Chemist 2 (Pcn 18N25001b)

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.

Pay will be determined based on location of selected individual.

What you will be doing:

The Environmental Health Lab (EHL) is recruiting for a long term non-permanent (LTNP) Chemist 2 to join the chemistry team and help in producing 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. LTNP Chemist 2 is the first working level of the professional series where incumbents perform a variety of standard and routine tests, analyses and research to study, detect, analyze, identify and quantify chemical compounds and substances and their effects.

Our organization, mission, and culture:

The Department of Environmental Conservation's (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. Clean water, land, and food are essential to every Alaskan. This position supports DEC's mission by producing legally defensible data to protect our environment and public health, including ensuring safe food and drinking water to Alaskans.

This LTNP Chemist 2 will join a team of other Chemists and Lab Technicians to produce high quality, timely, and legally defensible data by performing regulatory testing on food, shellfish, finfish, waters, soils, and more to ensure the health and safety of consumers in Alaska and worldwide, support commercial industries, and overall environmental health.

The benefits of joining our team:

As a valued member of the team, the incumbent will have opportunities for training, a supportive work environment, and to perform work that impacts lives and livelihoods. Our colleagues are dedicated to accountability, continuous improvement, and ensuring public and environmental health. We share information and provide assistance to support team member success.

The working environment you can expect:

The EHL is located in its own building near the U-Med district in Anchorage, Alaska with easy, free parking, close to public transportation with sidewalks, and access to Far North Bicentennial Park and Campbell Tract trails, as well as frequent wildlife viewing. The EHL also has bike racks and shower facilities for those that use alternate transportation or lunch time exercise (walk, run, ski or bike, etc.).

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

• Critical Thinking: Uses logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

• Flexibility: Is open to change and new information; rapidly adapts to new information, changing conditions and priorities, or unexpected obstacles.

• Interpersonal Skills: Treats others with courtesy, sensitivity, and respect.  Considers and responds appropriately to the needs and feelings of different people in different situations.

• Problem Solving: Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives; and to make recommendations.

• Quality Assurance: Knowledge of the principles, methods, and tools of quality assurance and quality control used to ensure a procedure fulfills functional requirements and standards.

Special Notice:

• This position will be exposed or handle items including, but not limited to, food, water, shellfish, crustaceans, fish, and soils, as well as dead animals (whole carcasses, tissues, bodily fluids), live animals (including mice and potentially poultry), and parasites such as ticks (in specimen containers).

• Answers to the supplemental questions will be used as writing samples.

• Please email the hiring manager to request the Position Description.

Successful completion of a course of developmental training under a formally established Chemist flexible staffing training plan with the State of Alaska;

OR

Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited college in chemistry, chemical or biomolecular engineering, forensic chemistry, biochemistry, biophysical chemistry, geochemistry, environmental chemistry, environmental engineering, molecular biology or other physical or natural science.  

AND

Any combination of education and/or experience that provides the applicant with competencies in:

• Analytical Thinking/Problem Solving: uses a logical, systematic, 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.

• Attention to Detail: Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.

• Chemistry: Knowledge of the concepts, principles, and theories of the composition, structure, and properties of substances, and of the chemical processes and transformations, including uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.

• Measurement and Instrumentation: Knowledge of electronics and related electrical engineering disciplines necessary for the research and development of sensors, electronic measurement devices, and instrumentation systems for aerospace systems and components.

• Technical Competence: Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on-the-job experience to perform one's job; works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to the job; advises others on technical issues.

Equivalent to those typically gained by:

Education from an accredited college in chemistry, chemical or biomolecular engineering, forensic chemistry, biochemistry, biophysical chemistry, geochemistry, environmental chemistry, environmental engineering, molecular biology or other physical or natural science.

AND

Experience performing progressively complex sample collection and preparation and classical or instrumental chemical testing and related analyses in a laboratory or similar setting.

Special Note:

"Competencies" means a combination of interrelated knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviors that enable a person to act effectively in a job or situation.

 "Typically gained by" means the prevalent, usual method of gaining the competencies expected for entry into the job.

 "Training" and "education" in this guidance are synonyms for the process of acquiring knowledge and skills through instruction. It includes instruction through formal and informal methods (such as classroom, on-line, self-study, and on-the-job), from accredited and unaccredited sources, and long-duration (such as a post-secondary degree) and short-duration (such as a seminar) programs.

"Progressively responsible" means indicating growth and/or advancement in complexity, difficulty, or level of responsibility.

A cover letter is required for this position.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION SUBMISSION

• Cover letter with at least one example of each of the five desired competencies in the posting.

• To demonstrate the required education, please attach transcripts. Unofficial are acceptable, please ensure that the institution and URL name is listed on the transcripts.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED AT THE TIME OF THE INTERVIEW

• Three (3) professional references

• Last two (2) performance evaluations. Supervisor letter of recommendation may be used as a substitute, if evaluations are unavailable.

COVER LETTER

Cover letter with at least one example of each of the five desired competencies in the posting.

The cover letter will be considered as a writing sample, and it will be used, in part, to determine which applicants advance to the interview phase of the recruitment.

Please attach the cover letter as a separate document to your application before applying online. If unable to attach to your application, email or fax the cover letter to the contact number provided in the job posting prior to the closing date of this recruitment.

 Your cover letter will be used to determine which applicants will advance to the interview phase of the recruitment and selection process. Omission of any required documentation will result in an incomplete application and you will not receive further consideration. 

LEGAL EMPLOYMENT

The State's online recruitment system, Workplace Alaska, requires applicants to certify that they have a legal right to accept employment in the United States. It is the responsibility of the employee to maintain the appropriate documentation to accept or continue legal employment. The State of Alaska does not function in the role as an employer sponsor.

THIS RECRUITMENT IS FOR ALASKA RESIDENTS ONLY

Please be sure to check our residency definition to determine if you qualify.

EDUCATION

To verify education is being used to meet and/or support the required minimum qualifications/competencies, you must fill in the Education section of the application. If you have not obtained a degree, please indicate the number of units completed. Copies of transcripts are required to verify educational credentials used to meet or support the minimum qualifications/competencies for a position and are required with each application. (Unofficial is okay; please ensure the institution/URL name is listed on the transcripts). Transcripts can be attached at the time of application or provided at the time of interview; if not, transcripts will be required before employment.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR FOREIGN EDUCATION

Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above requirements, if applicable. If utilizing this education you must show that the education credentials have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and that such education has been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs; or an accredited U.S. state university reports the other institution as one whose transcript is given full value, or full value is given in subject areas applicable to the curricula at the state university.

It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.  Omission of required documentation listed will result in an incomplete application and you will not receive further consideration.

NOTE: The State of Alaska does not provide VISA Employer sponsorships.

WORK EXPERIENCE

When using work experience not already documented in your application, please provide the employer's name, your job title, dates of employment, and whether full-or part-time. Applications will be reviewed to determine if the responses are supported, and minimum qualifications are clearly met.

Work experience needed to meet the minimum qualifications must be documented in the application.  If the application does not support minimum qualifications, the applicant may not advance to the interview and selection phase of the recruitment. A resume will not be used to determine that minimum qualifications have been met for the position in which you are applying.

If you are currently or previously been appointed to a flexibly staffed position, please ensure your work experience within a flexibly staffed position indicates the actual dates employed at each level.  Ensure your time and any subsequent flex promotion(s) are documented as a separate position.

This is required as there are minimum qualifications that require experience at a particular level in which the lower level may not be considered. If this information is not accurately reflected in your application this may cause the processing of your application for consideration to be delayed.

NOTE: Attaching a resume or curriculum vitae is not an alternative to filling out the application in its entirety. Noting "see resume or CV" or any similar response on any portion of your application may lead to a determination your application is incomplete and removal from consideration for this job posting.

MULTIPLE VACANCIES

This recruitment may be used for more than one (1) vacancy. The applicant pool acquired during this recruitment may be used for future vacancies for up to ninety (90) days after this recruitment closes. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply to each recruitment notice to ensure consideration for all vacancies.

APPLICATION NOTICE

You can ONLY apply for this position through the Workplace Alaska website or via hardcopy application. If you accessed this recruitment bulletin through a job search portal such as AlaskaJobs or any other database, you MUST use a Workplace Alaska online or hardcopy application to successfully apply. Instructions on how to apply with Workplace Alaska may be found on the Workplace Alaska "How to Apply" webpage, found here: http://doa.alaska.gov/dop/workplace/help/

NOTICE

Questions regarding the application process can be directed to the Workplace Alaska hotline at 800-587-0430 (toll free) or (907) 465-4095. If you choose to be contacted by email, please ensure your email address is correct on your application and that the spam filter will permit email from the 'govermentjobs.com' domains. For information on allowing emails from the 'govermentjobs.com' domains, visit the Lost Password Help page located at: https://www.governmentjobs.com/OnlineApplication/User/ResetPassword

EEO STATEMENT

The State of Alaska complies with Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Individuals with disabilities, who require accommodation, auxiliary aides or services, or alternative communication formats, please call 1-800-587-0430 or (907) 465-4095 in Juneau or TTY: Alaska Relay 711 or 1-800-770-8973 or correspond with the Division of Personnel & Labor Relations at:

P.O. Box 110201, Juneau, AK 99811-0201. The State of Alaska is an equal opportunity employer.

WORKPLACE ALASKA APPLICATION QUESTIONS & ASSISTANCE

Questions regarding application submission or system operation errors should be directed to the Workplace Alaska hotline at 1-800-587-0430 (toll free) or (907) 465-4095 if you are in the Juneau area. Requests for information may also be emailed to recruitment.services@alaska.gov.

For applicant password assistance please visit: https://www.governmentjobs.com/OnlineApplication/User/ResetPassword 

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

Jacqueline Knue

Chemist 5

(907) 375-8229

Jacqueline.Knue@alaska.gov