Job Description

Job Description and Duties

Incumbents in one of these classifications, where a Master’s Degree is required to meet the minimum qualifications, shall receive an educational pay differential equivalent to 2% of their monthly base pay. Those where a Doctoral Degree is required to meet the minimum qualifications, shall receive an educational pay differential equivalent to 3% of their monthly base pay. Individuals with both a Master’s and Doctoral Degree will be given the best benefit in relation to salary shall only be eligible for only one amount.

This position supports the CDPH Center for Laboratory Science’s mission and strategic plan by protecting the public’s health by enhancing California’s resilience to current and emerging health threats, promoting health and wellness by advancing protective measures and reducing risk, and by strengthening the Public Health workforce through recruitment and development and talent acquisition.  All of these contribute to CDPH’s Mission to advance the health and well-being of California’s diverse people and communities.

The Research Scientist III (Chemical Sciences) (RS III (CS)), plans, organizes, and directs scientific research studies of a highly developed scope and complexity. The RS III (CS) works, independently develops, implements, optimizes, validates new method developments and conducts high complexity scientific research studies on illicit drugs such as opioids and others and supports method development, adaptation, optimization, and validation of high complexity analytical methodologies for the detection and identification of the above mentioned chemicals in different matrices such as powders, solids, wastewater, and others as needed. The RS III (CS) assists other programs and analysts with the analysis of marine biotoxins such as paralytic shellfish toxins in shellfish, when necessary or as directed. Provides technical leadership to advance existing analytical methodologies (e.g., High-Res LC-MS, (UP)LC-MS/MS, GC-MS, GC-MS/MS, ICP-MS and other). Generates technical data to support regulations, good laboratory practices, and compliance protocols. Maintains expertise by assessing recent scientific developments and new technologies about technology and analytical instrumentation needs in emerging contaminants of concern to public health.

The position requires 5% out-of-state travel to program-sponsored meetings, scientific conferences, and specialized training. The incumbent works in the laboratory, which is regulated and certified and required to follow certain accreditation protocols and procedures.

The incumbent works under the general direction of the Research Scientist Supervisor I (Chemical Sciences) (RSS I (CS)) of the Chemistry and Radiochemistry Section in the Chemistry Unit of the Drinking Water and Radiation Laboratory Branch (DWRLB).

Please let us know how you heard about our position by taking this brief survey:

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Working Conditions

Telework Information

Business travel may be required, and reimbursement considers an employee’s designated headquarters office subject to regulations and bargaining unit contract provisions. All commute expenses to the designated headquarters office will be the responsibility of the selected candidate.

The headquarters office location for this position is identified in the attached duty statement.

Special Requirements

In order to be considered for this position, you must submit a copy of your college transcripts official or un-official and/or Degree for education verification.

For experience/education to qualify during the application screening process, and to ensure that minimum qualifications can be determined, applicants should include all employment history on the Employment Application (STD 678) and/or Resume, including detailed job descriptions,  hours worked per week , and start/end dates (MM/DD/YYYY) .  Application packages without this information will experience delayed processing times and your eligibility for this position may be impacted.

A completed State application (STD. 678) and any other relevant documents (e.g. unofficial transcript, copy of degree, resume, etc.) should be submitted electronically via your CalCareers Account. Please reference  Job Control # (472665)  and indicate the basis of your eligibility in the Examination(s) or Job Title(s) section. SROA and surplus candidates should submit a copy of their letter with their application. Please remove any confidential information (i.e. social security number, date of birth) from your documents prior to submission.

Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareers Account at Submitting an electronic application through your CalCareers account is strongly recommended since electronic applications will be received/processed faster than other methods of filing. Please submit only one application.

If you are unable to submit your application electronically through your CalCareers account, please email  apply@cdph.ca.gov  for assistance and a CDPH Human Resources Division staff member will contact you to assist with the online application process or,  a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method as explained in the How to Apply section below. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included.

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

Experience in organic and inorganic analysis in environmental samples using sophisticated analytical techniques (Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometer, Gas chromatography/Mass spectrometer, and others) for qualitative and quantitative analyses under quality assurance protocols. Excellent oral and written communication skills, as well as knowledge of using Microsoft suite programs and applications.

Benefits

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

Supplemental Questionnaire (SQ) Instructions

Please provide a response to the Supplemental Questionnaire below. Limit your response to one (1) page or less per question (font: Arial, size 11).

1. Describe your experience working in a regulatory environmental laboratory. If such experience is not available, please describe if you are aware with laboratory certification protocols and their requirements especially on data reviewing and reporting.
2. Describe your experience working on both targeted and non-targeted unknown compound identification project.  Specifically discuss sample preparation process, instruments you used and spectral libraries or databases you relied on for the compound identification.
3. Describe a situation from your laboratory experience that you had to take independent actions to resolve. Describe your actions and the outcome.

PLEASE NOTE: Resumes, letters, Statement of Qualifications, transcripts, degrees, your state application, cover letters and other materials will not take the place of the Supplemental Questionnaire.   Simply copying and pasting your resume will also not be accepted. Applications received without an SQ may be rejected.

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is required and must be included.
• Other -

  Please see Supplemental Questionnaire instructions below at end of Posting . Any applications received that  do not provide a written response to the  SQ will not  be scored/reviewed.  

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