LIMS Informaticist

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS • Austin, TX

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

DSHS is committed to hiring skilled and dedicated individuals who share a passion for public health to pursue our vision of A Healthy Texas. If you are looking to make an impact and tackle new challenges, we encourage you to consider a career with us.

Employee Benefits:
DSHS offers insurance coverage and other benefits available through the State of Texas Group Benefits Plan administered by the Employee Retirement System of Texas (ERS). To learn more about all the benefits available to you as a DSHS employee and other DSHS opportunities for early career pathways, visit the DSHS Careers Page.
Review our Top 10 Tips for Success when Applying to State of Texas Jobs.

Brief Job Description:
Under the supervision of the Laboratory Informatics Group Manager and with the guidance lead informaticists, performs complex (journey-level) informatics services. Ensures that information systems, instrument interfaces, and data sharing solutions meet the business needs of the public health laboratory, statewide public health programs, and the agency. Works with vendors, customers, IT, and program staff to determine priorities, compose requirements, and develop, enhance and maintain laboratory information systems, instrument interfaces, and electronic data sharing solutions. Facilitates and coordinates development testing, User Acceptance Testing, documentation, and required approvals. Serves as a resource for laboratory staff to assist with troubleshooting and resolution of information system related issues. Provides information and determines needs of management, staff, customers and monitoring agencies. Works under limited supervision with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgement.
This position will assist with the above tasks on multiple information systems, instrument interfaces and data sharing solutions including HL7 and web based electronic ordering and reporting systems.

Requirements

• Experience in health informatics work.
• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in health informatics, public health, science, epidemiology, public policy or health policy, health services research, health information sciences, computer science, or related field is strongly preferred.
• Knowledge and understanding of the roles of public health laboratories
• Knowledge of DSHS and HHSC policies and procedures for personnel, tracking, fiscal accounting, purchasing and contracts, and travel
• Comprehensive knowledge of laboratory workflow processes, regulatory requirements, specimen processing principles, medical terminology, and safety
• Knowledge of Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS), computer databases, tables, software applications, and software structure
• Knowledge of software development life cycle and systems development life cycle concepts
• Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources
• Knowledge of project management principles and practices
• Skill in effective customer service practices
• Skill in synthesizing and analyzing complex information for a variety of purposes
• Skill in problem solving and conflict resolution
• Skill in oral and written communication
• Skill in systems development and evaluation
• Skill in time management and planning
• Skill in business analysis methodologies
• Skill in analyzing and evaluating complex information technology applications, policies, and issues
• Ability to analyze and interpret technical information, including regulations, policies, and automation system documentation/specifications
• Ability to analyze, evaluate, and integrate business rules into system requirements
• Ability to prepare concise reports, to develop and evaluate policies and procedures, and plan for following action needed
• Ability to utilize computer programs for spreadsheet analysis, word processing, LIMS and laboratory billing system
• Ability to gather, assemble, correlate information, and devise solutions to problems
• Ability to present complex technical information to a variety of audiences
• Ability to organize and manage multiple tasks, prioritize heavy workloads and meet deadlines.
• Ability to establish goals and objectives
• Ability to facilitate meetings and projects and work effectively with teams
• Ability to develop and maintain positive working relationships with managers, co-workers, and partners
• Ability to adapt to a changing work environment
• Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing
• Ability to exercise sound judgment in making critical decisions
• Laboratory or other work-related experience in clinical laboratory science or public health required.
• Information technology or Laboratory Information Management System experience required.
• Advanced use of software applications (such as but not limited to Microsoft Office and Laboratory Information Management Systems) required.
• Experience providing customer service or training in a technical or lab environment required.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with electronic data sharing between information systems preferred.
• Experience with quality assurance activities preferred.
• Experience with technical writing preferred.

Responsibilities

• Change Development. Oversees the operations and activities associated with change development of Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS), instrument interfaces, and data sharing solutions. Identifies business requirements of stakeholders (laboratory and program staff, external providers, information technology (IT) staff, LIMS vendor staff) and strategically coordinates with the appropriate personnel to implement new or improve existing LIMS, instrument interfaces, and data sharing solutions in support of the laboratory’s public health goals. Coordinates the development of documentation outlining the requested changes to LIMS, instrument interfaces, and data sharing solutions required to meet customer business needs. Coordinates acquisition and documentation of laboratory management approval to initiate the requested work. Coordinates with IT and vendors to complete activities to configure the requested changes in a non-production environment.
• Change Coordination. Completes development testing activities to ensure LIMS, interface, and data sharing solution changes adhere to request requirements. Assists end users with the development of test plans. Coordinates and ensures changes are validated, verified, documented and approved as required prior to introduction into a production environment. Manages and maintains testing and validation documents in the document control system. Coordinates with IT to acquire and document laboratory management and IT change control approval of validation documentation. Coordinates with IT and vendors to complete activities to configure the requested changes in the production environment. Monitors production operations post-change and coordinates appropriate reporting, documentation, and resolution of issues.
• Customer Service. Evaluates, analyzes, gathers, and documents LIMS, instrument interface, and data sharing solution processes. Maintains knowledge of the regulatory requirements associated with LIMS systems, interfaces, and data sharing solutions. Reviews and analyzes program policies and procedures to determine their effect on the LIMS, integrated laboratory equipment, and data sharing solutions, and associated downstream applications. Maintains a high level of technical and workflow knowledge of areas using LIMS, integrated laboratory equipment, and data sharing solutions. Participates in educational opportunities for LIMS, instrument interfacing, and data sharing solutions and other pertinent topics. Provides extensive customer service and maintains frequent and effective communication with internal and external customers, consistently exhibiting a professional, ethical, and positive attitude. Assists end users by evaluating issues identified with business processes or LIMS, instrument interface, and data sharing solutions, providing solutions and/or coordinating assistance from vendors or the appropriate IT Support Group. Develops, composes, revises, and maintains Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and associated documents for the LIMS, instrument interfaces, and data sharing solutions to meet requirements set forth by applicable regulatory accreditation agencies. Assists with the development of training materials and the coordination of training sessions. Assists with the development and review of complex project deliverables such as project charters, timelines, design documentation, test plans, and risk assessment plans. Participates in program meetings to discuss plans, problems, resolutions, and other associated LIMS, interface, and data sharing solution topics to ensure program goals are completed in a timely manner. Provides input to assist with the establishment and implementation of goals, objectives, and timelines for LIMS, interfaces, and associated electronic data sharing solutions.
• Data Analytics. Provides analytics and support to program staff as requested in the areas of data preparation, data analysis using applicable statistical methods, protocols, report and manuscript writing, technical presentations, and responses to informatics inquiries. Performs advanced statistical work for the DSHS laboratory. Develops methods and templates for analysis and presentation of statistical data and reports. Performs complex data extractions from LIMS databases and compiles, analyzes, interprets statistical data, and applies data visualization methods. Develops statistical reports for quality assurance and quality improvement monitoring for reporting within the laboratory and DSHS agency, and to external stakeholders. Evaluates statistical methods and procedures used to obtain data to ensure validity, applicability, efficiency, and accuracy. Ensures accuracy of public health statistics queries and reports produced by the LIMS, evaluating trends and resolving problems. Assists with responsibilities related to data quality, data maintenance and archiving, and documentation. Ensures confidentiality, security, and integrity of data.
• Other duties as assigned include, but are not limited to, actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or continuity of operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location. Based on the work area, consistently complies with the DSHS Laboratory, local, state, and federal guidelines to ensure a safe functioning laboratory.

Benefits

• DSHS offers insurance coverage and other benefits available through the State of Texas Group Benefits Plan administered by the Employee Retirement System of Texas (ERS).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 1-10 employees