Principal Microbiologist (35 Hour)

State of Connecticut•Rocky Hill, CT

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Connecticut Department of Public Health is hiring a Principal Microbiologist assigned to Quality Assurance and Laboratory Safety at the State Public Health Laboratory in Rocky Hill, Connecticut. This role provides oversight of quality systems and helps maintain compliance with Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) requirements and other federal and state regulatory frameworks. It also supports compliance with the Federal Select Agent Program. The position requires FBI background clearance and responsibility for developing, implementing, and annually revising laboratory-specific security, biosafety, and incident-response policies. As a working supervisor in a laboratory, the Principal Microbiologist oversees a large or complex grouping of work. The role includes planning workflow, supervising and training staff, maintaining quality assurance programs, and conducting or overseeing microbiological, biomedical, molecular, and biochemical analyses. The position is full-time, 35 hours per week, Monday through Friday, first shift, and in person. A flexible schedule is available; telework is not available.

Requirements

Eight years of experience in a public health or medical laboratory involving scientific work in microbiology, biochemistry, or molecular biology.
Two years of the general experience must have been at the full working level in microbiology; for state employees, this is interpreted at the level of Microbiologist 2.
Considerable knowledge of biomedical sciences and microbiological disciplines, including bacteriology, parasitology, and virology, as they relate to public health.
Knowledge of current laboratory methods, equipment, instrumentation, materials, quality assurance and quality control procedures, and universal laboratory precautions.
Knowledge of common statistical techniques and ability to make sophisticated calculations.
Interpersonal, oral communication, and written communication skills.
Ability to perform advanced biomedical, microbiological, and biochemical examinations; conduct analytical, consultative, and research activities; interpret complex examination results in the context of patient history and disease or agent epidemiology; use computer software; and supervise.
Must be willing to periodically undergo tests or immunizations for communicable diseases.
May be required to meet specific education or experience requirements for certification or licensing and to complete security background checks.
The position requires FBI background clearance.
College training in the natural sciences may substitute for general experience at 15 semester hours per half-year of experience, up to four years for a bachelor's degree. A master's degree in the natural sciences may substitute for one additional year of general experience.

Nice To Haves

Experience with regulations and guidelines relating to Select Agents and laboratory testing from agencies such as CMS (CLIA), CAP, and the Federal Select Agent Program (FSAP).
Experience with BSL-2 and BSL-3 work practice controls and guidelines.
Experience developing biological risk assessments.
Experience performing quality assurance and/or laboratory safety audits, including developing and overseeing corrective action plans and administering proficiency test programs.
Experience with clinical microbiology test methods and procedures.

Responsibilities

Plan unit workflow and determine priorities.
Schedule, assign, oversee, and review work.
Establish and maintain unit procedures.
Provide staff training and assistance, and conduct or assist with performance evaluations.
Act as liaison with other operating units, agencies, and outside officials regarding unit policies and procedures.
Conduct complex, specialized, and routine microbiological, biomedical, molecular, and biochemical analyses as needed to process specimens promptly.
Maintain quality assurance programs and oversee compliance with laboratory requirements and regulatory frameworks.
Develop, implement, and annually revise laboratory-specific security, biosafety, and incident-response policies.
Process specimens under chain-of-custody and maintain records, reports, and correspondence.
Maintain knowledge of current developments and changes in the field.
Oversee and use universal laboratory precautions.
Use computers to operate and maintain instrumentation and to access, interpret, modify, and report test results.
Act for the Supervising Microbiologist in their absence.
May lead staff and activities outside normal working hours, recommend policies or standards, and testify in court.
Perform related duties as required.