Laboratory Technician

ABOUT SOUTH COAST AQMD

South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD) is one of the largest and most technologically sophisticated environmental regulatory agencies in the nation, serving a four-county region that includes Los Angeles, Orange County, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, and the Coachella Valley. South Coast AQMD s headquarters is located in Diamond Bar, 30 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, at the junction of the 57 and 60 Freeways.

With a highly diverse "Clean Air Team" of over 850 employees, an annual budget of $216.5 million, and a state-of-the art air quality laboratory, our mission is to ensure clean air and a healthy environment. South Coast AQMD is an organization you can be proud to work for -- we make a difference in the quality of life in Southern California!

South Coast AQMD is committed to creating and maintaining a work environment that appreciates the unique backgrounds, skills, and experiences of our employees and fosters professional development and growth. South Coast AQMD respects the ideas and perspectives of our stakeholders and works to bring them together toward the common goal of clean air.

The South Coast AQMD laboratory is a state-of-the-art, 20,000-square-foot facility staffed by over 50 professionals dedicated to air quality sample analysis. The laboratory performs a diverse range of analytical services generating critical data used for strategic planning, investigating community complaints, evaluating new products and processes, and determining regulatory compliance. We also provide analytical support to the California Air Resources Board (CARB), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), law enforcement agencies, and academic institutions.

The results produced by our laboratory have informed agency-wide policy decisions, special studies, and technology development initiatives. Each year, we analyze more than 60,000 samples using a wide array of techniques, including GC, IC, LC, GC-MS, XRF, XRD, FTIR, ICP-MS, PTR-MS, and microscopy. These methods provide detailed insights into the types and concentrations of pollutants in ambient air. The South Coast AQMD laboratory is at the national leader in method development for ambient air analyses and is widely recognized for its contributions to the field of air quality analytical chemistry.

Under general supervision, our Laboratory Technicians perform routine laboratory tasks; extract samples by water or acid for subsequent analysis; perform calculations; enter data into databases; help prioritize samples for analysis, archive samples, and perform other related work as required. Responsibilities also include weighing filters; assisting in the preparation and analysis of samples utilizing x-ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRF), microscopic techniques, inductively coupled plasma /mass spectrometry (ICP/MS), carbon analyzer, ion chromatograph (IC) and wet chemical procedures;

assisting in the preparation of equipment for complex samples such as source sampling, toxic sampling and ambient sampling; utilizing computers for data input and retrieval, reduction and statistical analysis and assuring the quality and accuracy of data.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

In addition to meeting the Minimum Qualifications listed below, candidates who possess the following qualifications may be considered more competitive:

• A Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry or a closely related field
• Familiarity with a broad range of chemical analysis techniques
• Hands-on experience in a laboratory environment
• Strong time management skills and the ability to prioritize tasks effectively in a dynamic setting
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• A commitment to accuracy, quality, and continuous improvement
• Proficiency in commonly used software applications such as Microsoft Excel and Access
• Experience with Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS)

A minimum of twenty-four (24) semester units (36 quarter) units in chemistry which must include the following courses; general chemistry; analytical chemistry; organic chemistry; analytical methods; and the applicable laboratory sections. Courses in instrumentation, mathematics (at the calculus level); statistics and introduction to data processing are desirable. Demonstrated successful experience in a sophisticated laboratory environment performing a major portion of the duties listed above may be substituted for the educational unit requirements.

APPLICATION PACKETS MUST INCLUDE