Chemistry Technician I

Dept of Agriculture , Consumer Services

Agriculture Consumer Service

Chemistry Technician I (S)

60011805

NC06

Please note: Job postings close at 11:59:59 p.m. the night before the listed Posting End Date above.

This position is open only to current NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services employees—including temporary employees (hired directly or through Temporary Solutions)—and former NCDA&CS employees eligible for RIF priority reemployment under G.S. 126.

The NCDA&CS Agronomic Services Division provides statewide diagnostic and advisory services that increase agricultural productivity, promote responsible land management, and safeguard environmental quality. The Division is comprised of three laboratory sections and a field services section with a combined total of 58 employees. The Agronomic Division maintains a very active, employee-led safety program and is recognized as a Public-Sector Star site by the NC Department of Labor.

The Plant/Waste/Solution/Media (PWSM) lab at the Agronomic Division in the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS) is excited to announce the opening of a Chemistry Technician I position. You will work in a team environment that is high-volume and fast-paced analyzing plant tissue samples of various crops, waste samples from animal operations or industrial operations, solution samples from irrigation sources or greenhouse facilities, and media samples from the greenhouse industry.

This position is responsible for performing a range of moderately complex analytical tests on a variety of materials in PWSM lab. Duties include:

• Determination of alkalinity and calcium carbonate equivalency by chemical titration
• Measurement of pH and electrical conductivity by electrode
• Extractions for plant chloride and nitrate
• Extractions of soilless media
• Preparation of reagents, standards, and other chemicals.
• Serving as the lead technician for sample receiving and processing

Lead responsibilities for this position include:

• Managing the accuracy of the daily analytical worklist
• Overseeing and coordinating the workflow for the sample receiving staff
• Training staff in (and performing as required) plant, waste, solution and media sample check-in procedures
• Training staff in (and performing as required) plant, waste, solution and media processing procedures such as drying, grinding, homogenizing and weighing samples.

This position will assist the lab supervisor, chemist I, and chemistry technician II positions with additional tasks as needed. The duties listed above will vary based on the time of year and laboratory staffing needs. The employee must be able to perform all duties independently by the end of the first year of service.

Normal working hours are 6:30 am to 3:30 pm, Monday through Friday, but occasional overtime may be required to meet established turnaround times.

**Must pass a fitness for duty/functional capacity evaluation post-offer paid for by the Department

**A written practicum will be given to candidates during the interview. **

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.

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; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Toni Lynn Tooley

Recruiter Email: agr.workday@ncagr.gov