Regulatory Chemical Contaminants Researcher

Job Family:

Scientist

Travel Required:

Up to 10%

Clearance Required:

Ability to Obtain Public Trust

Our federal client requires scientific and technical support it's proficiency testing program that supports national food safety, laboratory readiness, emergency preparedness, method validation, and interlaboratory comparison studies involving chemical contaminants and biothreat agents.

The researcher will support laboratory research, focused on detection, characterization, and quantification of chemical contaminants and hazardous agents across diverse food matrices using advanced analytical instrumentation and internationally recognized laboratory standards.

What You Will Do:

• Evaluate and apply analytical chemistry methods and related instrumentation for detection and quantification of chemical constituents and contaminants.
• Conduct laboratory experiments to assess homogeneity, stability, and distribution characteristics of chemical contaminants and biothreat agents across various food matrices.
• Perform sample preparation activities for proficiency testing studies and interlaboratory comparison exercises.
• Support development, optimization, validation, and implementation of analytical methods used for regulatory and food safety applications.
• Analyze laboratory and interlaboratory study data in accordance with ISO 17043, ISO 13528, ISO 5725, FDA, and other recognized laboratory standards.
• Generate technical summaries, analytical reports, scientific documentation, and research findings to support FDA programs and laboratory operations.
• Assist with planning and execution of proficiency testing exercises supporting FDA, state, and local laboratory networks.
• Maintain laboratory records, protocols, study documentation, and quality management documentation.
• Support validation and verification studies for analytical methods used to detect microbiological and chemical hazards in food products.
• Prepare scientific manuscripts, presentations, technical reports, and project summaries.
• Collaborate with FDA researchers, laboratory personnel, and external stakeholders participating in proficiency testing programs.
• Support laboratory operations, coordination activities, inventory management, and scientific project execution.
• Provide weekly updates and monthly reporting on project progress, research findings, issues, risks, and mitigation activities.
• Attend scientific, technical, programmatic, and organizational meetings supporting program objectives.
• Complete all required corporate, client, safety, security, and laboratory training requirements.

What You Will Need:

• Master's degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Microbiology, or a related scientific discipline.
• Minimum three to six (3–6) years of laboratory research experience supporting analytical chemistry, pharmaceutical, environmental, or food safety programs.
• Experience operating and maintaining analytical instrumentation such as GC-MS, LC-MS, ICP-MS, ICP-OES, HPLC, or equivalent laboratory systems.
• Experience conducting laboratory studies involving chemical contaminants, analytical method evaluation, method validation, or proficiency testing.
• Experience collecting, processing, analyzing, and interpreting scientific data from laboratory and/or interlaboratory studies.
• Knowledge of ISO laboratory standards, quality systems, proficiency testing practices, and laboratory documentation requirements.
• Experience developing technical reports, scientific summaries, presentations, and research documentation.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to communicate scientific findings to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a laboratory research environment.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Federal or DoD "public trust"; candidates must obtain approved adjudication of their public trust prior to onboarding with Guidehouse. Candidates with an active public trust or suitability are preferred

What Would Be Nice To Have:

• Ph.D. in Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Food Science, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biochemistry, or related scientific discipline.
• Experience supporting FDA, USDA, CDC, public health, food safety, or other regulatory laboratory programs.
• Experience with ISO/IEC 17043 proficiency testing programs and method validation procedures.
• Experience evaluating contaminants, toxins, heavy metals, pesticides, or biothreat agents in food matrices.
• Experience authoring peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, white papers, or regulatory science reports.

The annual salary range for this position is $59,000.00-$98,000.00. Compensation decisions depend on a wide range of factors, including but not limited to skill sets, experience and training, security clearances, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs.

What We Offer:

Guidehouse offers a comprehensive, total rewards package that includes competitive compensation and a flexible benefits package that reflects our commitment to creating a diverse and supportive workplace.

Benefits include:

• Medical, Rx, Dental & Vision Insurance

• Personal and Family Sick Time & Company Paid Holidays

• Parental Leave

• 401(k) Retirement Plan

• Group Term Life and Travel Assistance

• Voluntary Life and AD&D Insurance

• Health Savings Account, Health Care & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts

• Transit and Parking Commuter Benefits

• Short-Term & Long-Term Disability

• Tuition Reimbursement, Personal Development, Certifications & Learning Opportunities

• Employee Referral Program

• Corporate Sponsored Events & Community Outreach

• Care.com annual membership

• Employee Assistance Program

• Supplemental Benefits via Corestream (Critical Care, Hospital Indemnity, Accident Insurance, Legal Assistance and ID theft protection, etc.)

• Position may be eligible for a discretionary variable incentive bonus

About Guidehouse

Guidehouse is an Equal Opportunity Employer–Protected Veterans, Individuals with Disabilities or any other basis protected by law, ordinance, or regulation.

Guidehouse will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable law or ordinance including the Fair Chance Ordinance of Los Angeles and San Francisco.

If you have visited our website for information about employment opportunities, or to apply for a position, and you require an accommodation, please contact Guidehouse Recruiting at 1-571-633-1711 or via email at [email protected]. All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodation.

All communication regarding recruitment for a Guidehouse position will be sent from Guidehouse email domains including @guidehouse.com or [email protected].  Correspondence received by an applicant from any other domain should be considered unauthorized and will not be honored by Guidehouse.  Note that Guidehouse will never charge a fee or require a money transfer at any stage of the recruitment process and does not collect fees from educational institutions for participation in a recruitment event. Never provide your banking information to a third party purporting to need that information to proceed in the hiring process.

If any person or organization demands money related to a job opportunity with Guidehouse, please report the matter to Guidehouse’s Ethics Hotline. If you want to check the validity of correspondence you have received, please contact [email protected]. Guidehouse is not responsible for losses incurred (monetary or otherwise) from an applicant’s dealings with unauthorized third parties.

Guidehouse does not accept unsolicited resumes through or from search firms or staffing agencies. All unsolicited resumes will be considered the property of Guidehouse and Guidehouse will not be obligated to pay a placement fee.