Description

At WSSC Water, we are passionate about our one water mission and devoted to delivering safe, seamless, and satisfying service to our 1.9 million customers. It takes teamwork to deliver the essential, which is why we proudly call ourselves Team H2O – working together, sharing our talents and creativity to safeguard public health and protect the environment.

WSSC Water seeks a Sr. Environmental Chemist/Microbiologist to serve as a senior technical resource for the laboratory.  This position is responsible for analyzing chemical and microbiological contaminants in various environmental samples, overseeing the work of technical staff in specific areas, and providing technical support to lab administrators and cross laboratory staff.

Key Functions

• Serves as a subject matter expert for other employees in the laboratory
• Serve as a senior technical resource in the research and development of new processes, establishing and maintaining analytical quality control, and work involving theoretical or practical application of chemistry, microbiology, taxonomy, and related sciences
• Provides cross training and guidance on advanced technologies, instrumentation, and procedures to laboratory personnel to ensure continuous quality data
• Monitors, reviews, evaluates, and validates data to detect or assess problems and to determine compliance with acceptable standards
• Uses advanced instrumentation and technologies such as gas chromatographs, mass spectrometers, spectrophotometers, auto-analyzers, microscopes, ion-chromatographs, or other advanced technical equipment to analyze samples for chemical, physical, metals, and microbiological constituents
• Performs a variety of complex analyses, reviews data produced, ensures all quality control requirements are met, and uploads data to Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS)
• Monitors, review, evaluate, and validate data produced by analysts to detect or assess problems and determine compliance with acceptable standards
• Provides cross-training and guidance on basic to advanced technologies, instrumentation, and procedures to ensure continual quality data
• Assists the Laboratory in complying with Federal and State regulations under the Safe Drinking Water and Clean Water Act that may affect the Commission’s water and wastewater treatment facilities
• Prepares and maintains monthly reports to certify data and satisfy EPA and the Maryland Department of the Environment requirements for environmental test procedures
• Research new technological advancements for laboratory use and determine appropriate instruments, methods, procedures, and quality control guidelines to use in the analysis of samples
• Troubleshoots issues and perform routine preventative maintenance on analytical instruments
•  Conducts, organizes, and manages special projects, including documenting progress, monitoring workflows and milestones, data validations, and final reports
• Successfully analyzes quarterly and annual proficiency testing samples for assigned analyses
• Updates all required laboratory QA/QC and safety records at pre-scheduled intervals
• Maintains and updates all laboratory peer-review forms and documentation
• Prepares and maintains Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
• Oversees work performed by Chemist/Microbiologists and Laboratory Analysts and assist during increased workload demands
• Oversees sample workload to ensure holding times and turn-around times are met

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree
• 6+ years of laboratory experience
• 4+ years’ experience conducting complex analyses of chemical and/or microbiological contaminants in various environmental samples using advanced laboratory technology and instruments
• 3+ years’ experience overseeing the work of subordinate laboratory analyst
• Able to work nights, weekends, and holidays