Senior Sanitary Chemist

Salary: $71,710.00 - $91,940.00 Annually Location : Buffalo, NY Job Type: Full Time Job Number: Department: DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH Opening Date: 10/07/2024 Closing Date: 10/30/2024 11:59 PM Eastern Exam fee: $20.00 Description Erie County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and committed to workplace diversity. ALL CORRESPONDENCE REGARDING ONLINE APPLICATIONS WILL BE VIA EMAIL. PAPER APPLICATIONS CONTAINING AN EMAIL ADDRESS WILL ALSO RECEIVE EMAIL CORRESPONDENCE. IF NO EMAIL IS PROVIDED, PAPER NOTIFICATION WILL ARRIVE VIA USPS. CANDIDATES MUST HAVE BEEN LEGAL RESIDENTS OF ERIE COUNTY FOR AT LEAST ONE MONTH IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE DATE OF THE WRITTEN TEST AND MUST BE LEGAL RESIDENTS OF ERIE COUNTY AT THE TIME OF APPOINTMENT. There is one anticipated vacancy at the Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH). Examples of Duties A Senior Sanitary Chemist responsible for maintaining the required standards for certification of the laboratory and ensuring that all laboratory programs comply with regulatory requirements; Serves as certified technical director for environmental laboratory and ensures the laboratory adheres to all applicable regulations in order to maintain certification; Reviews, analyzes, and interprets technical data and reports submitted by subordinates; Plans, supervises, and participates in the chemical and bacteriological examination and analysis of water, sewage, etc. as part of on-going county health or environmental programs; Plans, assigns, and reviews the work of subordinate laboratory personnel in conjunction with Sanitary Chemist; Supervises and maintains the operation of scientific equipment used in wastewater and drinking water testing; Supervises and instructs subordinates in laboratory techniques and procedures; Reviews and approves reports and budgets for submission to the Administrative Director; Oversees the analytical program, tests, and develops appropriate improvements; Supervises the calibration, operation, maintenance, and repair of laboratory and automatic sampling equipment; Keeps informed on the latest developments in sanitary chemistry and microbiology by the study of professional literature; Maintains quality control of all laboratory procedures according to Federal and State regulatory agency guidelines; Confers with government, public and private agencies on studies and recommendations for elimination of environmental pollution and improvement of general health; Initiates or participates in development of new scientific methods in this area. Minimum Qualifications MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Candidates must meet one of the following requirements on or before the date of the written test (see Note 3): Possession of a Bachelor's degree* in chemical, environmental, physical, biological, physical, biological sciences, or engineering which must include the completion of at least twenty-four (24) semester credit hours in chemistry AND either: A) Three (3) years of experience in analytical chemistry of which two (2) years shall have been in the specific field of sanitary chemistry or in performing technical analysis in an environmental laboratory of which one year was serving in a supervisory role; OR B) A Master's Degree* in chemical, environmental, physical, or biological sciences or engineering and two (2) years of experience in the specific field of sanitary chemistry or in performing technical analysis in an environmental laboratory of which one year was serving in a supervisory role; OR C) A combination of training and experience equivalent to (A) or (B). NOTE 1: *Your degree must have been awarded by a college or university accredited by a regional, national, or specialized agency recognized as an accrediting agency by the U.S. Department of Education/U.S. Secretary of Education. If your degree was awarded by an educational institution outside the United States and its territories, you must provide independent verification of equivalency. A list of acceptable companies who provide this service can be found on the Internet at You must pay the required evaluation fee NOTE 2: Verifiable part-time and/or volunteer experience will be pro-rated toward meeting full-time experience requirements NOTE 3. Educational and/or age requirements must be met no later than 12 months past the announced exam date. Eligibility for appointment will be subject to candidates providing proof that education and/or age requirements have been met within one year of the announced exam date. Documentation/proof of education and/or age should be provided at time of interview. (If documentation does not prove that requirements were met within one year of exam date candidates will be removed from further eligibility for appointment. ) Supplemental Information A medical examination may be required before appointment. VETERANS: PROOF OF SERVICE MUST BE SUBMITTED BEFORE LIST IS ESTABLISHED TO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL POINTS. (See application for more information.) NOTICES TO APPEAR FOR THE EXAMINATION ARE MAILED APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK PRIOR TO THE EXAMINATION DATE NO CELL PHONES ARE PERMITTED AT THE EXAM SITE. Examination date: December 7, 2024 Applications Must Be Postmarked or Hand Delivered By: October 30, 2024 Test guide: The New York State Department of Civil Service has NOT prepared a test guide for this examination. However, candidates may find information in the publication 'General Guide to Written Tests' helpful in preparing for this test. This publication is available online at: Scopes / Subjects of examination: A test designed to evaluate knowledge, skills and /or abilities in the following areas: Understanding and interpreting written material These questions test for the ability to understand and interpret written material. You will be presented with brief reading passages and will be asked questions about the passages. You should base your answers to the questions only on what is presented in the passages and not on what you may happen to know about the topic. Analytical chemistry, including techniques, equipment, and procedures for inorganic and organic analyses These questions test for knowledge of general principles of chemical analysis, including the various techniques used in the chemical analysis of both organic and inorganic materials, the operating principles and characteristics of the analytical equipment used, and laboratory safety. Organization and interpretation of data, including elementary statistical analysis and quality control These questions test for knowledge of the various techniques used in data collection and analysis. Questions may include such areas as proper methods of collecting and organizing data, elementary statistical operations performed on data, and interpreting tabulated results properly. Principles and applications of microbiology related to the testing of both treated and untreated water These questions test for knowledge of microbiology as it relates to water testing, including such areas as sample preservation and preparation for microbiological analysis; methods, materials, and equipment used in the culture and identification of microorganisms, including microscopy; characteristics and effects of microorganisms; and general principles of microbiology and water treatment. Supervision These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices employed in planning, organizing, and controlling the activities of a work unit toward predetermined objectives. The concepts covered, usually in a situational question format, include such topics as assigning and reviewing work; evaluating performance; maintaining work standards; motivating and developing subordinates; implementing procedural change; increasing efficiency; and dealing with problems of absenteeism, morale, and discipline. Laboratory methods, procedures, instrumentation, and equipment associated with the analysis of water, sewage, and industrial waste These questions test for knowledge of the procedures, equipment, and instrumentation used in the analysis of water, sewage, and industrial waste for various chemical and physical parameters, including such areas as sample preservation and preparation, preparation of solutions and standards, identification and characteristics of substances, and the use and characteristics of various test methods and instrumentation. NOTICE TO CANDIDATES: It is recommended that candidates use a quiet, hand held, solar or battery powered calculator. Devices with typewriter keyboards, "Spell Checkers", "Personal Digital Assistants", "Address Books", "Language Translators", "Dictionaries", or any similar devices are prohibited. You may not bring books or other reference materials. NOTICE TO CANDIDATES WHO ARE ALSO TAKING ANOTHER CIVIL SERVICE EXAM(S) ON THIS DATE (See Below) (IF YOU ARE TAKING 2 OR MORE ERIE COUNTY EXAMS ON THIS DATE IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO CALL) INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES HOW TO APPLY: Either online by clicking "Apply" on the top right of the online exam announcement or by printing a paper application from erie.gov, Erie County Application for Examination or Appointment (see or if you do not have internet access you may pick up an application form at the Erie County Personnel Department, 95 Franklin Street, Room 604, Buffalo, New York 14202. Forms are also available at Buffalo and Erie County Public Libraries and at Town, Village and School District administrative offices. Completed forms should then be returned to the Erie County Personnel Department. In addition, candidates must request their colleges to send transcripts to the Erie County Personnel Department or attach transcripts to your application. No applications will be evaluated until all the above information, including transcripts, is received. MILITARY STATUS: Active duty military personnel may file an application for this exam. A special military make-up examination will be conducted for any member of the armed forces of the United States who has duly filed a timely application but who was deprived of the opportunity to compete in the scheduled exam due to active military duty. Special conditions apply to these requests and may be reviewed at the Erie County Department of Personnel. VETERANS: Disabled and non-disabled veterans as defined in Section 85, New York State Civil Service Law, will have 10 and 5 points, respectively added to their earned scores if successful in the OPEN examination. You must claim these credits when you file application but you have an option to waive them any time prior to appointment. If you have already used these credits for a permanent position in NYS, you may not claim them again. In conformance with section 85-a of the Civil Service Law, CHILDREN OF FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE OFFICERS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY shall be entitled to receive an additional ten points in a competitive examination for original appointment in the same municipality in which his or her parent has served. If you are qualified to participate in this examination and are a child of a firefighter or police officer killed in the line of duty in this municipality, please inform this office of this matter when you submit your application for examination. A candidate claiming such credit has a minimum of two months from the application deadline to provide the necessary documentation to verify additional credit eligibility. However, no credit may be added after the eligible list has been established. SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS: Applicants whose religious beliefs prevent their taking examinations before sundown on Saturday and physically handicapped candidates who require special examination facilities should so inform the Erie County Department of Personnel, by a separately mailed letter at the earliest possible date before the test. MORE THAN ONE EXAM ON THE SAME DAY: If you have applied for more than one exam on the same day you MUST make arrangements to take ALL of the examinations at ONE examination test site. If you have applied for both STATE and LOCAL government examinations taking place on the same day, you must take all of your examinations at the STATE examination center. If you have applied for both COUNTY and CITY government examinations taking place on the same day, you must take all of your examinations at the COUNTY examination center. You are responsible to notify EACH Civil Service Agency no later than TWO WEEKS before the examination date on which you are taking multiple examinations by submitting a Cross-Filer form; EACH Civil Service Agency has their own Cross-Filer form. The Erie County Cross-Filer form can be found at If you are taking multiple exams on the same date with Erie County only, you do not have to file a Cross-Filer form. Candidates taking more than one exam in DIFFERENT exam series will be allowed the specified length of time for each exam, up to a maximum of eight hours. Example: If you are taking one exam which allows six hours and another exam in a different series which allows four hours, you must complete both tests in eight hours, but no more time can be spent on each exam than the time allotted for that exam. Candidates taking more than one exam in the SAME exam series will be allowed up to the specified length of time for each exam. Example: If you are taking two exams in the same series with a maximum time of five hours for each exam, you can spend no more than five hours to complete both exams. ADMISSION TO EXAMINATION: Notice to appear for the test will be conditional as review of application for minimum requirements may not be made until after the written test. Call or write this Department if you have not received your notice 3 days before the date of the test. You may not be admitted to the examination room without official notice. RATINGS REQUIRED: Tests are rated on a scale of 100 with a passing mark at 70. Unless the announcement states otherwise, you must pass the written test and the oral test, if any. Test instructions may further divide the tests into parts and set minimum standards for each part. TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE: If a subject of the examination, training and experience may not be rated if all passing candidates are expected to be immediately reachable for appointment. If rated, training and experience will be based on the statements in your application subject to verification. If this examination includes a qualifying written test, candidates admitted to the test will have conditional approval only. Final decision regarding the qualifications of candidates rests with the New York State Department of Civil Service. MEDICAL EXAMINATION: You may be required to take a medical examination to determine if you are medically and physically capable of performing the duties of the position. In accordance with State Law, Governor's Executive Order 6, and Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended the County of Erie does not discriminate against handicapped persons in access to employment, during employment, or in any of its programs and activities. VERIFICATION OF QUALIFICATIONS: Candidates may be investigated or called for an interview to verify information contained on the application. Verifiable part-time and/or volunteer experience may be pro-rated toward meeting full-time experience requirements. ELIGIBLE LIST: The eligible list resulting from an examination may also be used for appointment to the same title or to any other title deemed to be similar and appropriate. Eligible lists are active for a minimum of one year and a maximum of four years from the date established. BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION (*including psychological evaluation when required by position): Candidates may be subject to a thorough background investigation or psychological evaluation when required to determine eligibility for appointment. Applicants may be required to authorize access to educational, employment, criminal history and other records check as part of such investigation or participate in related tests or interviews. Criminal convictions or other offense are subject to evaluation and may result in disqualification pursuant to Section 50 of the New York State Civil Service Law. Applicant will be required to submit the necessary fees for the fingerprint processing, where required. (*If a psychological evaluation is required, it shall be specified in the minimum qualifications or special requirements for the position.) **IMPORTANT APPLICATION FEE - READ CAREFULLY** A $20.00 filing fee is required for this exam. The required fee must accompany your application. Send or bring check or money order made payable to Erie County Personnel Department and write the examination number(s) on your check or money order. Do not send or bring cash, as the County cannot be responsible for cash payment. As no refund will be made, you are urged to compare your qualifications carefully with the requirements for admission and file only for those examinations for which you are clearly qualified. APPLICATION FEE WAIVER: A waiver of application fee will be allowed if you are unemployed and primarily responsible for the support of a household. In addition, a waiver of application fee will be allowed if you are determined eligible for Medicaid, or receiving Supplemental Security Income payments, or Public Assistance (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families/Family Assistance or Safety Net Assistance) or are certified Job Training Partnership Act/Workforce Investment Act eligible through a State or local social service agency. All claims for application fee waiver are subject to verification. If you can verify eligibility for application fee waiver, complete a ": form and submit it with your application by the close of business on the Application Deadline as listed on the Examination Announcement. The form is available at the Erie County Personnel Department, 95 Franklin Street, Buffalo, NY (Room 604) or can be downloaded from the County's website at Click on "County Departments and Agencies", then "Erie County Civil Service." This examination is prepared and rated by the New York State Department of Civil Service, and held in compliance with the New York State Civil Service Law and the rules and regulations of the New York State Department of Civil Service. NA

Created: 2024-10-19