Air Quality Specialist

Working Title:
Air Quality Environmental Analyst

Job Class:
Laboratory Scientist 2

Agency:
Pollution Control Agency

• Job : 91710
• Location
  :
  St. Paul
• Full/Part Time
  :
  Full-Time
• Regular/Temporary
  :
  Unlimited
• Who May Apply
  :
  Open to all qualified job seekers
• Date Posted
  : 01/28/2026
• Closing Date
  : 02/18/2026
• Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit
  :
  Pollution Control Agency / Pollution Control-MAPE
• Division/Unit
  :
  Environmental Analysis & Outcomes / Air Lab & Mobile Monitoring Unit
• Work Shift/Work Hours
  :
  Day Shift
• Days of Work
  :
  Monday - Friday
• Travel Required
  :
  No
• Salary Range
  : $28.26 - $41.43 / hourly; $59,006 - $86,505 / annually
• Classified Status
  :
  Classified
• Bargaining Unit/Union
  : 214 - MN Assoc of Professional Empl/MAPE
• FLSA Status
  :
  Nonexempt
• Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities:
  Yes

The work you'll do is more than just a job.

At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.

This position exists to work as a general analytical chemist to quantify Particulate Matter (PM), Total Suspended Particulates (TSP), Metals, Carbonyls, and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) in ambient air and is located in the Air Lab and Mobile Monitoring Unit. Duties include sample preparation, sample analysis, data processing, data analysis, interpretation, report generation and submittal. This position is the general analytical chemist responsible for the analysis and reporting of above analytes and serving as critical laboratory redundancy for the Ambient Air Monitoring Program.

Minimum Qualifications

A Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, environmental science, or a closely related field and one (1) year of experience in analyzing samples with analytical instrumentation.

Candidates must have strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively with others across environmental programs and research activities.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency will not sponsor applicants for work visas including F-1 STEM OPT extensions. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. Individuals must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

Preferred Qualification

A Master’s degree in analytical chemistry or a closely related field, or four (4) years of experience in analyzing environmental samples with analytical instrumentation

Experience operating Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry platform(s) coupled to gas delivery systems capable of the preconcentration of volatile organic compounds

Experience operating Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry platform(s) for particulate-bound metals analysis

Experience operating High-Performance Liquid Chromatography platform(s) for carbonyls analysis, including pre-derivatization and extraction methods

Experience operating analytical balances for weighing operations in a tightly controlled environment

Experience operating in and following appropriate protocols for clean room laboratories

Experience in a regulatory laboratory setting

Experience working in a collaborative laboratory environment, including experience with intra-laboratory peer review

In-depth understanding of laboratory safety and laboratory best practices

Thorough understanding of the Clean Air Act and associated federal regulations, particularly those related to air quality standards

Knowledge of scientific and experimental techniques sufficient to understand and conduct comprehensive and sophisticated scientific analyses

Physical Requirements

Requires occasionally lifting and/or carrying such as articles as file folders, ledgers, and small laboratory and sampling equipment. Although a sedentary job is defined as one which involves sitting, a certain amount of walking and standing is often necessary in carrying out job duties

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