Job Description Summary

Department - Regional Wastewater Reclamation

Job Description

OPEN UNTIL FILLED

Job Type: Classified

Job Classification: 5548 - Laboratory Chemist

Salary Grade 11

Pay Range:
Hiring Range: $25.12 - $30.14 Per Hour 
Full Range: $25.12 - $35.17 Per Hour 

Range Explanation:

• Hiring Range is an estimate of where you can receive an offer. The actual salary offer will carefully consider a wide range of factors, including your skills, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, training, and internal equity.

• Pay Range is the entire compensation range for the position.

The first review of applications will be on 06/27/2025.

Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department is seeking a talented Laboratory Chemist with a keen eye for detail to become part of our Compliance and Regulatory Affairs Office (CRAO) Quality Assurance team. If you care about public health and the environment and have experience in laboratory water analysis, data peer review, laboratory safety, and instrument calibration, we can use your skills to assist us as a Laboratory Chemist. Typical work assignments include sample collection and receiving, new method development, chemical hygiene, internal audits, and laboratory safety inspections. This position supports the CRAO team by focusing on the processes and procedures that improve data quality, training, perform chemical and microbiological lab/field analyses and testing of wastewater/groundwater/stormwater/surface water and solid/biosolid samples utilizing Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Arizona Department of Health (AZDHS) approved methods.

Essential Functions:

As defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, this classification may include any of the following tasks, knowledge, skills, and other characteristics. This list is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and tasks performed by incumbents of this class. Work assignments may vary depending on the department’s need and will be communicated to the application or incumbent by the supervisor.

• Performs sophisticated chemical and microbial analyses;

• Operates complicated analytical instrumentation such as ion chromatography (IC), atomic absorption and atomic fluorescence analyzers, gas chromatograph/mass spectrometers (GC/MS), inductively coupled plasma/mass spectrometers (ICP/MS), and inductively coupled plasma/optical emissions spectra (ICP/OES);

• Obtains water samples, operates field instrumentation, and records results;

• Prepares samples for testing using complex chemical extraction and digestion techniques;

• Maintains manual and automated records and logbooks, enters and interprets data, and prepares reports;

• Monitors laboratory data of technicians and chemists in training to validate the accuracy and precision of analytical results;

• Assists Laboratory Supervisors in writing standardized operating procedures and laboratory audit procedures;

• Assists Laboratory Supervisors in training Laboratory Technicians and new staff;

• Performs routine Quality Assurance/Quality Control procedures and documentations to comply with licensure requirements with the Arizona Department of Health Services;

• Adheres to safety procedures in accordance with the laboratory’s Quality Manual and Chemical Hygiene Plan;

• Prepares, utilizes, and properly disposes of various chemical standards, solvents, reagents, and bacteriological media;

• Maintains manual and automated laboratory records and logbooks for test methods and quality control measures as required by regulatory standards;

• Maintains facilities and equipment in accordance with departmental and professional standards;

• Responsible for other duties as assigned in support of the overall goals and functions of both the Human Resources Department and Pima County.

Minimum Qualifications:            

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major in chemistry, microbiology, environmental science, biology, or other closely related science as defined by the appointing authority AND two years of professional-level, paid, non-academic experience performing chemical or microbiological analysis in a laboratory setting.  (Additional relevant education from an accredited college or university or experience may be substituted.)  

            

OR:

Two years with Pima County as a Laboratory Tech