Senior Scientist - Microbial Reference - CL050
About The Position
The Virginia Department of General Services (DGS) is seeking a qualified candidate to serve as Senior Scientist in the Microbial Reference Group for the Commonwealth's Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services (DCLS), which 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, DCLS performs approximately 9 million tests annually. Results from these tests are used confidently by local, state, and federal public health, agriculture, food regulatory, environmental protection, and law enforcement officials serving to protect our citizens, food supply environment and commerce. DCLS is a member of several public health networks and emergency response groups; the Consolidated Laboratory also directs Commonwealth's environmental laboratory accreditation program. As a member of the Microbial Reference Group, the Senior Scientist will provide technical oversight, expertise, guide, and perform high complexity testing to support the Enteric Bacteriology Laboratory. This Senior Scientist will implement and actively participate in training and competency programs, quality assurance initiatives, new method validations, coordinate daily workflows, and review analytical results. This Senior Scientist routinely interacts with internal and external customers and provides continual support to the Virginia Department of Health (VDH). These duties are performed independently with minimal supervision from the group manager.
Requirements
- Meet the education, and experience or training requirements of the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) standard for general supervisors in a high complexity microbiological laboratory as defined in 42 CFR 493.1461.
- Experience with laboratory safety practices
- Experience operating and troubleshooting complex laboratory instrumentation and equipment.
- Experience performing and documenting QA/QC procedures and interpreting QC data/results
- Experience independently performing high complexity microbiological testing in a BSL-2 laboratory, including pathogen identification from clinical cultures.
- Experience training, leading, coordinating and prioritizing the work of others.
- Ability to communicate professionally and effectively both written and orally
Nice To Haves
- Meet bacteriology subspecialty requirements for technical supervisor as defined by CLIA
- Experience with antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST)
- Experience with molecular methods and procedures
- Experience with the development and validation of new methods, including analysis and interpretation of complex data.
- Experience writing standard operating procedures
- Experience effectively implementing corrections, corrective actions, and preventive actions in a laboratory.
Responsibilities
- Perform highly complex analyses throughout pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical phases of testing.
- Support the DCLS Quality Management System in the performance of moderate to highly complex laboratory testing to ensure the accuracy and integrity of DCLS laboratory test results.
- Support the needs of both internal and external customers and the Division while utilizing appropriate and professional verbal and written communications.
- Functions effectively as the team leader for the area assigned by showing professionalism, leadership, and attention to detail, so that group and division goals are met.
- Maintain a safe and secure work environment.
Benefits
- DGS offers excellent health benefits at affordable pricing, pre-tax spending accounts, paid life insurance, paid Short- and Long-Term Disability benefits, paid holidays, vacation, and other leave benefits, wellness programs, and a state retirement plan with options for tax-deferred retirement savings including employer matching.
- Additionally, supplemental bus passes, ride share, or parking are available, and DGS is a qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Industry
Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support
Education Level
No Education Listed
Number of Employees
101-250 employees
