NMDA Veterinary Lab Specialist Associate
About The Position
As a full service veterinary diagnostic laboratory, VDS works closely with practicing veterinarians, livestock producers, animal owners, and state and federal agencies. Services provided include: necropsy, histopathology, pathology, bacteriology, serology/virology, molecular biology, and immunohistochemistry. As a laboratory, VDS administers all activities through a quality management system incorporating policies and protocols from NMDA and NMSU, in addition to those of the National Laboratory Animal Health Network (NAHLN) and ISO/IEC 17025. The NMDA Veterinary Laboratory Specialist, Associate for the New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA) performs specialized technical, operational, and laboratory coordination activities within a veterinary diagnostic laboratory environment supporting animal health programs, disease surveillance activities, regulatory diagnostic services, and accredited laboratory operations. This position serves as a key resource supporting specimen accessioning, laboratory information management activities, quality management processes, diagnostic workflow coordination, and laboratory operational continuity, all necessary to support Veterinary Diagnostic Services functions.
Requirements
- High School diploma + 1 years of relevant experience, or higher degree.
Responsibilities
- Safe handling, accessioning, tracking, documentation, and chain-of-custody management of animal diagnostic specimens, including biological materials such as blood, tissue, carcasses, and related veterinary diagnostic submissions, in accordance with established laboratory procedures, biosafety standards, and quality requirements.
- Coordinate specimen routing activities, referral laboratory submissions, laboratory documentation processes, and laboratory information management functions to facilitate timely and accurate veterinary diagnostic testing services.
- Maintain laboratory records, case information, and testing documentation in the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).
- Support the maintenance of laboratory inventories and operational resources.
- Coordinate specimen shipment activities.
- Assist with the continuity of laboratory workflow across multiple diagnostic laboratory sections.
- Prepare and distribute diagnostic information.
- Maintain laboratory records and support documentation activities necessary to meet quality assurance requirements and maintain accredited laboratory operations.
- Incorporate Quality Management System requirements into daily laboratory functions and maintain compliance with biosafety requirements, infection control standards, environmental safety practices, specimen handling requirements, and laboratory operational procedures necessary to support accredited veterinary diagnostic laboratory operations.
- Identify workflow concerns and support efficient laboratory operations through adherence to quality systems, established laboratory methodologies, and operational standards.
- Maintain effective working relationships with laboratory clientele, regulatory stakeholders, referral laboratories, and internal laboratory personnel while supporting diagnostic laboratory functions and Veterinary Diagnostic Services operational objectives.
- Coordinate specimen accessioning, documentation, tracking, and chain-of-custody activities for veterinary diagnostic submissions.
- Maintain case information, testing documentation, and laboratory records within the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).
- Coordinate specimen routing activities and referral laboratory submissions.
- Support laboratory workflow activities and operational continuity across veterinary diagnostic laboratory sections.
- Maintain laboratory inventories and operational resource documentation.
- Coordinate specimen shipment activities and required laboratory documentation.
- Maintain laboratory records in accordance with quality assurance and laboratory operational requirements.
- Prepare and distribute diagnostic information utilizing established laboratory procedures.
- Support Quality Management System requirements and laboratory quality activities.
- Maintain compliance with biosafety requirements, infection control standards, environmental safety practices, and laboratory operational procedures.
- Maintain effective working relationships with laboratory clientele, referral laboratories, regulatory agencies, and laboratory personnel.
- May perform other essential duties as assigned.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
High school or GED
