Laboratory Technician I/II/III (Environmental Science)

Essential Job Duties

• Obtains data for use by environmental, engineering, and scientific personnel in determining sources and methods of controlling pollutants in air, water, and soil for compliance monitoring requirements (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), & Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS)).


• Maintains accurate, detailed, and precise records and reports on all assigned activities and areas of responsibilities.


• Monitors, measures, evaluates, collects, and transports environmental media and assists other technicians with these procedures.


• Calibrates or checks calibration of field and laboratory instruments used and ensures calibration is current prior to use.


• Performs a wide variety of tests, inspections, and interpretations to evaluate impact to the environment and documents the outcome.


• Develops a working knowledge of environmental field monitoring equipment, laboratory equipment, sampling collection equipment, and operating equipment.


• Applies rigid and exacting procedures to obtain a high degree of accuracy in final results.


• Operates a variety of environmental monitoring equipment and instruments, laboratory equipment and instruments, and maintenance equipment to include: direct push sample collection equipment, pump hoist rig, 
  automated remote sample collection equipment, and a variety of maintenance equipment.


• Performs surveying and mapping duties to obtain data for mapmaking, boundary locations, and sampling locations using global positioning systems.


• Performs trapping, transporting, and handling of fauna to assess the impact of present and past plant operations and to maintain a healthy and viable population of fauna.


• Troubleshoots routine technical issues and equipment affecting daily operations.


• Independently conducts routine and occasionally non-routine tests and inspections, sampling, monitoring, and data collection activities.


• Participates in job planning and procedure development to identify hazards and controls.


• Contributes to and supports completion of significant organizational initiatives.


• Interprets field data and conditions and notifies appropriate personnel with complex problems.


• Assists technical personnel as requested.


• Performs daily cleaning, maintenance, and other tasks as needed, requested, or assigned.


• Responsible for maintaining a thorough knowledge of applicable Federal, State, Department of Energy (DOE), Corporate and Plant rules, regulations and Plant-wide operating policies and procedures.


• Required to attend and/or successfully complete training classes, and as appropriate become certified and/or knowledgeable in the safe handling of hazardous waste, chemicals, substances and materials as determined by Training and Development Technologies Department, through General Employee Training (reference DOE order 426.2) and management.


• Understands a worker’s right to stop work when they feel their own safety or the safety of other personnel is jeopardized.


• Attends all required safety meetings and training and offers suggestions on improvements to the work environment.


• Performs other duties as assigned

Skills and Minimum Qualifications

• Must meet initial employment requirements.


• Must be able to perform all the duties and functions outlined above.


• Must be able to read, write, and comprehend applicable written and/or oral instructions.


• Must be physically fit to perform the above job functions as determined by a Medical Evaluation.


• Required to maintain neat, accurate, concise and complete records and files.


• Must be able to work under general supervision.


• Must be able to work outdoors in all weather conditions as required.


• All qualifications, work history, training, and education will be verified by a comprehensive interview, background evaluation, documented proof, and direct contact with former employers

Education

•  Associate of Science degree or higher degree in a technical field to include; twelve (12) credit hours of college level chemistry, physics, biology, geology, or environmental technology.


• Or completion of high school with 4 years of relevant documented experience.


• Or any combination of acceptable education and experience to equal 4 years and acceptable by the hiring manager

DOE Order 426.2A Requirements

In addition to the above requirements, the applicant must also meet the requirements of DOE O 426.2A (i.e., High School diploma, or a DOE O 426.2A alternative).  DOE O 426.2A experience requirements can be satisfied following employment.  In the interim, newly hired personnel will not be assigned duties that could impact the safety basis of nuclear facilities.   (Ref. DOE O 426.2A)

Functional Requirements

• Lifting or carrying less than 51 pounds (40 pounds).


• Reaching above shoulder level.


• Ability to keyboard.


• Repetitive motion of the wrist/forearm.


• Walking 2 hours/day.


• Standing 2 hours/day.


• Repeated bending at the waist.


• Repeating squatting.


• Climbing with legs only (stairs).


• Operation of motorized vehicle.


• Normal far vision in at least one eye correctable to 20/40 (20 feet)


• Near vision (must be able to read computer screen, manuscript, book, etc. at approximately 13-16 inches from the face.


• Depth perception (ability to tell how close or far an object is).


• Good hearing.


• Ability to qualify to wear a respirator.


• No evidence of current drug or alcohol abuse.


• Ability to use small tools.


• Ability to perform safety-sensitive duties

Environmental Factors

• Excessive heat.


• Excessive cold/chilling.


• Works on slippery or uneven surfaces.


• Works out of doors.


• Ladders or scaffolding.


• Around moving vehicles


• Hands in water.


• Isolated work assignments.