PUBLIC HEALTH LABORATORY SCIENTIST 4 - 12312024-64326

Job Information

LOCATION OF (1) POSITION(S) TO BE FILLED: DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, LABORATORY SERVICES DIVISION, DAVIDSON COUNTY

This position will be housed within the Newborn Screening section of the Laboratory

Qualifications

Education and Experience: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in physical sciences (e.g. chemistry), ecology, life sciences (e.g. biology, microbiology, biochemistry or biophysics), medical laboratory science, pre-medicine, or other acceptable science, and five years of full-time professional work in the related field.

Substitution of Education for Experience: Graduate course work received from an accredited college or university in a related field may substitute for the required experience on a year-to-year basis to a maximum of one year (e.g. 24 graduate semester hours or 36 graduate quarter hours in a related field may substitute for one year of the required experience).

OR

Successful completion of an accredited, 4 year medical laboratory scientist program, and five years of full-time professional work in the related field.

A transcript with ALL credits is required to be uploaded with an employment application in order that the agency is able to properly evaluate a candidate's eligibility for a position in this classification.

Necessary Special Qualifications: Applicants for this class must:

A PH Lab Scientist 4 performing Clinical duties the major portion of their time must:

• Have graduated from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in life sciences (e.g. biology, microbiology or biochemistry), Medical laboratory science, pre-medicine, or other acceptable science OR successful completion of an accredited medical laboratory scientist program.

OR

• Meet CLIA Testing Personnel Qualification Category set forth in federal CMS regulations 42 CFR, 493.1489.

Note: Licensure as a Medical Laboratory Technologist or Medical Laboratory Technician is no longer required (4/2018) but is preferred. Licensure as a Medical Laboratory Technologist, Medical Laboratory Technician, Medical Laboratory Supervisor or Medical Laboratory Director subsumes the PH Laboratory Scientist 4 level and, therefore, also qualifies for this job classification.

A PH Lab Scientist 4 performing Chemist duties the major portion of their time must: have graduated from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in chemistry, including at least 32 credit hours in the following areas: (1) general chemistry, (2) organic chemistry, (3) quantitative analysis, (4) instrumental analysis and (5) physical chemistry.

A PH Lab Scientist 4 performing Aquatic Biologist duties the major portion of their time must: have graduated from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree, including at least 32 credit hours in biology, in one of the following areas: (1) biology or biological sciences, (2) botanical sciences, (3) environmental or conservation sciences, (4) zoological sciences, or (5) aquatic, terrestrial, or wetland biology or ecology or other acceptable biological science related field. Must possess and maintain a valid motor vehicle operator's license throughout the duration of employment.

Examination Method: Education and Experience, 100%, for Preferred Service positions

Overview

Summary: Under minimal supervision, serves as the Lead Scientist for a work unit; is responsible for advanced laboratory work of complex difficulty, as it relates to chemistry, aquatic biology, microbiological, and/or molecular areas; and performs other tasks as required.

Distinguishing Features: This is an advanced working or lead level class in the Public Health Laboratory Scientist series. Duties may include daily oversight of laboratory scientists, scheduling of work, method comparisons, test verifications, test validations, employee mentoring and work of complex difficulty. This class differs from Public Health Laboratory Scientist 3 in that an incumbent of the latter performs moderate to complex laboratory testing and does not fill the role of Lead Scientist.

Responsibilities

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards:

1. Uses relevant or appropriate guidelines to determine whether test results are reportable based on laboratory established policies and procedures.
2. Establishes quality control guidelines and assures they are met.
3. Ensures confidentiality of patient information according to state and federal guidelines.
4. Distinguishes proper protocols relevant to the release of medical information.

1. Oversees and performs laboratory procedures needed to establish the presence and identification of infectious and inherited diseases.
2. Reviews information from textbooks, manuals, flowcharts and other reference sources to accurately analyze and report test results.
3. Oversees and prepares various types of specimens for examination by culture or other laboratory screening or diagnostic techniques.

1. Following standard operating procedures, maintains situational awareness and proficiency with biological and chemical hazards.
2. Performs troubleshooting on laboratory equipment in assigned area according to standard operating procedures.
3. Identifies situations or circumstances for the purpose of troubleshooting.

1. Reviews or verifies test results for accuracy before report issuance.
2. Compiles, calculates, categorizes and verifies information or data for appropriateness of reporting.

1. Develop and delivers training programs for students and employees as required.
2. Trains section in laboratory procedures.

1. Analyzes information and evaluate results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
2. Analyzes, communicates and implements resolutions to various issues as they arise.

1. Identifies and develops training needs for section.
2. Mentors and provides guidance and direction to peers.

1. Prepares and checks specimens, solutions, reagents and other materials necessary for conducting tests.
2. Ensures adequate resources are available for workload.

1. Monitors equipment for proper functionality.
2. Establishes a preventive maintenance schedule.

1. Provides technical information to management and other programmatic groups.
2. Provide input to management regarding workflow and needed resources.

1. Monitors and controls reagents and consumables to ensure an adequate supply for testing needs.
2. Rotate stock to minimize waste and expiration.

1. Performs repetitive activities or motions during specimen processing or analysis.
2. Performs physical activities that involve use of hands, arms and legs to relocate and stock reagents and supplies to testing areas.

1. Explains what results are supplied and the appropriate reference ranges.

1. Operates laboratory equipment using control mechanisms.

1. Analyzes data by breaking information down into separate pieces and determining its utility.

1. Performs preventative maintenance on laboratory equipment used in assigned area.

1. Prioritizes and organizes tasks in order to complete them in an assigned timeframe.

1. Uses computers and laboratory information systems to process information, data and control instrumentation.

1. Designs and/or coordinates experimental investigations and laboratory research.

1. Facilitates cooperation with members of a group to accomplish tasks.

1. Performs day-to-day administrative tasks involving ordering and reports.

1. Documents, enters, transcribes, records, stores and maintains information in written or electronic form.

1. Schedules section personnel for work assignments as necessary.

1. Establishes and develops constructive and cooperative working relationships with all laboratory staff and maintains them over time.

1. Provides constructive input on day-to-day and systematic processes.

1. Remains current with regard to technical information and department procedures and policies.

1. Communicates status of assigned tasks or other relevant information to supervisors, peers or subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail or in person.

1. Communicates with submitters, vendors and other public health officials relaying only relevant information in person, in writing or by telephone or e-mail.

Competencies (KSA's)

Competencies:

1. Functional/Technical Competency
2. Decision Quality
3. Problem Solving
4. Directing Others
5. Priority Setting
6. Command Skills
7. Drive for Results
8. Written Communications
9. Building Effective Teams
10. Listening

Knowledge:

1. Biology
2. Chemistry
3. Clerical
4. Customer and Personal Service
5. Mathematics

Skills:

1. Active Learning
2. Active Listening
3. Critical Thinking
4. Learning Strategies
5. Mathematics
6. Reading Comprehension
7. Science
8. Speaking
9. Writing
10. Coordination
11. Service Orientation
12. Complex Problem Solving
13. Equipment Maintenance
14. Operation and Control
15. Operations Monitoring
16. Quality Control Analysis
17. Repairing
18. Troubleshooting
19. Instructing
20. Monitoring
21. Judgement
22. Decision Making
23. Time Management

Abilities:

1. Category Flexibility
2. Deductive Reasoning
3. Flexibility of Closure
4. Inductive Reasoning
5. Information Ordering
6. Mathematical Reasoning
7. Memorization
8. Number Facility
9. Oral Comprehension
10. Oral Expression
11. Problem Sensitivity
12. Selective Attention
13. Spatial Orientation
14. Speed of Closure
15. Time Sharing
16. Written Comprehension
17. Written Expression
18. Arm-Hand Steadiness
19. Control Precision
20. Finger Dexterity
21. Manual Dexterity
22. Multilimb Coordination
23. Rate Control
24. Reaction Time
25. Stamina
26. Auditory Attention
27. Depth Perception
28. Near Vision
29. Sound Localization
30. Speech Clarity
31. Speech Recognition
32. Visual Color Discrimination
33. Gross Body Coordination
34. Peripheral Vision
35. Fluency of Ideas
36. Originality
37. Visualization

Tools & Equipment

1. Autoclaves
2. Balances
3. Biological Safety Cabinets
4. Calculators
5. Centrifuge
6. Chemistry Analyzers
7. Computers
8. Microbiology Analyzers
9. Microscopes
10. pH Meter
11. Pipette
12. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
13. Temperature Controlled Storage Equipment
14. Thermocyclers
15. Other laboratory equipment as required

TN Driver Standards

State of Tennessee positions that may involve driving responsibilities require candidates to meet the following minimum driver qualifications:

• A valid driver's license
• For the past five years, the candidate's driver record must not have record of the following violations: driving under the influence (DUI), reckless driving, license suspension for moving violations, more than 4 moving violations.

Please include your Driver's License Information under the Licenses and Certifications section of your application.

**Agencies may allow an exception based on other factors.