The Environmental Analyst III serves as a Senior Scientist in the Bureau of Environmental Health's Environmental Toxicology Program. Under the supervision of the Regulatory and Translational Science Unit Chief and the direction of the Environmental Toxicology Program Director, this individual will be responsible for ensuring that quality systems (consistent with ISO/IEC 17025) are implemented in laboratories registering with, or providing services to the Commonwealth. The private testing services may include the laboratory analyses of cannabis or various environmental media.
Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, reviewing of laboratory standard operating procedures; providing technical assistance to private and government laboratories (or consultants) in meeting established testing standards, scheduling, planning and conducting laboratory visits; notifying lab(s) of pending visits, audits or inspections; publishing reports; communicating visit/audit/inspection outcomes to supervisors and senior leadership; reviewing responses; closing audits; and following up on corrective action.
The individual will also assist in marijuana product surveillance activities and the interpretation and translation of technical analytical toxicology data. The incumbent will assist in preparing draft responses to technical inquiries from analytical testing laboratories, industry representatives, and consumers. The Environmental Analyst III will provide technical consultation on reports of environmental contaminants in cannabis or environmental media. This position requires occasional travel to laboratories but is not a laboratory-based or “bench” position as this individual will not be performing day-to-day functions in a laboratory setting. The individual may also represent the Environmental Toxicology Program at related meetings, as requested. Travel to various locations in Massachusetts in support of the above mentioned responsibilities may be required, and occasional travel to evening meetings or overnight travel may be necessary.
Detailed Statement of Duties and Responsibilities:
- Evaluates complex environmental chemical, microscopic, cultural, biochemical and immunologic data packages that identify bacteria of clinical and public health importance.
- Participates in the formulation, development, and implementation of new procedures and policies; collaborates with other groups and departments, including various local, state and federal agencies.
- Supervises, plans, and coordinates the work of analysts assigned to the Environmental Toxicology Program.
- Participates in activities of the Environmental Toxicology program relating to interpretation of analytical laboratory testing.
- Serves as a technical liaison with private laboratories and vendors working with the private laboratories.
- Develops and maintains a computer-based program to track testing data.
- Oversees the development and implementation of new laboratory procedures or practices, and recommends changes as appropriate.
- Analyze quality control data and recommend operational strategies for dealing with compliance and enforcement to protect public health.
- Participates in the development and implementation of enhancements to the laboratory information system.
- Determines enforcement action and corrective measures to be taken when violations of policy or regulations are discovered.
- Advises legal staff on technical matters.
- Inspects consultant work tasks.
- Trains staff, and reviews and evaluates staff performance.
- Reviews testing for accuracy and timeliness.
Qualification Preferred at Hire:
- Knowledge of the principles and practices of environmental science and public health.
- Knowledge of the principles and practice of probability and statistics.
- Knowledge of the terminology and standard abbreviations used in environmental science and public health.
- Knowledge of the principles and techniques of toxicology including risk analysis.
- Knowledge of the types and uses of toxicological testing techniques and procedures.
- Knowledge of the properties and characteristics of carcinogens, mutagens, teratogens and other toxicological agents.
- Knowledge of the types and uses of instruments and equipment, both portable and stationary, used in environmental testing.
- Knowledge of the environmental properties of contaminants including the transmissivity, bacteriological activity.
- Knowledge of the methods of environmental testing including chemical content, and trace metals analysis.
- Knowledge of the entry and fate of toxicants in the human body.
- Ability to prepare technical and general reports.
- Ability to write concisely, express thoughts clearly and to develop ideas in a logical sequence.
- Ability to analyze and determine the applicability of environmental science data, to draw conclusions and make appropriate recommendations.
Mission Statement:
The mission of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is to prevent illness, injury, and premature death, to assure access to high quality public health and health care services, and to promote wellness and health equity for all people in the Commonwealth.
We envision a Commonwealth in which all people enjoy optimal health. Massachusetts ranks among the healthiest of states according to comparative analyses, but we face numerous challenges, including chronic and infectious disease, substance abuse, violence, preventable hospitalizations, and health disparities.
DPH coordinates programs and policies to address specific diseases and conditions and offer services to address the needs of vulnerable populations. We also develop, implement, promote, and enforce regulations and policies to assure that the conditions under which people live are most conducive to health and enable people to make healthy choices for themselves and their families. We license health professionals, healthcare facilities and a variety of businesses that impact public health. We operate the state laboratory and four public health hospitals. We monitor health status and manage vital records including births, marriages and deaths. We educate people about public health issues and work closely with local boards of health and community partners to identify and solve public health problems.
Pre-Hire Process:
A criminal background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services prior to the candidate being hired. For more information, please visit http://www.mass.gov/hhs/cori
Education, licensure and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines.
Education and license/certification information provided by the selected candidate(s) is subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law and may be published on the Commonwealth’s website.
For questions, please contact Health Human Resources at 1-800-850-6968.
Qualifications
First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.
Minimum Entrance Requirements:
Applicants must have at least (A) four years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, technical or professional experience in the field of environmental science, biology, chemistry, earth science, environmental health, meteorology, natural science, toxicology or public health, of which (B) at least two years must have been in a professional capacity, or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and the substitutions below.
Substitutions:
I. An Associate's degree with a major in the field of environmental science, biology, chemistry, earth science, environmental health, meteorology,. natural science, toxicology or public health may be substituted for a maximum of one year of the required (A) experience.*
II. A Bachelor's degree with a major in the field of environmental science, biology, chemistry, earth science, environmental health, meteorology, natural science, toxicology or public health may be substituted for a maximum of two years of the required (A) experience.*
III. A Graduate degree with a major in the field of environmental science, biology, chemistry, earth science, environmental health, meteorology, natural science, toxicology or public health may be substituted for a maximum of three years of the required (A) experience and one year of the required (B) experience.*
- Education toward such a degree will be prorated on the basis of the proportion of the requirements actually completed.
NOTE: Educational substitutions will only be permitted for a maximum of one year of the required (B) experience.