ANALYTICAL CHEMIST SUPERVISOR 53014

12/01/93 B

This is the supervisory level class in the Analytical Chemist series, with positions supervising a chemistry unit in a regulatory, medical, or research laboratory. This class is distinguished from the Analytical Chemist Senior class by its responsibility for supervising a chemistry unit of a laboratory. It is distinguished from the Analytical Chemist Section Chief class by the fact that the Analytical Chemist Section Chief is responsible for managing a chemistry laboratory of statewide scope and work of the complexity and volume to require the assignment of subordinate supervisors. This class is distinguished from the Analytical Chemist Principal by the latter's recognition as the central authority in a particular area of analyses. It is distinguished from the Consolidated Laboratory Group Manager by the latter's responsibility for the management of statewide services requiring a large group of laboratory staff qualified in multiple specializations in the analytical chemistry and/or microbiology fields.

Complexity of Work: Performs work of considerable difficulty, requiring the supervision and coordination of the chemical analysis of diverse samples. The work typically involves supervising and evaluating employees, developing employee performance standards and objectives, and recommending hiring and disciplinary actions; providing technical guidance to staff; supervising the training of staff; supervising and participating in unit quality assurance/quality control programs and safety programs; researching and evaluating new or revised methodologies; conducting non-routine, routine, and quality control analyses; supervising special studies/ projects; reviewing test results and quality control data; supervising and participating in troubleshooting; supervising the maintenance and repair of instrumentation; ordering and controlling inventories of supplies and equipment; recommending staffing and equipment needs; providing reports on sample workload to managers; and ensuring proper sample handling to maintain chain of custody of test samples. Positions may be called on to testify in a court of law, either civil or criminal, concerning results of analyses.

Supervision Given: Supervises Analytical Chemists Senior, Analytical Chemists, Analytical Chemist Assistants, or other professional laboratory personnel.

Supervision Received: General direction is received from an Analytical Chemist Section Chief or other higher level technical or administrative position. Positions are expected to independently supervise their units, consulting with supervisors in unusual situations.

Scope: Work affects the ability of a chemistry unit to provide accurate and reliable data to regulatory agencies, medical facilities, and research organizations.

Impact of Actions: Work has a serious impact in that decisions affect the timeliness and quality of the analytical support provided to client groups.

Personal Contacts: Frequent contact with regulatory agencies, researchers, research subjects, medical personnel, and industry representatives to obtain and exchange information about technical methodologies, interpret test results, and explain procedures, status of samples, laboratory capabilities, sample techniques, and sample handling and packaging; vendors to discuss new instrumentation or problems with current instrumentation; and the general public to explain test results and analytical procedures.

Knowledge: Considerable knowledge of the theory and application of specialized analytical chemistry methods and instrumentation used to analyze a variety of samples. Considerable knowledge of laboratory administration.

Skills: None identified for this class.

Abilities: Demonstrated ability to plan, direct, train, supervise, and evaluate the work of professional staff; independently conduct complex quantitative and qualitative analyses; operate and troubleshoot complex laboratory instrumentation; record, interpret, and present laboratory findings; and establish and maintain working relationships with regulatory agencies, research scientists, medical personnel, industry representatives, and the general public.

QUALIFICATIONS GUIDE*

License or Certification: None.

Education or Training: Graduation from an accredited college or university with major course work in chemistry or a closely related scientific field supplemented by course work in chemistry.

Level and Type of Experience: Progressively responsible experience conducting routing and non-routine chemical analyses.

An equivalent combination of training and experience indicating possession of the preceding knowledge and abilities may substitute for this education and experience.

This class was developed in January, 1989, as a result of the Classification Review/ Specification Update Project. It replaces the Analytical Chemist B class. The class specification was amended in December, 1993, as a result of the reorganization of the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services.