Chemist 4, Chemical Incident Response Team Supervisor

What You Will Do:

Play a key role in protecting public health by overseeing critical laboratory operations as the Supervisor of the Chemical Incident Response team at the Washington State Public Health Laboratories. In this position, you'll be the subject matter expert guiding responses to chemical threats, managing drinking water analysis and supporting biotoxin monitoring, and radiochemistry efforts. Your expertise will drive method development, troubleshoot complex testing processes, and ensure laboratory readiness for public health emergencies.

Beyond the lab, you'll secure funding through grant writing, uphold safety and quality standards, and collaborate with fellow supervisors, quality assurance teams, and safety groups. This is a unique opportunity to apply your scientific expertise in a role that directly impacts public health and safety.

Key Responsibilities:

• Supervise the Chemical Incident Response Team: Oversee staff training, performance, and workload allocation to meet laboratory goals and maintain high standards of quality and safety.
• Ensure Laboratory Compliance and Safety: Monitor quality control, update procedures, and ensure compliance with safety and accreditation standards (CAP, A2LA, ISO 17025).
• Manage Staff and Perform HR Functions: Hire, onboard, train, and evaluate staff, maintain attendance and leave records, and manage payroll and performance evaluations.
• Grant Management and Reporting: Write and submit grant applications, manage federal grants, ensure deliverables are met, and track budgets.
• Manage Budgets and Equipment Procurement: Monitor laboratory budgets, attend budget meetings, and ensure equipment needs are met by researching and coordinating purchases.
• Perform Laboratory Testing: Maintain competency in key lab methods, conduct testing when necessary, and train staff on laboratory techniques.
• Method Development and Troubleshooting: Guide and contribute to the development, validation, and troubleshooting of new and existing laboratory methods.
• Lead Laboratory Teams and Support Collaborative Efforts: Work closely with other supervisors in ELS, ensuring a cooperative and effective laboratory environment.
• Respond to Public Health Emergencies: Support emergency response efforts, including chemical and radiochemistry incidents, using established laboratory methods.
• Serve as Lab Liaison: Communicate with public health clients, attend meetings, and represent the lab at national conferences and conventions as needed.

• To be considered for this position, you must hold a degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Environmental Science, Chemical Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences or similar field and the designated years of experience working in a high complexity laboratory.
  • Option1: A Bachelor of Science degree AND 4 years of experience.
  • Option 2: A Master of Science degree AND 2 years of experience
  • Option 3: A MD, DO, DPM, or PhD AND 1 year of experience

Required Technical Competencies:

• Intermediate proficiency with Microsoft Word and PowerPoint. 
  • Note:Intermediate proficiency may be defined as having a solid working knowledge of the software, allowing you to perform most tasks efficiently but without mastery of advanced features. You can handle common functions, troubleshoot minor issues, and work independently with some guidance on more complex tasks.

• Advanced proficientcy with Microsoft Excel.
  • Note: Advanced proficiency may be defined as having a comprehensive understanding and mastery of the software's features and functions beyond basic and intermediate levels.
• Experience performing, troubleshooting and developing, validating and verifying methods for chemical terrorism agents and or toxic chemicals. 

• Demonstrated experience with chemical laboratory instrumentation including LC-MS/MS, ICP-MS, GCMS and/or other similar instruments.
• Demonstrated mathematical abilities including experience in the following:
  • Applying advanced mathematical concepts to analyze chemical data, perform complex calculations, and interpret laboratory results. 
  • Utilizing statistical methods and quantitative modeling to support research, quality control, and regulatory compliance.
• Demonstrated experience in writing technical reports, research summaries, and public-facing articles to communicate scientific findings.

About Washington State Department of Health

Our programs and services help prevent illness and injury, promote healthy places to live and work, provide information to help people make good health decisions and ensure our state is prepared for emergencies. To accomplish all of these, we collaborate with many partners every day. We help ensure a safer and healthier Washington by: Working to improve health through disease and injury prevention, immunization, and newborn screening Providing health and safety information, education and training so people can make healthy choices Promoting a health and wellness system where we live, learn, work, play and worship Addressing environmental health hazards associated with drinking water, food, air quality and pesticide exposure Protecting you and your family by licensing healthcare professionals, investigating disease outbreaks and preparing for emergencies

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