Job Description
Location: Luckey, Ohio
Title: Project Chemist IV
Schedule (FT/PT): Regular Full Time
Travel Required: No
Government Clearance: Ability to Obtain
Portage, Inc., is a technically diverse company providing consulting and project execution services to clients on their environmental, engineering, and infrastructure projects. Since its establishment in Idaho Falls in 1992, Portage has completed over $1.2 billion of projects focused primarily on investigations, remedial/response actions, and removal of radiological, hazardous, and toxic waste for federal, state, tribal, and local governments and private industry clients. Portage is ISO9001 certified and has an active NQA-1 compliant Quality Assurance Program. Portage is based in Idaho Falls, Idaho, with satellite offices throughout the country. On January 20, 2017, Portage, Inc., was acquired by North Wind Group.
POSITION PURPOSE:
North Wind Portage is currently looking for a Project Chemist to oversee an accredited field laboratory. The project chemist is responsible for the development/revisions and managing implementation of the project specific sampling and analysis plan (SAP), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency SW846, and on-site laboratory QC procedures. The project chemist will review analytical data for conformance with quality standards, and coordinate completion of data validation reports.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The project chemist will be expected to have a "hands on" role in management of project tasks associated with sampling and analysis including:
Preparation/revisions of the SAP
Instruction of field personnel in sampling and preservation requirements
General oversight of field personnel involved in sampling activities
Coordination with the analytical laboratory to insure readiness to implement project specific requirements
Review of analytical data as it becomes available to insure conformance with quality standards
Implementation of corrective actions in accordance with these specifications when review of data uncovers deficiencies.
Responsible for conducting and overseeing all on-site analytical testing based on the SAP and contamination control plan (CCP), including field screening tests.
Review and verify all chemical data for hazardous waste manifests.
Prepare all data validation reports or review for accuracy all data validation reports prepared by subcontractors.
Serve as the primary point of contact with off-site subcontracted laboratories. This will include invoice review, data distribution to team members, and QC/data validation of analytical data.
ADDITIONAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Oversee on-site laboratory activities to ensure budget and schedule are met and the project is completed as per contractual requirements.
Participates in scope reviews of field activities to coordinate interfaces and ensure completeness
Identifies work sequence considerations when finalizing project schedules
Generates, secures, or otherwise confirms all information needed to create, monitor, and modify the progress schedule on a continuing basis
Reviews subcontractor daily reports, job diaries, narratives, and all other documentation as determined by the project team
Enforces all regulatory, client, and company-specific safety rules
Ensure that all DQO objectives and responsibilities, sampling and analysis requirements, data documentation and validation requirements, and reporting requirements are attained
Performs/oversees job site inspections for both quality and safety in area of purview.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Education and Experience:
A four-year college degree in Chemistry from an accredited post-secondary institution, or an amount of previous experience that is deemed to be equivalent and agreed to by USACE.
Eleven (11) years of combined professional experience in a commercial environmental analytical laboratory or working as a part of a contractor's project management team with a minimum of one (1) to two (2) years directly related to environmental investigations and/or remedial actions (i.e., Not primarily employed at a laboratory).
Knowledge of environmental analytical chemistry methodologies described in USEPA SW-846, ASTM, Standard Methods, and those QC procedures applicable to environmental analytical chemistry.
Skills and Abilities:
Demonstrated ability to work with minimal oversight to maintain strict compliance with contract requirements.
Broad knowledge of applicable health and safety regulations and standards
Demonstrated ability to develop and review policies and technical procedures related to project execution.
Thorough working knowledge of computer application for databases, spreadsheets, statistical analysis, and word processing (Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint).
The ability to facilitate corrective action, monitor work, and coordinate the activities of others as it pertains to health and safety.
Demonstrated ability to interface with clients, manage customer expectations and satisfaction, provide status reports to internal and external stakeholders.
Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions and procedure manuals.
Ability to write plans, procedures, routine reports, operating instructions and correspondence
Ability to work with mathematical concepts. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical solutions
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule form.
Requires excellent interpersonal and communication skills in dealing with others to ensure that customer requests or needs are met. Acknowledges and clarifies customer inquiries, requests, or complaints to ensure that needs are identified, documented, and addressed.
Ability to handle different and unrelated processes and methods. Decisions regarding what needs to be done.
Special Requirements:
Must be able to travel to the site at least 50% of the time. Must be able to obtain a Normal BeLPT prior to working on site.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Master's degree in a related field.
OSHA 40-hour HAZWOPER training (with current 8-hour refresher).
FUSRAP and/or USACE experience.
ORAU MARSSIM training.
Experience in laboratory instrumentation (ICP-MS, Alpha Spectroscopy, Gamma Spectroscopy).
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
Ability to sit, stand, walk, kneel, and stoop for up to six hours per day.
Ability to wear a powered air purifying respirator.
WORKING ENVIRONMENT:
Combination of indoor office and outdoor working environment.
North Wind offers a competitive pay and benefits package to include health, life, and disability insurance benefits, 401(k) with company match, generous paid leave and tuition reimbursement for eligible employees. As a company, we are committed to employee wellness, professional development, and work-life balance. We value safety, reliability, and commitment to our people! For more information about our benefits or hiring philosophy, visit the North Wind Career Opportunities Page.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The nature of those accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis. If you are an individual with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process, or are limited in the ability or unable to access or use this online application process and need an alternative method for applying, you may contact our Helpline +1.208.528.8718 or use the Request for Reasonable Accommodation form to get assistance.
Proof of citizenship will be required as a condition of employment.
Candidates may be required to obtain and hold a Secret or Higher US Government Clearance.
North Wind is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic data, religion, or other legally protected status. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.
