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Lead Shellfish Biotoxin Chemist

Internal Number: DOH8925

As the Lead Shellfish Biotoxin Chemist, you will lead laboratory testing that helps protect people from exposure to harmful toxins and contaminants in shellfish harvested from Washington waters. This role serves as the technical lead for the Biotoxin Laboratory within the Public Health Laboratories, overseeing the analysis of shellfish samples, maintaining laboratory quality systems, and ensuring compliance with state and federal regulatory requirements.

You will coordinate daily laboratory operations, provide technical leadership to chemists and laboratory technicians, and perform complex chemical analyses using advanced instrumentation, including HPLC, HPLC-MS/MS, and ICP-MS. You will also oversee quality assurance activities, troubleshoot analytical and operational challenges, validate laboratory methods, review and approve analytical results, and maintain laboratory procedures and documentation.

The work performed in this role directly supports Washington's shellfish safety monitoring system. Laboratory results are used by public health and regulatory partners to make decisions that prevent the harvest and distribution of toxic shellfish, helping protect consumers in Washington and wherever Washington-grown shellfish products are distributed.

  • Option 1: Eight (8) years of laboratory experience performing analytical chemistry or environmental laboratory testing using advanced laboratory instrumentation such as HPLC, LC-MS/MS, or ICP-MS.
  • Option 2: Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, the physical sciences, or a related laboratory sciencewith a minimum of thirty (30) semester hours or forty-five (45) quarter hours of college level chemistry; AND four (4) years of laboratory experience performing analytical chemistry or environmental laboratory testing using advanced laboratory instrumentation such as HPLC, LC-MS/MS, or ICP-MS.
  • A Master's degree in a field listed in option 2 AND three (3) years of experience listed in option 2
  • A PhD in a field listed in option 2 AND two (2) years of experience as listed in option 2.

AND the following experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities:

  • Experience performing analytical chemistry testing in a regulated laboratory environment.
  • Experience operating and troubleshooting analytical instrumentation such as HPLC, LC-MS/MS, or ICP-MS.
  • Experience reviewing laboratory analytical and quality control data.
  • Knowledge of laboratory quality assurance, quality control, and safety practices.
  • Skilled in developing and following laboratory standard operating procedures.
  • Ability to communicate technical laboratory information clearly and effectively.
About Washington State Department of Health
Our programs and services help prevent illness and injury, promote healthy places to live and work, provide information to help people make good health decisions and ensure our state is prepared for emergencies. To accomplish all of these, we collaborate with many partners every day.We help ensure a safer and healthier Washington by:Working to improve health through disease and injury prevention, immunization, and newborn screeningProviding health and safety information, education and training so people can make healthy choicesPromoting a health and wellness system where we live, learn, work, play and worshipAddressing environmental health hazards associated with drinking water, food, air quality and pesticide exposureProtecting you and your family by licensing healthcare professionals, investigating disease outbreaks and preparing for emergencies
Connections working at Washington State Department of Health
More Jobs from This Employer
https://govphcareers.astho.org/jobs/22338672/lead-shellfish-biotoxin-chemist

Date Posted
06/09/2026
Job Reference
22338672
Organization
Washington State Department of Health
Location
Shoreline, WA
Category
Chemistry
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