Principal Scientist (Trace Organics & Pesticides) - CL177

Are you an Organic Chemist interested in a fulfilling career with the Commonwealth?

Do you have experience serving as a team leader and developing laboratory methods?

Apply to be a Principal Scientist for Trace Organics & Pesticides!

Title: Principal Scientist (Trace Organics & Pesticides) - CL177

State Role Title: Scientist II

Hiring Range: $89,000 - $102,000

Pay Band: 5

Agency: Department of General Services (DGS)

Location: Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services, Richmond, VA

Agency Website: www.dgs.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

DGS is seeking a Principal Scientist for Trace Organics & Pesticides at the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services (DCLS). DCLS is is one of the largest and most diverse consolidated state laboratories in the nation. With an annual budget of over 30 million dollars and over 250 state employees, DCLS performs approximately 9 million tests annually. Results from these tests are used confidently by local, state, and federal public health, agriculture, food regulatory, environmental protection, and law enforcement officials serving to protect our citizens, food supply, environment, and commerce. DCLS is a member of several public health networks and emergency response groups.

The Trace Organics & Pesticides Group performs laboratory testing using complex instrumentation (i.e. gas chromatographs, high performance liquid chromatographs, and mass spectrometers) to identify toxic organic compounds in samples such as air, water and soil. Laboratory data generated by DCLS are used by state and federal programs such as the National Air Toxics Trends Stations (NATTS) and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), and the Virginia Department of Health to make decisions about air quality, waste discharge, drinking water treatment regulations, landfill operation, fertilizer and pesticide application. Other laboratory testing activities in the Organics group include emergency response testing and consumer protection testing to include formulation and animal remedies testing to ensure accurate product labeling and guarantees stated on the label.

Job duties include, but are not limited to:

• Serves in a lead capacity and technical specialist for the workgroup, including training and reviewing the testing of others. Also serves as back-up Technical Manager for TNI purposes.
• Independently perform high-complexity laboratory testing and analysis with accuracy and efficiency, including performing performing liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) and other testing.
• Assures team meets production, turnaround times, quality assurance goals, and objectives are met.
• Designs and leads validations and verifications of new instrumentation and methodologies.
• Provides technical and troubleshooting guidance for laboratory instrumentation and test methods.
• Reviews and revises Standard Operating Procedures.
• Assists Lead Scientists and/or Group Manager in preparing grant applications, tracking grant objectives and progress, and providing routine reports.
• Supports quality assurance efforts by monitoring compliance of group with policies and ensuring training objectives are met.
• Maintains a safe and compliant work environment by following SOPs, safety protocols, and laboratory best practices.
• Provides highly technical consultation to agency users, program managers, laboratory staff, and physicians on the interpretation of analytical results.

This position may also be required to respond to emergency testing requests outside of normal business hours.

We’ve got great benefits!

DGS offers excellent health benefits at affordable pricing, pre-tax spending accounts, paid life insurance, paid Short- and Long-Term Disability benefits, paid holidays, vacation, and other leave benefits, wellness programs, and a state retirement plan with options for tax-deferred retirement savings including employer matching. Additionally, DGS is a qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. 

Minimum Qualifications

• Meets the educational and work experience requirements for an Organics Technical Manager as defined by the NELAC Institute (TNI) Standard EL-V1M2-2016-Rev2.1 section 5.2.6.1.
• Experience serving as a team leader, including coordinating, prioritizing, and reviewing the work of others.
• Experience with laboratory method development, including validation/verification procedures.
• Experience performing and documenting interpretations of data and QC to meet quality assurance requirements.
• Comprehensive knowledge and work-related experience with the theory and application of chemical principles.
• Skill in the application, operation, and troubleshooting of complex laboratory equipment and instrumentation.
• Knowledge of laboratory safety practices for the handling of chemical, microbiological, infectious or toxic materials.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including the ability to provide written reports of research findings/interpretations, provide formal technical trainings, and consultation to customers relating to specimen submission, specimen testing and/or interpretation of results.
• Ability to prioritize work in a fast-paced environment and plan, organize, and implement independent research projects.
• Good technical skills and strong attention to detail, including the ability to follow procedures, identify errors, and problem-solve.
• Experience and skill working with a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).
• Ability to occasionally handle, push, pull, and/or move 50 or more lbs.
• Ability to work occasional after-hours and/or weekends as needed for emergency coverage and workflow..

Additional Considerations

• Experience performing liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS).
• Experience with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) gas chromatography, and/or sample preparation using solid phase extraction (SPE) techniques.
• Experience with The NELAC Institute Standards and/or ISO 17025 as it pertains to certified testing.
• Experience in compliance testing and federal, state and local requirements, regulations or laws as related to potable and non-potable water testing, including PFAS and pesticide residue testing.
• Experience in writing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and/or grant applications..

Special Instructions

The online state application must contain all required information and fully respond to questions to be considered for this job opportunity. Please be sure that all of your relevant qualifications and considerations are specifically addressed in your submitted application.

This position has regulatory requirements that necessitate certain qualifications, outlined in the information provided above. If you intend to utilize education to meet these requirements, you must submit an unofficial transcript with your application, including a conferral date.

Online applications should be submitted via jobs.virginia.gov. 

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