief, provides instruction and training for other analysts. 2. Acts as a resource for all Organic Section personnel with regards to operation of equipment, sample preparation, analytical techniques, QC procedures, documentation and record keeping, interpretation of analytical results, and data reporting. 3. Cross trains with other analysts in the work unit so as to be able to act as an alternate analyst for most analytical work done in the Organic Section. 4. Researches availability of training programs and completes training request forms. 5. Completes all required E-LMS training in a timely fashion. Supplemental Duties: 1. Assists with washing glassware as necessary to keep the Organic Section running smoothly. 2. Coordinates with other analysts when using common equipment such as the GPC, ASE, N-EVAP, and S-EVAP units. 3. Recommends process improvements to supervisor, and implements them with approval from supervisor. 4. Legal consultation. As necessary, serve as a resource to attorneys who are exploring potential litigation as a result of sample testing; testify in court cases; and make necessary preparations for required court appearances. 5. Acts as an alternate analyst for work performed by other sections. Notifies supervisor when workload is light so other duties may be assigned. 6. Maintains inventory of supplies necessary to perform assigned analyses. Orders replacement supplies in a timely fashion. 7. Use DEP communication networks (email, voice mail, calendars, etc.) to communicate with DEP personnel. 8. Work overtime and/or flexible schedule, as needed, during emergency situations. 9. Promotes the Department's mission. This job description in no way states nor implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instruction and to perform any other job-related duties requested by their supervisor. Employees may be required to work overtime and/or flexible schedules during emergency situations |
Decision Making: Describe the types of decisions made by the incumbent of this position and the types of decisions referred to others. Identify the problems or issues that can be resolved at the level of this position, versus those that must be referred to the supervisor. Example: In response to a customer inquiry, this work involves researching the status of an activity and preparing a formal response for the supervisor’s signature. Work is assigned by the supervisor. Works with minimum supervision and results are occasionally reviewed. Each chemist is assigned analytical work in their area of responsibility and expertise. Special projects are assigned which require discussion; otherwise, each chemist works independently and their work is occasionally reviewed. |
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Requirements Profile: Identify any specific experience or requirements, such as a licensure, registration, or certification, which may be necessary to perform the functions of the position. Position-specific requirements should be consistent with a Special Requirement or other criteria identified in the classification specification covering this position. Example: Experience using Java; Professional Engineer License Experience: Licenses, registrations, or certifications: 1. N/A 2. N/A 3. N/A 4. 5. 6. |
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Essential Functions: Provide a list of essential functions for this position. Example: Transports boxes weighing up to 60 pounds.
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