Chemist

Chemist, San Antonio, TX

Halff is seeking a highly skilled and detail-oriented Chemist or Senior Chemist to join our growing Environmental team in our San Antonio office. This position would be responsible for leading our project chemistry efforts, specializing in data validation, quality control oversight, and regulatory compliance for federal programs.

As a Chemist/Senior Chemist, you will serve as the technical authority on chemical data quality for federal projects. You will ensure all environmental analytical data is legally defensible and compliant with rigorous Department of Defense (DoD) requirements. This role spans the full lifecycle of data management, from up-front programmatic planning to the delivery of final data validation packages. This opportunity offers an excellent career development opportunity for someone looking to grow with Halff, with potential for not only business and personal growth, but ownership in the firm.

What you will do:

• Review Level II and Level IV data validation packages on diverse environmental matrices (soil, groundwater, sediment, air, and vapor intrusion) using EPA National Functional Guidelines (NFG) and federal agency criteria.
• Draft, revise, and implement Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPPs) using the Uniform Federal Policy (UFP-QAPP) framework.
• Enforce strict compliance with the Department of Defense Quality Systems Manual (DoD QSM) requirements for laboratories and internal projects.
• Support and provide QA/QC for Stage 2A/2B and Stage 4 data validation.
• Evaluate, troubleshoot, and apply data qualifiers to Electronic Data Deliverables (EDDs), with specific proficiency formatting packages for ERPIMS (Environmental Resources Program Information Management System) and regional databases.
• Coordinate directly with commercial laboratories to resolve discrepancies, establish reporting/detection limits, select appropriate analytical methodologies, and ensure data suitability for human health risk assessments.
• Prepare comprehensive Data Validation Reports (DVRs), Data Usability Summary Reports (DUSRs), and technical memoranda defending data usability decisions.
• Provide senior-level technical cross-review of data packages, manage junior data analysts, and lead chemistry components of proposal scoping and cost estimation.

What you will need:

• Bachelor's degree (BS/BA) in Chemistry, Environmental Science, or a closely related discipline (Chemistry preferred).
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in environmental chemistry, laboratory testing, and/or data validation.
• For the Senior Chemist role, you will need at least 12 years of experience, with demonstrated leadership on complex federal remediation projects (e.g., CERCLA, RCRA Corrective Action).
• Proven history of authoring UFP-QAPPs and successfully executing Stage 2A/2B and Stage 4 data validation.
• High proficiency with DoD QSM standards, EPA SW-846 analytical methods, and Emerging Contaminants (e.g., PFAS by EPA 1633, PCB congeners, dioxins/furans).
• Hands-on laboratory bench experience operating analytical instrumentation (e.g., GC/MS, ICP-MS) preferred.
• Familiarity with environmental relational database tools, specifically EQuIS and EQuIS Data Qualification Module (DQM) preferred.
• Strong technical writing skills with the ability to simplify complex data issues for cross-functional project teams and federal clients preferred.
• Willingness to obtain certifications and participate in training activities as needed to support the team.
• Qualified applicants who are offered a position must pass a pre-employment substance abuse test and a company physical exam (indicating that there will be no restrictions for field activities).
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Ability to clearly communicate both verbal and written technical information.
• Ability to handle multiple projects and deadlines concurrently.
• Demonstrated ability to interface effectively and collaborate with clients, peers, management, and vendors to successfully meet shifting needs.

The Halff Environmental Advantage:

• Halff's environmental scientists, planners, geologists and cultural resources specialists have a shared tenure — 25 years in some cases — that enables…