Chemist I/II – Environmental Services Department (202300104)

Requisition Number: 202300104

Salary Range: $98,935.20 - $132,459.60 annually

Application Deadline: 12/11/2023 11:59 PM Pacific

Chemist I/II – Environmental Services Department (202300104)

Our diverse and inclusive workforce of more than 7,000 employees play a key role in the success of San José, the heart of the Silicon Valley. All City of San José employees work together as one team to make San José a vibrant, innovative, and desirable place to live and work. Visit here to learn more about San José.  

About the Department

The Environmental Services Department (ESD) is a national leader in pollution prevention, watershed protection, utility service provision, and climate action. Together, ESD employees positively impact every resident and business in San Jose.  
 
Our department is an exceptional place to start or grow your career. We have a supportive leadership team, numerous professional growth opportunities, and an inclusive workplace culture that is welcoming of your talents! We offer an array of meaningful career paths and value flexibility. Additionally, the City offers a wide array of benefits, as well as 15 paid holidays!  
 
To learn more about ESD, follow @sjenvironment on Twitter, Facebook,  Instagram, and San Jose Environmental Services on LinkedIn.
 
About the Watershed Protection Division:
 
The Watershed Protection Division strives to preserve and sustain natural aquatic resources by connecting people to their watershed and the San Francisco Bay by helping them understand how their daily activities affect water quality. The Watershed Protection Division is approximately 100 employees and is responsible for stormwater management, environmental enforcement, source control and laboratory services. Stormwater Management coordinates a wide array of activities, such as education, outreach, trash reduction and collaboration with County wide stakeholders to protect and to prevent pollution into the waterways. Environmental Enforcement provides inspection, education, and enforcement services to ensure that local discharges into the storm and sanitary sewers meet regulatory requirements and protect water quality. The Pretreatment Program administers federal requirements that includes permitting and compliance monitoring to industrial that discharges into the sanitary sewer system and Region Wastewater Facility. Lastly, Laboratory Services provides scientific analysis for monitoring operations and compliance at the Regional Wastewater Facility which addresses water quality issues entering the Bay.

Position Duties

Salary ranges for this classification are:

• Chemist I: $98,935.20 - $120,229.20 Annually
• Chemist II: $109,025.28 - $132,459.60 Annually 

Actual salary shall be determined by the final candidates’ qualifications and experience. The salary ranges include an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable compensation pay.
 
The Environmental Services Department (ESD) is currently seeking to fill multiple full-time Chemist vacancies in the Watershed Protection Division. 
 
The Chemist positions are part of the Laboratory Services work group in the Watershed Protection Division within ESD. Chemists are dynamic and dedicated professionals who will excel in performing complex technical work of moderate difficulty. These tasks involve conducting both qualitative and quantitative chemical, biological, and physical analyses of water, wastewater, and industrial waste, as well as other related materials. Chemists may also be assigned tasks in the development of analytical methodologies, applied research, specific projects, or related work as required.  
 
These positions work on-site at the Regional Wastewater Facility in Laboratory Services located at 4245 Zanker Road, San Jose, CA 95134. Hybrid work is not available for Chemist positions. Laboratory Services operates 365 days per year. Typical schedules are five days per week, working various shifts between 6:00 am-6:00 pm. Chemists can expect to work occasional weekend and holiday shifts.

Key responsibilities of the Chemist position include but are not limited to:

• Develop, implement, and oversee analytical methodologies for water, wastewater, and industrial waste analysis.
• Perform complex analyses of water, wastewater, and related samples on routine/sophisticated instruments as needed.
• Review, validate, and report analytical data using a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).
• Compile and manage laboratory data and records from various sources, work with clerical personnel, and prepare reports.
• Ensure laboratory safety compliance and knowledge of Chemical Hygiene Plans (CHP).
• Implement and maintain quality control, quality assurance, and Good Laboratory Practices (GLPs) protocols, while ensuring familiarity with relevant quality assurance/control principles and California laboratory accreditation regulations and audit processes.

If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment. To view the full class specification please click here: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/sanjoseca/classspecs/1553766?keywords=chemist&pagetype=classSpecifications

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience

Chemist I
Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, environmental chemistry or related scientific discipline, plus one (1) year of experience working in a laboratory environment.
 
Chemist II
Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, environmental chemistry or related scientific discipline, plus three (3) years of experience working in a water or wastewater laboratory environment. 
 
Acceptable Substitution
Master’s degree or higher in chemistry or a related scientific discipline can be substituted for one (1) year of experience working in a laboratory environment.

Required Licensing (such as driver’s license, certifications, etc.)
Possession of a valid driver’s license authorizing operation of a motor vehicle in California.

Physical/Environmental Elements: Depending on assignment, this classification may be Sedentary up to Medium Work.

• Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally, and all other sedentary criteria are met.
• Light Work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for Sedentary Work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for Light Work.
• Medium Work: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

Other Qualifications

The following certifications are desirable:

• California Water Environment Association (CWEA) Laboratory Analyst Grade 2 Certification 
• CA-NV/American Water Works Association (AWWA) Water Quality Analyst Certificate 

  
If you have questions about the duties of these positions, the selection, or the hiring process please contact Ernesto Zamaguey at Ernesto.Zamaguey@sanjoseca.gov. 

Additional Information:

Employment Eligibility:  Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of San Jose will NOT sponsor, represent or sign any documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1-B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application.  

Per the City’s COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination Policy, the City requires all new hires to provide proof of vaccination as a condition of employment absent an approved medical or religious exemption. Fully vaccinated means a person has received the following:

• Two doses of the monovalent Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine; or
• Two doses of the monovalent Moderna COVID-19 vaccine; or
• Two doses of the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine; or
• One dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine; or
• One dose of the bivalent Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine; or
• One dose of the bivalent Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.

Please note that applications are currently not accepted through CalOpps or any other third party job board application system.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this, or other divisions or departments. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.

Please allow adequate time to complete the application and submit before the deadline or the system may not save your application.  If your online application was successfully submitted, you will receive an automatic confirmation email to the email address you provided.  IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE THE CONFIRMATION, please email CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov and we will research the status of your application. 

How to Apply

The requisition # for this job posting is 202300104. To view the full job announcement and apply for this position, please go to: www.sanjoseca.gov/citycareers

PLEASE NOTE: YOU MUST APPLY & SUBMIT YOUR JOB APPLICATION AT www.sanjoseca.gov/citycareers IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED FOR A CITY OF SAN JOSE JOB OPPORTUNITY.

*Do not click on a resume or application service offered by a job board*

Contact – Ernesto Zamaguey at Ernesto.Zamaguey@sanjoseca.gov

Website - https://www.sanjoseca.gov/citycareers