Chemist

About the role

This position is part of the DPU Broadband Program with a salary range from $62,583 to $72,001. The City of Richmond's Department of Public Utilities is seeking a Chemist for the Division of Environmental Management (Lab). The incumbent will perform complex analyses on water and wastewater samples to ensure compliance with federal and state requirements regarding public safety and water cleanliness, as well as for operational control at the plants. We highly encourage entry-level candidates to apply.

Responsibilities

• Performs chemical, bacteriological, and physical analyses of water and wastewater samples using various equipment in a lab setting, abiding by Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Performs calculations based on gathered data.
• Maintains detailed logs and records of testing data.
• Generates reports for managers, contractors, citizen groups, and state agencies.
• Consults with other Chemists and/or Public Utilities personnel and makes recommendations based on analytical results.
• Monitors compliance with federal and state regulations to maintain certification.
• Maintains laboratory quality system, including: maintaining detailed logs and records, participating in Proficiency Testing, creating, reviewing, and adhering to Standard Operating Procedures, taking part in internal and external audits, and data review.
• Troubleshoots malfunctioning testing equipment and determines when testing equipment needs servicing.
• Serves as an Essential employee, required to work when the City is closed due to public emergencies, critical or hazardous conditions, or inclement weather.
• Serves on-call 24 hours/7 days a week to provide leadership for the support and resolution of problems for critical systems and applications within the assigned City of Richmond portfolio.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in chemistry, environmental science, biology, or a related field.
• An equivalent combination of training and experience (as approved by the department) may be used to meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.

Skills

Knowledge

• EPA/Federal standards regarding clean water (Safe Drinking Water Act).
• Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).
• VELAP regulations regarding drinking water and wastewater.
• Lab safety.
• Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, etc.).
• Principles, practices, and techniques of chemistry, microbiology, and laboratory equipment/terminology.
• Laboratory Quality System.

Skills

• Internal/External customer service.
• Inventory management.
• Written and verbal communication.
• Troubleshooting instrumentation.
• Maintaining detailed lab records.

Abilities

• Analyze data.
• Prioritize daily assignments.
• Multi-task.
• Problem solve.
• Operate lab equipment.
• Train subordinate laboratory personnel.

Benefits

• Virginia Retirement System (VRS).
• Language Incentive.
• Referral Bonus.
• Tuition Assistance Program.

Pay

$62,583 - $72,001

Working Conditions

• Exposure to hazardous physical conditions such as mechanical parts, electrical currents, vibrations, etc.
• Atmospheric conditions such as fumes, odors, dusts, gases, and poor ventilation.
• Inadequate lighting and intense noise.
• Environmental hazards such as disruptive people, imminent danger, and a threatening environment.
• Travel to other locations within and outside the City of Richmond.

Due to the nature of work assignments, incumbents must be able to perform detailed work on multiple, concurrent tasks, with frequent interruptions and under time constraints.

Physical Requirements

The essential duties of this classification require the ability to:

• Regularly talk.
• Frequently finger, hear, see, and perform repetitive motions.
• Occasionally climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, reach, stand, walk, push, pull, lift, feel, and grasp.

This classification is considered light work, exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.