Chemist II

Chemist II

Salary

$63,337.00 - $82,416.00 Annually

Location

Richland County, SC

Job Type

FTE - Full-Time

Job Number

61010042/194768

Agency

Department of Environmental Services

Division

Bureau of Regional and Laboratory Services

Opening Date

10/30/2026

Closing Date

11/8/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

Class Code:

ED12

Position Number:

61010042/194768

Normal Work Schedule:

Monday - Friday (8:30 - 5:00)

Pay Grade

GEN10

Hiring Range - Min.

$63,337.00

Hiring Range - Max.

$82,416.00

EEO Statement

Equal Opportunity Employer

Agency Specific Application Procedures:

If you meet the requirements of the position and would like to be considered, you must submit a state application online. Please complete the state application to include all current and previous work history and education. A resume will not be accepted nor reviewed to determine if an applicant has met the qualifications for the position. The quality of the application presented (completeness and accuracy as well as grammar and spelling) will be considered prior to the offer of an interview. A criminal records check will be conducted prior to an offer of employment. Applications will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on the stated closing date.

Veteran Preference Statement

South Carolina is making our Veterans a priority for employment in state agencies and institutions.

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Job Responsibilities

Careers at SCDES: Where Passion Meets Preservation

Do you love South Carolina and protecting the environment?

Come join our team at SCDES, put your passion to work with us!

We are dedicated to protecting the state of South Carolina and we would love to have you as a member of our team!

Science | Service | Sustainability

About the Role:

Join the Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory's Metals Section as a Chemist II and help protect the health and environment of South Carolina. Working within the Bureau of Regional and Laboratory Services, you will prepare and process samples, conduct quality control tasks, maintain instrumentation, and ensure the delivery of accurate analytical data in accordance with approved methods and protocols. Your work supports reliable, defensible results essential to environmental monitoring and regulatory compliance across South Carolina.

Job Responsibilities:

• Operate and maintain analytical instrumentation to include analyses of various sample matrices for metals by Graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (GFAAS), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Participate in peer review of data generated in the Metals laboratory.
• Perform maintenance on all instruments that the analyst is responsible for and assist other analysts as needed with shared duties, including but not limited to, morning and afternoon temperature checks, daily balance checks, routine maintenance on deionized water systems and dishwasher systems, and the preparation of wash and preservative acids.
• Perform the preparative and interpretative phases of the analysis process to include, but not limited to, preparing calibration standards, spike solutions, reagents, and cleaning the laboratory. Interpret, calculate, and record data. Ensure supportive QC functions are performed.
• Digest metals samples in preparation for analysis; check pH of samples and perform turbidity screening upon receipt; discard expired samples according to the sections waste management plan.
• Serve as backup as needed for Mercury section.
• Review SCDES Standard Operating Procedures and its reference methods annually, updating SOPs as needed.
• Prepare for and participate in emergency response as required.
• Ensure safe work practices by attending all safety meetings, completing annual review of the safety manual, and adhering to the safety policies as prescribed by the Building Safety Manual and the Agency.
• Perform other duties as required, including attending periodic staff meetings and participating in training.

Why Join Us?

As a state employee, you'll enjoy:

• Job Stability & Purposeful Work: Make an impact on your community as you contribute to protecting SCS environment
• Great Benefits: Including paid holidays, 30 total days of leave per year, insurance options for you and your family and retirement benefit choices.
• Career Growth: Ongoing training, professional development, and a clear path for advancement.
• Work-Life Balance: A career that lets you enjoy South Carolina, inside and outside of your job.

Minimum and Additional Requirements

• A master's degree in chemistry; OR
• A bachelor's degree in chemistry and one (1) year of chemistry experience; OR
• A bachelor's degree in the natural or physical sciences with 16 semester hours in chemistry and two (2) years of laboratory experience.
• Relevant degree fields include but are not limited to branches relating to Physics, Chemistry, Biology, etc.

Institutions of Higher Learning must be recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

Applicants indicating college credit or degree(s) on the application are encouraged to upload an unofficial copy of the transcript as an attachment to the application. Please note that the agency may require an official, certified copy of the transcript or diploma prior to hiring.

Additional Requirements:

• Experience in a laboratory setting related to the area of employment, including experience in operating, maintaining, and interpreting results from advanced analytical instrumentation such as gas or liquid chromatographs and associated data systems.
• Experience with general instrumentation software and Microsoft Office applications.
• Must have a valid driver's license, 10-year driving record that complies with State and Agency Fleet guidelines, and the ability to drive Agency vehicles.
• Must be able to occasionally travel overnight for training and emergency response purposes.
• Must be able to perform scientific mathematical calculations, highly complex tasks, and maintain accurate records.
• Ability to communicate effectively with peers, other scientists, and service engineers.
• Skilled in prioritizing tasks and managing time effectively.
• Must maintain strict adherence to approved methods and standard operating procedures for the proper collection of quality and technically defensible data.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment:

• Ability to move and change 150-pound gas cylinders using a hand truck.
• Must adhere to all safety requirements, including wearing required safety equipment such as eye protection, laboratory coats, and nitrile gloves to assure the safe handling of commonly used laboratory chemicals.
• Ability to stand for long periods of time and lift at least 50 lbs. to countertop level.
• Able to perform occasional work outdoors in various weather conditions.
• This position involves safely working with various types of glassware, the physical shaking of samples, the performance of repetitive tasks, and meticulous attention to detail.
• The workplace exposure to chemicals of record will be kept below the published OSHA thresholds through the use of administrative and engineering controls, specialized PPE, and appropriate adjustments in job assignments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Work experience in an inorganic chemistry laboratory setting.
• Previous work experience with GFAAS, ICP, ICP-OES, ICP-MS and/or metals digestion.
• Familiarity with environmental laboratory protocols and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and data management skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Additional Comments

• This position may be required work outside of normal hours or weekends in emergency situations.
• Transcript: A transcript (unofficial or official) for relevant degree(s) MUST be included with application. Please note that the agency will require an official, certified copy or the transcript prior to hiring.

SCDES is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, including, but not limited, to lactation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.

The Department will not sponsor H1B visas for this position.

The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services offers an exceptional benefits package for full time (FTE) employees:

• Health, dental, vision, long-term disability, and life insurance for employees, spouse, and children. Click here for additional information.

• 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year

• 15 days sick leave per year

• 13 paid holidays

• Paid parental leave

• S.C. Deferred Compensation Program available (S.C. Deferred Compensation)

• Retirement benefit choices *

• State Retirement Plan (SCRS)

• State Optional Retirement Program (State ORP)

• Remote Work: The option to work remotely 2 days per week is available after successful completion of 1 year of employment with SCDES, based on job functions.

• Enrollment in one of the listed plans is required for all FTE employees; please refer to the contribution section of hyperlinked retirement sites for the current contribution rate of gross pay.

Benefits for State Employees

The state of South Carolina offers eligible employees generous benefits, including health and dental insurance; retirement and savings plan options; and paid vacation and sick leave. Plus, work-life balance programs such as telecommuting and flexible work schedules are available to employees of some state agencies.

Insurance Benefits

Eligible employees may enroll in health insurance, which includes prescription coverage and wellness benefits. Other available insurance benefits include dental, vision, term life insurance, long term disability and flexible spending accounts for health and child care expenses.

Retirement Benefits

State employees are also offered retirement plan options, including defined benefit and defined contribution plans. Additionally, eligible employees may elect to participate in the South Carolina Deferred Compensation Program, which is a voluntary, supplemental retirement savings plan offering 401(k) and 457 plan options.

Workplace Benefits

State employees may also be eligible for other benefits, including tuition assistance; holiday, annual and sick leave; and discounts on purchases, travel and more.

Note: The benefits above are available to most state employees, with the exception of those in temporary positions. Employees in temporary grant and time-limited positions may be eligible for all, some or none of these benefits as benefits are associated with each position type. For these positions, contact the hiring agency to determine what benefits may be available.

01

Supplemental questions are considered part of your official application. Any misrepresentation will result in your disqualification from employment. Please complete the state application to include all current and previous work history and education. A resume will not be accepted or reviewed to determine if an applicant has met the qualifications for the position. I have read and acknowledge the above statement.

• Yes
• No

02

Will you now or in the future require SCDES sponsorship for employment visa status?

• Yes
• No

03

Are you a current or previous SCDHEC or SCDES employee?

• Yes
• No

04

Please select which description best describes your level of experience as it pertains to the minimum requirements for this position. Please note, relevant degree fields include but are not limited to branches relating to Physics, Chemistry, Biology, etc.

• I have a master's degree in chemistry.
• I have a bachelor's degree in chemistry and one (1) year of chemistry/laboratory work experience.
• I have a bachelor's degree in the natural or physical sciences with 16 semester hours in chemistry and two (2) years of chemistry/laboratory work experience.
• My qualifications do not meet the minimum requirements for this position.

05

The hiring range for this position is $63,337.00 - $82,416.00. This position will be offered at the lower end of this hiring range. If selected and offered this position, are you willing to accept the salary at the lower end of this agency hiring range?

• Yes
• No

06

Are you able to meet the requirement to work with various chemicals, including concentrated acids and chlorinated solvents such as Methylene Chloride?

• Yes
• No

07

Please note that this position will require strict adherence to approved methods and standard operating procedures for the proper collection of quality and legally defensible data. Can you consistently maintain this adherence?

• Yes
• No

08

Are you able to meet the requirement of moving and changing 150-pound gas cylinders with the use of a hand truck?

• Yes
• No

09

This is a laboratory position that involves safely working with various types of glassware, the performance of repetitive tasks, and meticulous attention to detail. Are you able to comply with these tasks?

• Yes
• No

10

Do you have experience with any type of analytical instrumentation? If yes, please list the instruments.

11

Have you provided a complete work history, including contact information, in your application? Incomplete applications will not be considered.

• Yes
• No

12

An unofficial transcript(s) is required as an attachment to the application in order to be considered for an interview. Please confirm that you have uploaded your transcript and that you understand that we will not be able to move forward with consideration if one is not attached.

• Yes
• No

13

Please note that, prior to possible selection for this position, candidates will have to attend an in-person interview. Please note that the State of South Carolina will not be responsible for any expenses incurred to attend this interview. I have read and acknowledge the above statement.

• Yes
• No

Required Question

Employer State of South Carolina

Agency Department of Environmental Services Address 2600 Bull Street

Columbia, South Carolina, 29201

Phone 803-898-2687

The language used in this document does not create an employment contract between the employee and the agency. This document does not create any contractual rights or entitlements. The agency reserves the right to revise the content of this document, in whole or in part. No promises or assurances, whether written or oral, which are contrary to or inconsistent with the terms of this paragraph create any contract of employment.