Specialty Chemist

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Employment Type

Part Time (20 to 29 hours with KPERS benefits)

Job Summary

Specialty Chemist - Part Time

Pay Range: $26.00 to $30.14/hour depending on experience

The City of Olathe is seeking a motivated and collaborative candidate to join our Environmental Services team as a Specialty Chemist working at the Environmental Laboratory. This is a unique opportunity to join our lab on a part-time basis. We're looking for someone who wants to share their knowledge, help improve lab processes and procedures, and be part of a collaborative team.

The essential function of our laboratory involves analyzing both drinking water and wastewater, playing a vital role in upholding the health, safety, and overall welfare of the community we serve. We are seeking a dedicated individual to collect samples and perform field testing to support our municipal environmental initiatives.

Olathe drinking water consistently meets or exceeds all state and federal standards for safe drinking water. After production and treatment, our certified laboratory staff perform about 60,000 tests to ensure the quality and safety of our drinking water throughout the year.

This part-time role allows for up to 29 hours/week. Benefits offered include participation in the KPERS retirement system and Paid Time Off. The candidate selected will enjoy a flexible schedule of up to 29 hours/week between the hours of 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.

The City of Olathe strives to be an inclusive employer. We set the standard for Excellence in Public Service!

Our employees are dedicated to the City's core values of Leadership through Service, Teamwork, Customer Service, Learning and Communication. Come see what public service has to offer. Apply today.

For more details, review the full job details and requirements below.

The Specialty Chemist undertakes projects related to the optimization of analytical methods, instrumentation, and laboratory processes. They are responsible for training and mentoring laboratory staff on laboratory practices, analytical methods, and instrumentation, and also support laboratory functions as an analyst when needed.

Key Responsibilities

• Optimizes laboratory analytical methods with respect to method and quality control (QC) requirements; provides input on standard operating procedures and appropriateness of method QCs.

• Assists Laboratory Management with assessment of QC data and the development of QC limits and charts.

• Provides training to chemists and lab technicians on instrumentation and analytical methodology.

• Serves as an analyst when needed; performs data review and assessment.

• Participates in internal audit and corrective action processes.

Qualifications

Experience: A minimum of 10 years of demonstrated proficiency as an analytical chemist utilizing high level instrumentation and techniques to perform quantitative analysis is required.

Education: A bachelor's degree in chemistry or other related area of study is required. Additional relevant and progressively more responsible experience may be substituted for education.

Licenses & Certifications: A valid driver's license and favorable driving record are required.

Environmental or Physical Demands: This position requires one to move throughout the lab, work at counter height, and drive to other locations on occasion.

Work in the laboratory requires good manual dexterity, fine motor skills, and visual acuity. This work entails frequent repetitive motion and the ability to concentrate. Employees in our lab wear required Personal Protective Equipment and may be exposed to chemicals or biological hazards. Employees may encounter moderate noise levels from equipment, lab instruments, or ventilation systems.