Intermittent Laboratory Technician 2 (CPL)

State of Ohio•Reynoldsburg, OH

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Consumer Protection Laboratory (CPL) is the state’s primary testing facility for food and agricultural products. The laboratory conducts microbiological and chemical testing on meat, dairy, produce, and processed foods to detect pathogens, environmental contaminants, and pesticide residues. It also performs toxicological analysis, regulatory drug testing for livestock and racehorses, and investigative work related to consumer safety complaints. The intermittent Laboratory Technician 2 performs laboratory support and sample-handling activities under applicable standard operating procedures and supervisor instructions. The role includes receiving and documenting samples, maintaining chain of custody, preparing reagents and standard solutions, and assisting analysts with sample preparation and routine laboratory support. The position also helps maintain laboratory equipment, supplies, records, quality-related activities, and communications with clients, vendors, couriers, and laboratory staff. The position is based at the Ohio Department of Agriculture campus in Reynoldsburg, Ohio. The stated schedule is intermittent, with work hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Unusual working conditions include exposure to animal fluids and tissues.

Requirements

Formal education in arithmetic covering fractions, decimals, and percentages, and the ability to read, write, and speak English.
Three high school science courses (such as biology, chemistry, geology, or microbiology) that included laboratory testing and use and maintenance of laboratory equipment, or 12 months of experience in a science laboratory preparing specimens or samples for testing, preparing reagents, and/or conducting basic or routine laboratory tests.
Alternatively, 12 months of experience as a Laboratory Technician 1 (classification 86111), or an equivalent of the stated minimum class qualifications.
Basic chemistry and mathematics knowledge for calculating chemical quantities and solvent volumes.
Ability to follow laboratory standard operating procedures and maintain sample documentation and chain of custody.

Responsibilities

Performs assigned laboratory activities in accordance with applicable standard operating procedures and supervisor instructions.
Receives, logs, stores, and disposes of samples, maintaining chain-of-custody documentation through computer documentation software.
Uses basic chemistry and mathematics to calculate quantities of chemicals and solvent volumes for reagents and standard solutions.
Prepares laboratory reagents and standard solutions.
Performs or assists higher-level analysts with sample homogenization, extraction, and preparation for testing.
Receives official laboratory samples from state employees, couriers, and other clients.
Maintains sample chain of custody, including assigning accession numbers, maintaining paperwork, verifying temperatures and other sample conditions, notifying relevant laboratory sections, and entering data.
Works with clients to pre-accession samples and clarify irregular sample entries.
Receives supplies from couriers and vendors, checks packing lists against purchase orders, completes documentation, and directs supplies to laboratory sections.
Answers telephone and email inquiries or redirects them to other parts of the laboratory.
Sets up courier shipments for the laboratory.
Maintains visitor logs and visitor access passes.
Acts as liaison between laboratory personnel and vendors providing laboratory attire, laboratory gases, and vending machines.
Cleans glassware and other laboratory utensils, and assists higher-level analysts with cleaning.
Performs or assists higher-level analysts with preventive maintenance of basic equipment, such as cleaning freezers and refrigerators and checking balances.
Performs or assists with inventorying and ordering laboratory supplies, reagents, and consumables, and receiving those items.
Notifies a supervisor or designee when supplies, reagents, or consumables are needed.
Assists with data entry in the laboratory information management system (LIMS), filing documents and laboratory data worksheets, and maintaining records.
Cleans and maintains laboratory equipment, instruments, and work areas, including operating an automatic dishwasher and cleaning sinks and benches.
Assists with writing and reviewing standard operating procedures as needed.
Participates in quality-related activities and attends section group meetings.
Uses QPulse quality management software.
Performs other duties as assigned.