Chemical/Material Analyst 1 - Pesticide Analyst

We at the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) take our responsibilities to you very seriously and are committed to protecting and promoting Georgia's agriculture through superior service and leadership.

·         The mission of the GDA is to protect consumers, promote agriculture locally and globally, and assist our customers using education, technology, and a professional workforce.

·         The vision of the GDA is to continue to be a globally recognized leader in agricultural excellence through a commitment to safety, quality, growth, and innovation.

Position Overview:

The Pesticide Laboratory is located in Tifton, Georgia, and is a part of the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s Laboratory Division.

·         The Pesticide laboratory is responsible for the testing of pesticide residues in food, pesticide formulations, pesticide complaint samples, and other pesticide samples for the State of Georgia.

·         This is entry-level professional work in the field of analytical chemistry.

·         Employees in this class perform routine chemical analyses on a variety of samples in support of regulatory, environmental, agricultural, and consumer protection programs.

·         Work is performed under close supervision with assignments that are limited in scope and complexity.

·         Employees receive detailed instructions and guidance from higher-level analysts or supervisors and are gradually given increasing responsibility as knowledge and skills are acquired.

Job Responsibilities & Responsibilities:

• Prepares and processes samples for analysis, including homogenization, extraction, digestion, dilution, and cleanup according to established standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Performs routine chemical analyses using laboratory instrumentation, including:
  • Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS)
  • Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS)
  • Inductively Coupled Plasma–Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)
  • High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with UV/Visible Detection (HPLC-UV/Vis)
  • Gas Chromatography with Flame Ionization Detection (GC-FID)
• Assists with calibration, verification, and quality control procedures to ensure proper instrument function and compliance with laboratory standards.
• Conducts preliminary review of analytical data for accuracy, precision, and adherence to quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) requirements.
• Performs routine maintenance and basic troubleshooting on analytical instruments and associated systems.
• Maintains accurate records of sample handling, chain of custody, instrument performance, and analytical results in accordance with laboratory policies.
• Assists higher-level analysts in method development, validation, and optimization for chromatographic and mass spectrometry methods.
• Follows laboratory safety policies, chemical hygiene plans, and applicable regulatory guidelines.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers and supervisors.
• Performs related work as required.
• Will be required to successfully complete safety training and instrument-specific training before certain operations.

Other duties as assigned

Physical Demands:

·         Standing for long periods of time

·         Intermittent periods of walking

·         Must be able to lift 50lbs.

Preferred Qualifications:

·         Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology, Environmental Science, or a related field.

·         Knowledge of basic principles of chemistry and analytical techniques.

·         Knowledge of laboratory safety practices and procedures.

·         Ability to perform accurate and precise measurements and calculations.

·         Experience with and/or knowledge of analytical instrumentation, i.e., Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry and Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry.

NOTE: The Georgia Department of Agriculture conducts background checks on all final candidates.  The hiring of applicants is contingent upon satisfactory results of employment verification, background and criminal records investigations, and motor vehicle reports.

Please note: Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to respond to phone/email inquiries regarding application status. Only candidates selected to move forward in the hiring process will be contacted.

HOW TO APPLY:  Resumes may be submitted by adding to your profile in Team Georgia Careers.

·        Via Team Georgia Careers http://team.georgia.gov/careers/

The GDA is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. All qualified applicants will be considered, but may not necessarily receive an interview. Due to the large volume of submissions received by this office, information concerning application and/or interview status cannot be provided.  Selected applicants will be contacted for the next steps in the interview process.  Applicants who are not selected will not receive notification. 

If you need accommodation, please contact the Human Resources Office at (404) 656-3615.

** The position will be closed once a suitable candidate is identified *