Principal Scientist (Biological Threat Emergency Response) - CR590

DHRM • Richmond, VA

7d • Onsite

About The Position

The Department of General Services, Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services (DCLS) is seeking a highly experienced Principal Scientist to provide technical leadership and drive advanced laboratory operations that protect public health and the environment. DCLS is one of the largest and most diverse consolidated state laboratories in the nation, with an annual budget of over 30 million dollars and over 250 state employees, performing approximately 9 million tests annually. The Biological Threat Emergency Response Group (BTER) is an all-hazards emergency response laboratory providing 24/7 testing services to hundreds of local, state, and federal agencies. This role involves laboratory investigations of unknown or targeted substances potentially associated with acts of terrorism, using a multi-disciplinary approach for the identification and confirmation of biological, chemical, and radiological agents across various sample types. This is a full-time, restricted position funded by a federal grant, requiring on-site work in Richmond, Virginia. Continued employment is contingent upon the continued availability of funds. Employees in classified restricted positions are eligible for the state employee benefits package.

Requirements

• Meet Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) requirements for technical supervisor in a high complexity testing laboratory as defined by 42 CFR 493.1449.
• Experience in Molecular Biology testing.
• Experience serving as a team leader with the ability to prioritize, schedule, and coordinate laboratory testing of others.
• Experience with safe laboratory practices.
• Experience operating and troubleshooting laboratory instrumentation.
• Experience with quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) procedures and how to properly document and interpret QC data.
• Experience training staff.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing and work in a team environment.
• Confirmation of eligibility to work will be required at time of hire.
• Must pass a fingerprint-based criminal background check.

Nice To Haves

• Experience performing high complexity, high volume Polymerase Chain Reaction (Standard and Real-Time) testing.
• Experience with computerized laboratory information management systems (LIMS); spreadsheets, MS Office products, and/or laboratory software programs.
• Experience with nucleic acid extraction from a variety of matrices.
• Experience with MALDI-TOF bacterial identification methodologies.
• Experience with microbial identification techniques and bacterial culture setup.
• Experience with the development and validation of new methods.
• Experience with CLIA regulations and audits.
• Experience working in a BSL-3 laboratory.

Responsibilities

• Serves as workgroup leader and performs testing as required by supervisor or during periods of emergency or high volume of submissions.
• Assists Lead Scientists and/or Group Manager in preparing grant applications, tracking grant objectives and progress, and providing routine reports.
• Designs and leads validations and verifications of new instrumentation and methodologies.
• Provides technical project management under direction of Group Manager or Chief of Operations.
• Provides technical and troubleshooting guidance for laboratory instrumentation and test methods.
• Provides highly technical consultation to agency users, program managers, laboratory staff, and physicians on the interpretation of analytical results.
• Participates in LIMS development, user testing, and system validation activities to ensure the timely and accurate release of results, as requested.

Benefits

• state employee benefits package (including leave, healthcare, retirement, etc.)
• Hepatitis B vaccine
• bacterial meningitis vaccines
• required vaccines, as appropriate for Biosafety Level 3 containment laboratory work
• respiratory physical prior to working in a BSL-3 laboratory
• The respiratory physical and required vaccines will be provided by the employer.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal
• Education Level: No Education Listed