Laboratory Health and Safety Lead/Environmental Chemist

Put your analytical skills toward making a positive impact on the planet and your career! Join ICF in support of the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) contract at the new Region 9 Laboratory in Corvallis, Oregon.

ICF is looking for a team member to hold a DUAL role as Laboratory Health and Safety Lead/Environmental Chemist to support the USEPA Region 9 Environmental Services Assistance Team (ESAT) contract.

Workplace is in Corvallis, Oregon with occasional travel to EPA Region 9 locations, including Hayward, California, may be required.

ESAT provides analytical, quality assurance (QA), and technical support to USEPA Region 9 Laboratory performing analytical chemistry to assist in the identification, assessment, remediation, and regulation of environmental hazards. The team performs analysis on soil, water, air, waste, and tissue samples for chemical contaminants using USEPA-approved methods supporting EPA’s mission to protect human health and the environment through programs such as the Drinking Water programs, Clean Water Act (CWA), Clean Air Act (CAA), Superfund (CERCLA).

Job Description

The Laboratory Health and Safety Lead/Environmental Chemist is responsible for implementing and maintaining comprehensive environmental health and safety (EHS) programs in compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. Responsibilities will include performing inspections, reviewing and revising SOPs related to health, safety, and environmental management activities, developing and delivering training, and documenting compliance with program and regulatory compliance for staff training.

Key Responsibilities:

Laboratory Health and Safety Responsibilities

Broad range of activities from routine inspections of safety equipment to infrequent activities like exposure assessments. These activities fall generally under the following:

• Safety Management requires the Lab H&S Lead to administer, and maintain EHS programs, policies, SOPs, and chemical hygiene plans as well as perform laboratory inspections and develop formal responses and corrective action plans.
• Regulatory Compliance includes ensuring compliance with facility SOPs designed to comply with OSHA, EPA, DOT, and facility permits and maintaining documentation for audits and inspections. This can include reviewing guidance from OSHA, RCRA, and state (Oregon and California) hazardous materials and workplace safety regulations as needed to contribute to EPA chemical hygiene plans as they apply to ESAT contractor staff.
• Risk Assessment and Incident Investigation responsibilities generally require conducting safety audits and inspections to identify chemical, physical, biological, ergonomic, and fire hazards, develop and review Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs), investigate incidents, accidents, and near-misses, determining root causes and corrective actions in conjunction with ICF leadership and facility safety personnel, and assist with qualitative and quantitative exposure assessments (chemical, noise, ventilation, ergonomics, etc.) as assigned by EPA.
• Hazardous Materials and Waste Management requires support of safe procurement, handling, storage, and disposal of hazardous, universal, and biological waste, coordinate with EPA to assist disposal contractors and to support EPA to maintain regulatory documentation as well as providing guidance on waste stream optimization.
• Emergency Response coordinate emergency response activities with facility personnel and building occupants and support drills, spill response planning, and communication protocols.
• Training requires development and delivery of training on laboratory safety, industrial hygiene, chemical safety, PPE, and emergency procedures.

Environmental Chemist Responsibilities

The team performs a broad range of environmental chemistry analyses using EPA methods. The successful candidate will not be required to have experience in all the following, but must be able to contribute substantially in at least two.

• Analysis of inorganic constituents such as chloride, sulfide, solids, etc. using manual and automated techniques.
• Sample preparation using acid digestion/extraction for metals determination
• Operation of ICP-MS. ICP-OES, direct analysis Hg analyzers, or other instrumentation
• Sample preparation such as liquid-liquid, solid phase, high pressure fluid or other solvent extraction for determination of organic constituents using EPA methodologies.
• Operation of GC-ECD, GC-FID, and GCMS to semivolatile organic compounds, pesticides, Aroclors, and fuel hydrocarbon
• Operation of GCMS for determination of volatiles in air, water, and soil.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in physical sciences (Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Microbiology, etc.) or related field.

• Minimum 6 years of demonstrated laboratory experience which must include:
  • 2 years of responsibility for laboratory safety, RCRA/OSHA/state regulatory implementation, laboratory operations, hazardous waste management, and chemical safety; and
  • Minimum 3 years of environmental laboratory experience using EPA-approved methodologies and instrumentation, (e.g., ICP-OES, ICP-MS, GC-FID, GC/MS) in a laboratory with ISO 17025 accreditation (e.g., TNI or NELAC, DOD, some state program). Using an integrated LIMS and working in a paperless laboratory are desirable experience factors.
• Data management and report preparation experience. Experience with Clinysis (Promium) Element LIMS and Ideagen Quality Management System (IQME) are preferred.
• U.S. citizenship required per federal contract.
• MUST BE ABLE TO PASS an EPA background check to obtain access to US federal property.

Preferred Qualifications:

• OSHA 40-hour HAZWOPER.
• RCRA training.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work in laboratory, field, and Superfund environments.
• Use PPE and monitoring equipment.
• Ability to lift to 40 lbs.

Working at ICF

Pay Range - There are multiple factors that are considered in determining final pay for a position, including, but not limited to, relevant work experience, skills, certifications and competencies that align to the specified role, geographic location, education and certifications as well as contract provisions regarding labor categories that are specific to the position.

The pay range for this position based on full-time employment is: