Analytical Chemist – Mobile Laboratory

Analytical Chemist – Mobile Laboratory (The position has been filled)

• Use Your Analytical Chemistry Knowledge within Defence
• Facilitate the Operation of a Mobile Testing Laboratory
• Opportunity to Work Alongside Australia’s Top Scientists

 

THE CLIENT

The Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) is part of the Australian Department of Defence and dedicated to providing science and technology support for Australia’s defence and national security needs. DSTG is a national leader in safeguarding Australia by delivering valued scientific advice and innovative solutions.

 

THE ROLE

This role is ideal for individuals who like to explore and travel our great country while doing science! You will be required to travel on rotation, up to 10 days at a time for the duration of your employment in this role, as DSTG’s testing sites are located across the country. When not working interstate, testing activities will also be conducted in laboratories located at the Fishermans Bend site in Melbourne.

These are full-time roles that will ideally commence in July 2020 and is initially for 12 months, which DSTG has made provision for two options to extend for up to 12 months each. Benefits of employment under a fixed-term tenure by CS Executive Group include paid annual leave, sick leave, and public holidays. Alternatively, under a contract based solely on hours worked and forgoing paid leave entitlements, a higher hourly rate of pay can be provided through casual employment.

The Hazard Management Team within the Land Divison of DSTG requires two Analytical Chemists with GC-MS & LC-MS experience to provide support to the Defence External Sites Investigation Program, which is managed by the Directorate of Chemical Assessment, Remediation, and Management (DCARM). The program will be examining sites around Australia for potential contamination by chemical weapons or their degradation products. To facilitate this a mobile laboratory will provide the on-site capability to analyse soil samples.

The Analytical Chemists employed shall be required to travel throughout Australia and conduct work in remote localities. Up to a fortnight at a time will be spent interstate whilst conducting on-site testing within the mobile laboratory.

Accordingly, we are looking for two people with practical experience in the preparation, analysis, and characterisation of environmental samples and who have a demonstrated ability to work in a safe manner with hazardous chemicals. Given the analytical activities are to be conducted within a mobile laboratory, it shall be essential for applicants to have a proven capability to operate and maintain analytical instrumentation. Individuals applying must be willing to work within and adhere to the requirements of activities covered by a NATA scope of accreditation.

Ultimately, supporting the operation of a fully self-contained mobile laboratory, you will need to be competent in conducting the sample preparation and chemical analysis and characterisation of various environmental matrices (e.g., soil, water, sludges).

 

Some of the tasks associated with this role include:

• Assist in the development of analytical methods and quality system suitable for DSTG’s purposes;

• Carry out analysis of environmental samples on an as-supplied basis—both in the laboratories at DSTG and in a mobile laboratory;

• Manage day-to-day operation, calibration, and maintenance of analytical instrumentation, which includes those provisions deemed necessary when situated in a remote location;

• Record all results correctly and efficiently in the laboratory book supplied by DSTG;

• Follow all necessary protocols for the safe handling of potentially highly toxic materials; and

• Provide reports on the results of analyses that are in accordance with DSTG’s Quality Management System and meet NATA’s requirements for all ISO/IEC 17025 accredited testing activities.

The nature of this work shall require successful candidates to undergo significant induction training, which will include the use and handling of different chemicals. And, given the nature of the testing activities, be prepared to undergo security vetting to obtain a Negative Vetting 1 security clearance.

 

SELECTION CRITERIA

To be considered eligible for this opportunity: –

YOU MUST BE
AN AUSTRALIAN CITIZEN

NOTE: If you only have permanent residence or a visa affording you the right to work in this country then you cannot be considered for shortlisting

Additionally, eligible applicants shall also need to address CS Executive Group’s selection criteria:

• A tertiary qualification in Analytical Chemistry or a similar degree with significant relevant hands-on experience;
• Substantial hands-on experience working in a chemistry laboratory with a demonstrated repertoire of wet chemistry and analytical chemistry techniques;
• Familiarity with tandem chromatographic/mass spectrometric techniques, which extends to basic maintenance of the GC-MS & LC-MS systems and troubleshooting of such instrumentation;
• Competence in the handling of hazardous and Dangerous Goods chemicals, including considerations associated with their storage and correct disposal measures;
• Capability to perform complex environmental analyses, which includes their experimental design and set-up, and associated planning/organisational skills necessary for timely and accurate reporting of the results of analysing as-suppled samples;
• Preparedness to spend a couple of weeks at a time away from home working within the confines of a mobile laboratory, as necessary to provide on-site testing capabilities; and
• MUST be willing to obtain an AGSVA security clearance to the level of Negative Vetting Level 1.

Applicants being considered by CS Executive Group for shortlisting for this role will be asked to complete our formal selection criteria, which shall incorporate your responses to the above plus several additional questions.

APPLICATIONS

To have a confidential discussion about these contract positions, please SMS/call: –

Jovana (Jo) Sobat on 0411 197 171
or
Daniel (Dan) Turner on 0415 573 220

Alternatively, you can reach us via email:

[email protected]

Please make use of the following reference in any communication about this job advert: –

CHEMSCI0420

To apply, please click the “Apply Now” button to send your resume and a cover letter to CS Executive Group.

THANK YOU

CS Executive Group would like to thank you in advance for taking the time to apply for this role. Unfortunately, due to the large volume of correspondence received on a daily basis, we genuinely cannot respond to each application—only those applicants being considered for shortlisting as candidates are contacted.

However, if on this occasion you’re unsuccessful, please note your details will be added to our Talent Pool database.