Organic Assistant Supervisor

The NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) enriches the environment and protects public health for all New Yorkers by providing 1.1 billion gallons of high quality drinking water, managing wastewater and stormwater, and reducing air, noise, and hazardous materials pollution. DEP is the largest combined municipal water and wastewater utility in the country, with nearly 6,000 employees. DEP's water supply system is comprised of 19 reservoirs and 3 controlled lakes throughout the system's 2,000 square mile watershed that extends 125 miles north and west of the City.

The Bureau of Water Supply seeks to hire an Associate Chemist III for a position in Distribution Water Quality Operations Laboratory, Water Quality & Innovation Directorate located in Queens, New York. Under direction, of the Organic Chemistry Section Supervisor, the Associate Chemist III will serve as Organic Assistant Supervisor and will assist the Organic Chemistry Section Supervisor with all aspects of supervising the Organics section as well as performing routine and responsible qualitative and quantitative analyses of trace organic contaminants in drinking water using complex gas chromatographic methods. All analyses are performed by following NY State approved testing methods and procedures. Specific duties include:

• Performing routine analytical testing using drinking water organic chemistry approved methods following written protocols. They will ensure that analyses are performed in accordance with regulatory requirements for drinking water and conducting routine laboratory quality control procedures according to Environmental Laboratory Approval Program (ELAP)/The National Environmental Laboratory Accredited Conference Institute (TNI) protocols and the DWQO Quality Assurance Manual.

• Reviewing data, generating reports and ensuring compliance with all Environmental, Health and Safety (EH&S) regulations.

• Being responsible for implementing methods for organic chemistry analysis of water samples including selecting reagents, preparing specifications for equipment to be purchased, devising protocols for preparation of calibration standards and Quality Control (QC) solutions, obtaining satisfactory calibration and QC results, conducting assigned research and investigation, and preparing method SOPs under direction of supervisor.

• Being responsible for diagnosing instrument problems, performing routine maintenance of analytical instrumentation, and making minor repairs, adjustments and calibrations, as needed.

• Maintaining inventory of equipment and supplies, preparing and checking standards, reagents, and control samples.

Please note this is not a clinical laboratory, and a Clinical Laboratory Technologist License is not required for this position.

(This is a brief description of what you might do in this position and does not include all the duties of this position.)

Some of the physical activities performed by Associate Chemists and environmental conditions experienced are: lifting and carrying packages weighing approximately 20 pounds for a distance of 30 feet, performing duties in confined work areas, wearing protective garments such as respirators, gloves, lab coats, and goggles, handling and manipulating laboratory equipment and instruments/tools such as glass and plastic ware and lab tools, etc., adjusting settings on machines which require fine finger and hand coordination and control, and collecting samples at sites in all weather conditions.

Special Working Conditions: Associate Chemists may be required to work all hours of the day or night and Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.

Preferred Skills:

• Familiarity with Microsoft Office suite software including Excel, Word, Adobe, Access, and Power Point

• Familiarity with database systems such as the Agency's Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS)

• Familiarity with data compilation protocols, including use of data reporting programs associated with assigned instruments(s)

• Ability to maintain accurate electronic and written records. Ensuring data entries in notebooks and computer output files are complete and legible.

• Ability to promptly submit reports and records for review by specified deadline.

• Ability to study and evaluate literature in related scientific fields of specialization.

• Ability to write papers on research results or findings suitable for publication.

• Experience in an environmental laboratory testing water samples performing volatile analysis of organic trace compounds in drinking water using complex instruments such as Gas Chromatography (GC) and Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) is preferred.

• An understanding of accredited drinking water testing methods and a thorough knowledge of applicable federal and State drinking water regulations - ELAP/TNI, EPA Standard Methods

• Strong technical skills

• Strong writing and communication skills

• Analytical ability

• Interpersonal skills

• Time management

Hours/Shift:

35 Hours per week / Day shift may be required to work Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.

Work Location:

96-05 Horace Harding Expressway

Flushing, NY 11368

Minimum Qualifications

Qualification Requirements

A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college, including or supplemented by 16 semester credits in chemistry and 8 semester credits in any one or a combination of the following areas: chemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, environmental science, forensic science, or other natural science.

Certificate Requirement

At the time of appointment to a clinical laboratory, candidates must possess a valid License as a Clinical Laboratory Technologist issued by the New York State Education Department. This license must be maintained for the duration of employment.

Additional Qualification Requirements For Assignment Level II and above.

To be eligible for placement in Assignment Level II and above, individuals must have, after meeting the minimum requirements described for Assignment Level I, at least two years of fulltime satisfactory experience performing chemical or physical analyses in a laboratory.

Education may be substituted for experience on the basis of 30 graduate semester credits from an accredited college in any of the areas of study described in the qualification requirements above for one year of experience. However, all candidates must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college with the specialized credits as described above.

55a Program

This position is also open to qualified persons with a disability who are eligible for the 55-a Program. Please indicate at the top of your resume and cover letter that you would like to be considered for the position through the 55-a Program.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education's website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.

Residency Requirement

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.

Additional Information

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.