Job Description:
SUMMARY
The Department of Natural Resources and Culture (DNRC) mission is to
research, monitor, assess, manage, conserve, protect, enhance,
utilize, and restore the cultural and natural resources within the
Tribes’ area of interest. Natural resources are cultural resources,
and many of the Tribe’s values, meanings, and identities are closely
linked with features of this landscape. The environmental programs
within the DNRC work to support monitoring for the health and
protection of these resources and the landscape. DNRC staff implement
various plans for monitoring of baseline environmental trends and
investigate pollution due to spills, disturbance, climate change,
ocean acidification, etc., undertake damage assessments, and implement
restoration and effectiveness monitoring where possible. Staff work
collaboratively to merge western science and indigenous knowledge
through various programs for the benefit of Tribal membership and
future generations.
The Environmental Testing Laboratory houses a multitude of analytical
capabilities that support environmental monitoring for public health,
as well as cultural resource protection. The laboratory program
supports government functions, including waste water treatment,
forensic testing, public health, museum collections evaluation,
cultural resource evaluation, brownfields evaluation, and more. The
laboratory is also working towards ISO 17025.
The Quality Assurance Specialist will support the implementation and
integration of the Tribes’ environmental programs, specifically in the
Tribe’s Environmental Testing Laboratory Quality Assurance / Quality
Control (QA/QC) compliance. This position will primarily be
responsible for maintaining the Laboratory’s Quality Management
System, all laboratory QA/QC activities, and building accreditation
for the laboratory to ISO 17025. The position will also be required to
implement and coordinate procurement for laboratory needs, implement
health and safety procedures, and support grant administration.
PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
- Work as part of a team to implement the Tribes’ Environmental
Programs, through guidance from the EPA Tribal Environmental Plan.
- Maintain the Laboratory’s Quality Management System
- Draft, update, revise, and maintain the Laboratory’s Quality
Assurance Plan, Standard Operating Procedures, batch forms,
quality assurance project plans, and other quality documents.
- Perform internal audits of the Laboratory, including both
technical and quality systems audits.
- Perform and document corrective action, including follow-up
monitoring to gauge the effectiveness of the corrective action.
- Coordinate and conduct health and safety trainings for all
relevant staff, including for laboratory technicians, Safety
Committee, and first responders
- Maintain training records for all laboratory staff
- Organize and maintain digital and hardcopy quality documents
- QA/QC laboratory activities
- Ensure compliance with SOP implementation for all laboratory activities
- Perform all QAQC procedures for analytical tests
- Coordinate calibration of all testing equipment and sample
processing equipment, including thermometers, balances, fume
hood, incubators, etc.
- Track and control chemicals and reagents, traceability records
- Review reports of analytical results for contracts
- Facilitate validation of new methods, protocols, and equipment
- Administration
- Coordinate with Finance Department for insurance coverage for
the facility, equipment, and capital assets
- Implement and coordinate procurement of testing supplies,
review and validate suppliers, according to internal Finance
Procurement Policy
- Communicate with partners, Tribal community members, staff,
and others about laboratory needs and services via email,
telephone, website, and other forms of outreach
- Assist in grant applications, grant reporting, and contract
development and implementation.
- Undertake trainings to expand expertise and maintain credentials
- Work with environmental program staff to update relevant
components of the EPA-Tribal Environmental Plan (as needed).
- Assist program education and outreach activities as requested.
- Work various special projects as assigned by the Director or the
Chief Executive Officer.
- Requires the ability to communicate effectively with federal,
state, county, and local governments, and the ability to work well
with Tribal members, the general public, private landowners, and
stakeholder organizations in a courteous, professional, and
efficient manner.
- Must be able to effectively communicate with people having various
levels of understanding of pure and applied sciences environmental
protection, and cultural resources.
LEVEL OF AUTHORITY & RESTRICTIONS
- No supervisory authority.
PHYSICAL & MENTAL DEMANDS
- Requires the ability to manage moderate levels of stress arising
from schedules, workload, diverse or adversarial stakeholders, etc.
- Must be able to walk, talk, hear, use hands to handle, feel or
operate objects, tools, or controls, and reach with hands and arms.
- Vision abilities required by this job include close vision,
distant vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
- Must be required to push, pull, lift, and/or carry up to 50 pounds.
WORKING CONDITIONS & ENVIRONMENT
- Work effectively in a team environment with a diverse variety of
technical, professional, and administrative staff.
- Work effectively in a negotiating environment where others may
have diverse and competing interests and may be uncooperative or adversarial.
- The noise level in the work environment is usually moderately quiet.
- Requires occasionally irregular working schedules evening and
weekend meetings, out-of-area travel for meetings, conferences,
workshops, trainings, etc.
MINIMUM JOB REQUIREMENTS
- Must be at least 18 years of age.
- Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry, Biology, or other related field
- Minimum 1 year of laboratory or GMP quality assurance OR minimum
of 2 years previous experience in a laboratory environment
- Experience with health and safety in laboratory environment
- Experience with ISO standards, ASTM standards
- Ability to perform repeated, redundant steps
- Analytical and problem-solving abilities
- Effective communication both orally and in writing including
technical, regulatory, and persuasive writing skills.
- Strong attention to detail
- positive attitude, strong initiative
- Ability to adapt and drive change
- Must be proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.
- Must maintain professionalism in absolutely all interactions.
- Must possess reasonable ability to communicate in English.
- This is a Covered position and is subject to pre-employment drug
testing and criminal history background check, which includes fingerprinting.
- Must have employment eligibility in the United States.
- Maintain appearance standards as outlined in CTCLUSI policies.
- Indian preference will be observed in the hiring process.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Working knowledge of grant management requirements including
working within the limitations of grant work plans and budgets.
- Working knowledge of Treatment in the Same Manner as a State (TAS)
which permits several federal environmental laws to be implemented
and managed by tribal environmental programs.
- Working knowledge of Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act.
JOB LOCATION
Tribal Administrative Office
1245 Fulton Avenue
Coos
Bay, Oregon 97420
Apply online @
www.ctclusi.org
Open until Filled
