Application Deadline:05/02/2024

Agency:Department of Environmental Quality

Salary Range:$4,752 - $7,292

Position Type:Employee

Position Title:Inorganic Chemist (Chemist 2)

Job Description:

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality strives to build and sustain an inclusive environment that embraces and values diversity. Employees at all levels of the agency work together to foster fairness, equity, inclusion, and belonging. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, veteran, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, or physical or mental disability. Candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may not meet every one of our listed preferred qualifications. Lived experience may count towards the preferred qualification. If you are excited about this position, we encourage you to apply. If you are unsure as to whether or not you meet the qualifications of this position, please contact us to discuss your application. 

Are you passionate about preserving, enhancing, and protecting Oregon’s environment? If so, please consider a career with the State of Oregon at the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). At DEQ, employees have the opportunity to work with a dynamic and supportive team of mission-focused individuals tasked with maintaining, restoring, and enhancing the quality of Oregon’s air, land, and water. Here is a video about DEQ: https://youtu.be/E-Cs6M9AAlU 

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has a full-time opportunity for an Inorganic Chemist (Chemist 2) in Hillsboro, Oregon. 

Please consider joining an innovative team, and work to advance our agency’s mission to protect and improve Oregon’s environmental quality. The Laboratory and Environmental Assessment Division’s (LEAD) mission is to provide timely, high-quality data and information through monitoring, laboratory services, and data analysis. The Division serves the Agency programs and regional offices throughout Oregon and provides the scientific information necessary for the agency to achieve its mission to be an active leader to restore, enhance, and maintain the quality of Oregon’s air, water, and land. Check out the DEQ Laboratory video: https://ordeq.org/labvideo 

Click here to view a map of all of the DEQ offices. 

What you will do! 

You will perform chemical tests of substantive complexity on a variety of environmental samples for DEQ’s programs in Air Quality, Water Quality, Solid and Hazardous Waste, and Environmental Cleanup. The information you produce is needed to establish sound environmental management strategies and to determine compliance with state and national pollutant standards. Much of your work will be directly related to the characterization and monitoring of Oregon’s environment to protect human health and natural resources. 

What’s in it for you! 

The opportunity to work in a productive and creative environment where no two days are ever the same! We offer a competitive benefits package that offers comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans for the employee and their qualified family members, as well as paid sick leave, vacation leave, personal leave, and 11 paid holidays a year. In addition, we offer membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), and you have the opportunity to potentially receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). If you are passionate about Oregon's environment, apply today! 

This is a full-time, AFSCME represented position. 

This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies. 

What are we looking for? 

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry AND 1 year of experience independently performing analytical chemistry procedures (3 additional years of relevant experience may substitute for the Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry). 

Candidates who are most competitive will also reflect the following: 

• Demonstrated understanding of environmental justice and the historical impacts for marginalized and underrepresented communities; ability to take personal responsibility for increasing their knowledge of environmental justice and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. 
• Knowledge of best laboratory practices for analytical chemistry. 
• Experience working in an environmental laboratory under a TNI/NELAC or ISO 17025 compliant quality system performing sample preparations and/or analyses using EPA methods. 
• Experience with a commercially available Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), including uploading, retrieving, processing, and reviewing sample and quality control data. 
• Skills in reading and interpreting scientific literature, lab methods, and procedures. 
• Working knowledge of mathematics, statistics, physics, computers, and instrumentation. 
• Knowledge of, and experience with, sample preparation protocols such as extraction, distillation, and digestion methods. 
• Experience with analytical techniques such as chromatography, colorimetry, gravimetry, titrimetry, and potentiometry. 
• Experience with promulgated analytical methods, such as those available through Standard Methods, ASTM, USGS, USEPA (CWA & SW-846), and 40 CFR part 136. 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, collaboration and cooperation skills, and teamwork skills; demonstrated problem solving ability. 

Working Conditions:  

DEQ believes in a diverse and inclusive work environment. All employees are expected to contribute to a work environment that collectively values and benefits from respecting its diversity and promotes a culture of inclusiveness. 

Work is performed primarily in an analytical chemistry laboratory handling samples suspected of containing toxic or otherwise hazardous substances. There is the potential for chemical and electrical hazards, including exposure to pathogenic toxic samples where the hazards may not be known or predictable; chemical risks from handling or being near toxic, flammable, or carcinogenic materials; and electrical hazards from high voltage or current associated with instrument operation and repair. This position requires occasional lifting of loads up to 50 pounds. 

There will be occasional statewide travel under various weather conditions for field work, meetings, trainings, and workshops. 

How to Apply: (complete the application in full) 

• External Applicants Click on the “Apply” button and submit your application. Click this link for the External Candidate job aid, and view this video for additional information.  
• Internal Applicants (current State of Oregon employees): Apply through your employee Workday account.  View this knowledge article for assistance. 

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Please Note: In addition to your related work experience and education, DEQ will use the desired attributes and minimum qualifications above, under the “What are we looking for?” section to determine whom to interview. Please make sure your attributes and minimum qualifications are clearly demonstrated in your application material. 

Veterans Information: 

DEQ provides veterans’ preference points to all eligible veterans. For more information on veterans’ preference, please visit Veterans Resources, or call the Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs at: 1-800-692-9666. For privacy reasons, please do not attach veterans’ preference documents when initially applying. You will be asked to submit those at a later time.  

Pay Equity:  

As an employer, the State of Oregon complies with HB 2005, the Pay Equity Bill. We do not discriminate on the basis of protected class in the payment of wages, and we do not screen applicants on the basis of their current or past compensation. Please visit http://www.oregon.gov/das/hr/pages/equity.aspx for more information. Please note: the salary listed is the non-PERS qualifying salary range. If the successful candidate is PERS qualifying, the salary range will reflect an additional 6.95% (6% goes to PERS and .95% covers payroll taxes). Please review the Classification and Compensation page for more details. 

Work Authorization: 

DEQ does not offer visa sponsorships. On the first day of employment, all hires will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security’s Form I-9, confirming authorization to work in the United States. In addition, hires will have three business days from their first day of employment to present documents that establish employment authorization and identity. DEQ is an E-Verify employer and will use E-Verify to confirm that hires are authorized to work in the United States. 

Questions/Need Help? 

If you have questions about the recruitment or need assistance to participate in the application process, please contact Rebecca Zanskar, Human Resources Analyst, at rebecca.zanskar@deq.oregon.gov  or (503) 807-8937. TTY users: please use the Oregon Telecommunications Relay Service at 1-800-735-2900.