Chemist 4
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Apply to Chemist 4 at Commonwealth of PennsylvaniaJob details
- Location
- Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
- Work type
- Hybrid
- Compensation
- $78,925 - $119,844/yr
- Posted
- today
- Apply on
- governmentjobs.com
About this role
About the Department
Are you ready to lead a program that shapes the standards behind Pennsylvania's most critical environmental laboratories? If so, we invite you to join the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) as a Chemist 4 and apply your scientific leadership to a statewide accreditation program. This position allows you to guide major laboratory activities while supporting high-quality environmental work across the Commonwealth. Here, you will help uphold strong scientific standards, collaborate with key partners, and strengthen statewide compliance efforts. Apply today to become part of a team that values precision, dedication, and public service!
Position Duties
This role serves as the Chief of the Laboratory Accreditation Program and manages scientific, administrative, and compliance activities that support environmental laboratory standards across Pennsylvania. Through your work, you will promote accuracy, consistency, and collaboration among regulatory partners and accredited laboratories. As a Chemist 4, you will perform the following duties:
- Program Leadership: Direct the development and operation of laboratory accreditation programs and ensure compliance with state and national standards
- Staff Oversight: Guide training, delegation, performance review, and workflow coordination for professional personnel
- Accreditation Review: Evaluate assessment records, identify trends, and recommend improvements to accreditation activities
- Policy Coordination: Collaborate with agencies, legal staff, and committees on regulations, enforcement actions, and program updates
- Technical Guidance: Provide expert assistance on laboratory accreditation standards, program operations, and related scientific topics
- Program Communication: Manage program websites, maintain public documents, and respond to inquiries from agencies and clients
Interested in learning more? Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description.
Work Schedule and Additional Information:
- Full-time employment
- Work hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday - Friday, with a 30-minute lunch.
- Telework: You may have the opportunity to work from home (telework) part-time, up to 3 days per week. In order to telework, you must have a securely configured high-speed internet connection and work from an approved location inside Pennsylvania. If you are unable to telework, you will have the option to report to the headquarters office in Harrisburg. The ability to telework is subject to change at any time. Additional details may be provided during the interview.
- Salary: In some cases, the starting salary may be non-negotiable.
- You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.
Minimum Qualifications
QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:
- One year as a Chemist 3 (Commonwealth job title or equivalent Federal Government job title, as determined by the Office of Administration); or
- Three years of professional chemical analytical experience, and a bachelor’s degree that includes 30 credits in chemistry or biochemistry; or
- Two years of professional chemical analytical experience, and a graduate degree in chemistry.
Other Requirements:
- You must possess and maintain a REAL ID or passport for this position. Proof of possession will be needed at the time of a conditional offer of employment.
- You must meet the PA residency requirement. For more information on ways to meet PA residency requirements, follow the link and click on Residency Guidelines.
- You must be able to perform essential job functions.
How to Apply:
- Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position. Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).
- If you are claiming education in your answers to the supplemental application questions, you must attach a copy of your college transcripts for your claim to be accepted toward meeting the minimum requirements. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
- Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date. Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted.
- Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position.
- All application materials and interview responses must reflect the applicant’s own experience, qualifications, and work. Applicants may use generative AI tools for preparation purposes only. Use of AI to misrepresent or falsify information, or to assist during interviews, is not permitted. Review the Guidance for Generative AI Tools & Job Seekers for additional information.
Veterans:
- Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. §7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to www.pa.gov/agencies/employment/how-to-apply.html and click on Veterans.
Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS):
- 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).
If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.
The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.
Other Qualifications
- Completing the application, including all supplemental questions, serves as your exam for this position. No additional exam is required at a test center (also referred to as a written exam).
- Your score is based on the detailed information you provide on your application and in response to the supplemental questions.
- Your score is valid for this specific posting only.
- You must provide complete and accurate information or:
- your score may be lower than deserved.
- you may be disqualified.
- You may only apply/test once for this posting.
- Your results will be provided via email.
Benefits
Learn more about our Total Rewards by watching this short video!
See the total value of your benefits package by exploring our benefits calculator.
Health & Wellness
We offer multiple health plans so our employees can choose what works best for themselves and their families. Our comprehensive benefits package includes health coverage, vision, dental, and wellness programs.*
Compensation & Financial Planning
We invest in our employees by providing competitive wages and encouraging financial wellness by offering multiple ways to save money and ensure peace of mind including multiple retirement and investment plan options.
Work/Life Balance
We know there’s more to life than just work! Our generous paid leave benefits include paid vacation, paid sick leave, eight weeks of paid parental leave, military leave, and paid time off for most major U.S. holidays, as well as flexible work schedules and work-from-home opportunities.*
Values and Culture
We believe in the work we do and provide continual opportunities for our employees to grow and contribute to the greater good. As one of the largest employers in the state, we provide opportunities for internal mobility, professional development, and the opportunity to give back by participating in workplace charitable giving.
Employee Perks
Sometimes, it is the little “extras” that make a big difference. Our employees receive special employee-only discounts and rates on a variety of services and memberships.
For more information on all of these Total Rewards benefits, please visit www.employment.pa.gov and click on the benefits box.
*Eligibility rules apply.
Supplemental Questions
- Yes
- No
- 3 or more years
- 2 but less than 3 years
- Less than 2 years
- None
If you are claiming credits/degree, you must upload a copy of your college transcript(s) for this education to be considered in the eligibility decision. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. You must attach your transcript(s) prior to the submission of your application by using the "Attachments" tab on the left. You will not be able to add a transcript(s) to the application after it has been submitted.
If you answer this question based on education acquired outside of the United States, you must upload a copy of your foreign credential evaluation report. We can only accept foreign credential evaluations from organizations that are members of the National Association of Credential Services (NACES). A list of current NACES members can be found by visiting https://www.naces.org and clicking the Evaluation Services link.- Yes
- No
All information you provide on your application and supplemental questions is subject to verification. Any misrepresentation, falsification or omission of material facts is subject to penalty. If requested, you must provide documentation, including names, addresses, and telephone numbers of individuals who can verify the validity of the information you provide in the application and supplemental questions.
Read each question carefully. Determine and select which "Level of Performance" most closely represents your highest level of experience/training. List the employer(s)/training source(s) from your Work or Education sections of the application where you gained this experience/training. The "Level of Performance" you choose must be clearly supported within the description of the experience and training information entered in your application or your score may be lowered. In order to receive credit for experience, you must have worked in a job for at least six months in which the experience claimed was a major function.
If you have read and understand these instructions, please click on the "Yes" button and proceed to the exam questions.
If you have general questions regarding the application and hiring process, please refer to our FAQ page.
- Yes
Develops and maintains technical guidance documents. Provides technical assistance to agencies, laboratory staff, and external organizations regarding laboratory testing and accreditation and related concerns.
Levels of Performance
Select the Level of Performance that best describes your claim.
- A. I have experience developing and maintaining laboratory-related technical guidance documents; AND providing technical assistance to others regarding laboratory-related concerns.
- B. I have experience developing and maintaining laboratory-related technical guidance documents.
- C. I have experience providing technical assistance to others regarding laboratory-related concerns.
- D. I have NO experience related to this work behavior.
- The name(s) of the employer(s) where you gained this experience
- The actual duties you performed related to developing and maintaining laboratory-related technical guidance documents
- The actual duties you performed related to providing technical assistance to others regarding laboratory-related concerns
Implements laboratory accreditation standards and procedures and quality assurance regulations. Ensures quality assurance compliance within the laboratory section. Implements corrective action plans to address deficiencies. Levels of Performance
Select the Level of Performance that best describes your claim.
- A. I have experience ensuring others implemented laboratory accreditation standards and procedures AND were in compliance with laboratory quality assurance regulations. I ALSO implemented corrective action plans to address deficiencies.
- B. I have experience ensuring others implemented laboratory accreditation standards and procedures AND were in compliance with quality assurance regulations.
- C. I have experience ensuring laboratory accreditation standards and procedures and quality assurance regulations are applied to MY laboratory work.
- D. I have successfully completed college-level coursework or training related to quality assurance, laboratory quality management, or auditing.
- E. I have NO experience or education related to this work behavior.
- The name(s) of the employer(s) where you gained this experience
- The actual duties you performed related to ensuring others implemented laboratory accreditation standards and procedures and were in compliance with laboratory quality assurance regulations
- The actual duties you performed in ensuring laboratory accreditation standards and procedures and quality assurance regulations were applied to your laboratory work
- The actual duties you performed related to implementing corrective action plans to address deficiencies
- College/University/Training Source
- Course Title
- Credits/Clock Hours
Levels of Performance
Select the Level of Performance that best describes your claim.
- A. I have experience composing written materials or reports including official communications and documentation for submission to laboratory accreditation programs, corrective action responses, standard operating procedures, and other technical reports.
- B. I have experience composing written materials or reports including standard operating procedures and other technical reports.
- C. I have successfully completed college-level coursework or training such as technical writing, report writing, or non-fiction writing.
- D. I have NO experience or education related to this work behavior.
- The name(s) of the employer(s) where you gained this experience
- The types of written communications you composed
- College/University/Training Source
- Course Title
- Credits/Clock Hours
Performs the full range of supervisory duties including assigning and reviewing work, providing guidance, training subordinates or arranging for the training of subordinates, evaluating work, providing discipline, and monitoring and approving leave.
Levels of Performance
Select the Level of Performance that best describes your claim.
- A. I have experience performing the full range of supervisory duties including assigning and reviewing work, providing guidance, training subordinates or arranging for the training of subordinates, evaluating work, providing discipline, and monitoring and approving leave.
- B. I have experience as a LEAD WORKER to other staff on specific projects or assignments, including providing guidance in performing work.
- C. I have successfully completed college-level coursework or training related to supervisory development, labor relations, or human resource management, but I do not have at least six months of supervisory or lead work experience in a work setting.
- D. I have NO experience or training related to this work behavior.
- The name(s) of the employer(s) where you gained this experience
- The actual duties you performed as a supervisor or lead worker
- Your level of responsibility
- College/University/Training Source
- Course Title
- Credits/Clock Hours
Required Question
Agency Information
EmployerCommonwealth of PennsylvaniaAddress 613 North StreetHarrisburg, Pennsylvania, 17120 Website http://www.employment.pa.gov