Position: Laboratory Technician III

Status: Full-time Regular, 12-month, Exempt

Department: Adirondack Watershed Institute (AWI)

Reports to: Laboratory Manager

Salary: $58,500/year

The Adirondack Watershed Institute is a program of Paul Smith’s College, a private undergraduate college located in the heart of the Adirondack Park in upstate New York. The mission of AWI is to protect clean water, conserve habitat and support the health and well-being of people in the Adirondacks through scientific inquiry, stewardship, and real-world experiences for students.

Description: The Laboratory Technician III is a critical mid-level position within AWI. This position serves as a primary analyst in the environmental research lab, ensuring that scientific laboratory samples are processed efficiently through the lab.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Ensure timely preparation, processing, and analysis of environmental samples.

• Serve as lead analyst for select parameters.

• Enter laboratory data into AWI’s Laboratory Information Management System.

• Compile analytical data packages and assist with reviews.

• Initiate corrective action and participate in root cause analysis.

• Assist Laboratory Director and Laboratory Manager with data reporting and delivery to clients.

• Contribute to the development of new laboratory methods and documents for ELAP/NELAC certification.

• Troubleshoot analytical problems and identify solutions.

• Proactively enhance existing laboratory methods, such as improving method performance or reducing run times (e.g. increase method performance, or decrease method run times).

• Oversee maintenance of laboratory equipment to include cleaning lab work area, dishes, chemical inventory, calibration, and instruments.

• Adhere to safety and quality assurance protocols, train seasonal employees and oversee their work to ensure that their work is adhering to standard operating procedures.

• Support the development and improvement of laboratory methods. Create and update laboratory standard operating procedures as needed.

• Assist in maintenance of the laboratory information management system (LIMS). Ensure data results are accurate and investigate irregularities. Prepare data for final review. Guarantee analysis and reporting is completed in a timely manner.

• Assist the Laboratory Director overseeing and maintaining the Environmental Research Laboratory Quality Assurance Management System to NYS DOH ELAP standards, including the review of analytical runs and data packages.

• Support annual quality assurance audits, oversight of staff demonstration of capability, oversight of lab proficiency testing, the laboratory corrective action system.

• Contribute data for dissemination through annual reports, research publications, and presentations.

• Contribute expertise to new project development.

• Support field work as needed, including the operation of PSCAWI motor vehicles.

• Perform other tasks as assigned to support AWI’s mission.

Qualifications:

• A Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, chemistry, biology, or related field.

• Two years of experience conducting lab analysis and one year serving as a lab analyst in an ELAP/NELAC certified laboratory.

• Ability to work with a broad range of diverse individuals and groups to form a safe and inclusive workplace.

• Familiarity with analytical methods and wet chemistry techniques.

• Ability to calibrate and operate the following instruments indepdently: ICP-OES, FIA-IC, TOC/N, pH/Cond, multiprobe data sondes.

• Ability to work autonomously and proactively.

• Strong computer and data entry skills, particularly with spreadsheet, database, and instrumentation software.

• High level of attention to detail.

• Offer effective problem-solving abilities.

• Ability to work in inclement weather, both on and off the water.

• Hold and maintain a New York State Driver’s license and driving record acceptable to the College’s insurance carrier.

Paul Smith’s College values diversity in the College community and seeks to assure equal

opportunity through its continued Affirmative Action program. EOE/AA/M/F/D/V