STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Principal Chemist (35 Hour)

Office/On-site

Recruitment #230531-6377HC-001

Introduction


THE POSITION
The State of ConnecticutDepartment of Public Health (DPH), is currently seeking a qualified individual for the position of Principal Chemist

Within the Connecticut Department of Public Health Laboratory, located in Rocky Hill, this Principal Chemist is assigned to the Inorganic-Environmental Lead testing section of the Environmental Chemistry Division.  The Environmental Sciences Division tests for over 100 toxic chemical agents in public drinking water supplies, private wells, rivers, lakes, streams, wastewater, spills, and soils.  This position is part of an overall plan by DPH to support lead investigations, abatements, and remediation to housing in Connecticut, at the municipal level.  This Principal Chemist will be the technical lead and be responsible for overseeing the general requirements of the lead testing program, training new analysts, communicating with clients, instrument maintenance, prioritization of samples based on need and ensuring that results are accurate and delivered in a timely manner.  Familiarity with the requirements of modern Quality Systems, preferably ISO 17025 and the ability to communicate effectively will also be critical to the success of the selected candidate.

HIGHLIGHTS
  • LOCATION: CT DPH Public Laboratory 
  • ADDRESS: 395 West Street, Rocky Hill, CT
  • WORK HOURS: Full-time, first shift, 35 hours per week
  • SCHEDULE: Typically Monday through Friday, with the potential for flex time in accordance with policies.
    • Please note: This position has no potential for telework.
WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU 
  • To work for a Forbes top company: ‘Forbes’ State of Connecticut Ranked One of the Best Employers of 2023 - State of CT Receives National Recognition for Offering Job Growth, Competitive Benefits, and Flexible Schedule;
  • We offer a competitive benefits plan that includes healthcare coverage, a retirement plan as well as paid time off, including 13 paid holidays per calendar year. 
  • We encourage a strong work/life balance for all state employees. 
  • We offer opportunities for professional and personal growth. 
  • We have limitless areas for you to perform relevant and significant work.
DISCOVER THE OPPORTUNITY TO
  • Engage in a rewarding career;
  • Provide support to a division that is passionate about improving the lives of those we serve;
  • Assist our clients so they can achieve success;
  • Make a difference in the public sector;
  • Work together in a collaborative team environment.
ABOUT US 
The Mission of the Department of Public Health (DPH) is to protect and improve the health and safety of the people of Connecticut by assuring the conditions in which people can be healthy, preventing disease, injury, and disability, and promoting the equal enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health, which is a human right and a priority of the state. 

DPH accomplishes this through the implementation of its Strategic Plan which outlines the actions that DPH is taking to accomplish its Mission.

Selection Plan

FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING: 
Please visit our 'Applicant Tips on How to Apply' page.

In order to be considered for this job opening, you must be a current State of CT employee, who has worked for the state for at least six (6) months of full-time service or full-time equivalent service, absent any applicable collective bargaining language, and meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening.  You must specify your qualifications on your application. 

Please Note: In order to receive educational credits toward qualification for this job posting, the institution must be accredited.  If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the recruiter listed on this job posting.

This position may be subject to Federal requirements of COVID-19 Vaccination.

TO APPLY
  • In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening. The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified. 
  • You must specify your qualifications on your application. You will be unable to make revisions once you submit your application for this posting to the JobAps system.
  • In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process.
  • All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period. It is the candidate’s obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception. Requests should be made to DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.
  • This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules.
AFTER YOU APPLY 
  • Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process.
  • This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the question's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam.
  • NOTE: At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.
  • The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
  • Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position.
  • Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State Employees which is available at www.ct.gov/ethics.
CONNECT WITH US 
  • Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. 
  • Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account. If you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Jensine Tran at jensine.tran@ct.gov

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Departments of Emergency Services and Public Protection, Energy and Environmental Protection and Public Health this class is accountable for acting as a working supervisor responsible for a large and/or complex grouping of work in a laboratory.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

  • Plans unit workflow and determines priorities;
  • Schedules, assigns, oversees and reviews work;
  • Establishes and maintains unit procedures;
  • Provides staff training and assistance;
  • Conducts or assists in conducting performance evaluations;
  • Acts as liaison with other operating units, agencies and outside officials regarding unit policies and procedures;
  • Conducts complex or specialized as well as routine chemical examinations and analyses;
  • Oversees the maintenance and implementation of quality assurance programs;
  • Prepares and maintains records, reports and correspondence;
  • Maintains knowledge of current developments and changes in field of expertise;
  • Utilizes universal laboratory precautions;
  • Utilizes computers to operate and maintain instrumentation and to access, interpret, modify and report test results;
  • May make recommendations on policies, procedures or standards;
  • May act for the Supervising Chemist in his or her absence;
  • May be responsible for leading staff and a variety of activities outside normal working hours;
  • May testify in court;
  • Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

  • Considerable knowledge of
    • current theories, principles and practices of chemistry;
    • current laboratory methods, applications, examinations, equipment, instrumentation and material;
    • laboratory quality assurance and quality control policies and procedures;
  • Knowledge of universal laboratory precautions;
  • Considerable
    • interpersonal skills;
    • oral and written communication skills;
  • Considerable ability to conduct analytical, consultative and research activities;
  • Ability to
    • interpret complex examination results;
    • utilize computer software;
  • Supervisory ability.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Eight (8) years of experience in an industrial, public health, toxicology, medical or materials laboratory involving scientific work in the field of chemistry.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

Two (2) years of the General Experience must have been at the full working level in the field of chemistry.

NOTE: For state employees this experience is interpreted at the level of a Chemist 2.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

  • College training in chemistry or a closely related field may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equaling one half (1/2) year of employment to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
  • A Master's degree in chemistry or a closely related field may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Experience testing environmental samples for lead content using complex instrumentation, such as Inductively Coupled Plasma Spectrometry
  • Experience maintaining and troubleshooting complex laboratory instrumentation
  • Experience in data reduction and the reporting of test results using proprietary instrument software and Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS)
  • Experience in prioritizing work, managing workflow, training new analysts, and organizing tasks
  • Experience developing and utilizing laboratory quality assurance procedures and protocols
  • Experience with written and oral communication, including writing Standard Operating Procedures and providing customer service
  • Experience with ISO 17025 Environmental Lead Laboratory Accreditation Program (ELLAP)

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

  • Incumbents in this class must be willing to periodically undergo tests and immunizations for communicable diseases.
  • Incumbents in this class may be required to have specific education and/or experience to meet the various certification and/or licensing requirements.
  • Incumbents in this class may be required to undergo and successfully complete security background checks.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Incumbents in this class may be exposed to communicable diseases and hazardous substances.

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes.  As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.