Scientist - CL623

If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference and you seek to join an organization whose mission is to promote a healthier, safer world through quality laboratory service, consider joining the dedicated staff of DCLS. 

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At the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services (DCLS) our employees are adaptable and work with integrity to provide quality testing in a collaborative scientific environment. Our fast-paced and innovative environment will challenge you with new experiences every day allowing you to enhance your skills by working side-by-side with leading professionals providing immediately impactful results to the community. As the state public health and environmental lab DCLS provides support for local, state, and federal partners with the mission to promote a healthier, safer world through quality laboratory service.

Located in historic downtown Richmond, our laboratory is adjacent to the State Capitol grounds. Beaches, mountains, Colonial Williamsburg, and Washington D.C. are less than a two-hour drive.  Excellent state benefits package including retirement pension, affordable healthcare, paid parental leave, and disability leave! 13 paid holidays and generous leave package.

Title: Scientist - CL623

State Role Title: Scientist I

Hiring Range: $58,000 - $72,000

Pay Band: 4

Agency: Department of General Services

Location: DCLS

Agency Website: www.dgs.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

The Department of General Services, Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services (DCLS) seeks to hire a qualified candidate to serve as a Scientist I in the Microbial Reference Group. This Scientist will perform high complexity testing in the Enteric Bacteriology Laboratory. This position performs highly technical and specialized testing to detect, identify, and further characterize bacterial pathogens that cause gastrointestinal disease in humans and are routinely part of outbreak investigations. Bacterial culture and testing is performed on clinical stool specimens and bacterial isolates. Testing includes conventional culture techniques, mass spectrometry, and molecular methods. This Scientist will participate in cross-training opportunities, quality assurance and safety initiatives, and assist in method validation and implementation. This Scientist routinely collaborates with other testing groups at DCLS and assists with providing support to the Virginia Department of Health (VDH). These duties are performed independently with minimal supervision from the group manager.

Some weekend, holiday, and on call work is required.

Minimum Qualifications

• Meet the education, and experience or training requirements of the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) standard for high complexity testing personnel as defined in 42 CFR 493.1489.
  
• Knowledge of microbiology.
  
• Knowledge of basic laboratory safety.
  
• Knowledge of quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) procedures.
  
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
  

Additional Considerations

• Experience with laboratory safety practices and laboratory operations.
  
• Experience independently performing high complexity testing in a BSL-2 laboratory.
  
• Experience with clinical microbiological cultures, pathogen identification, and molecular methods.
  
• Experience operating and troubleshooting complex laboratory instrumentation.
  
• Experience performing and documenting QA and QC and interpreting QC data/results.
  
• Experience using laboratory information management systems (LIMS).
  

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. DGS is a qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.  

Qualified state employees may be eligible for student loan forgiveness through the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). As a full-time employee with the Virginia Department of General Services, Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services, you may be able to take advantage of this program! Visit the site Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program for more information including eligibility requirements.

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

DGS will record information from each new employee’s Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification) into the Federal E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

Sponsorship will not be provided for this position now or in the future. Confirmation of eligibility to work will be required at time of hire.

The selected candidate must pass a fingerprint-based criminal background check.

Fax, e-mail or mail applications will not be accepted. The online State application must contain all required information and fully respond to the questions to be considered for this job opportunity.

For assistance or computer access, please visit your local Virginia Employment Office or contact our office at jobs@dgs.virginia.gov or call 804-786-3910.

Applications will be accepted until a suitable pool of candidates is received. After 5 business days, this position may be closed at any time.

The Virginia Department of General Services is an equal opportunity employer. Minorities, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and individuals with AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other national service experience are encouraged to apply.

Applicants in need of accommodation during the application and/or interview process may contact DGS at 804-786-3910 for assistance.

The online state application must contain all required information and fully respond to questions to be considered for this job opportunity. For assistance or computer access, please visit your local Virginia Employment Office or contact our office jobs@dgs.virginia.gov or 804-786-3910.

Blood-borne pathogen training will be provided by the employer. In order to comply with OSHA blood-borne pathogen requirements, DCLS offers the Hepatitis B vaccine.

DCLS employees are designated as essential personnel. This designation requires DCLS employees to report to the workplace or at an assigned remote location during state authorized closings or delays (i.e., weather-related closures/delays, holidays, etc.), unless otherwise instructed by management.

Contact Information

Name: DGS Human Resources

Phone: 804-786-3910

Email: jobs@dgs.virginia.gov

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.