Senior Scientist - CR559

Title: Senior Scientist

Hiring Range: $62,000 - $75,000

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 Senior Scientist in the Microbial Reference Group. This Senior Scientist will provide technical oversight, expertise, guide, and perform high complexity testing to support the Bacterial Bioterrorism Response Laboratory at DCLS. The Bacterial Bioterrorism Response Laboratory performs routine and emergency response testing to isolate and identify suspected bacterial select agents and toxins as well as testing for emerging pathogens and public health threats. Testing performed involves detection and rule-out of a variety of bio threat agents and highly infectious pathogens. Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) containment laboratory work, a FBI background check, and clearance by the Federal Select Agent Program (FSAP) are required for this position. This Senior Scientist will perform testing, implement and actively participate in training and competency programs as well as quality assurance initiatives, participate in new method validations, coordinate daily workflows, and review analytical results. This position will routinely collaborate with other testing groups at DCLS and exercises a high degree of independence and technical expertise. These duties are performed independently with minimal supervision from the group manager.

This is a full-time restricted position funded by a federal grant and includes state benefits.

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

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 Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program site for more information including eligibility requirements.

Minimum Qualifications

• The applicant must meet the following minimal qualifications for consideration:
•  Meet Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) requirements for technical supervisor as defined in 42 CFR 493.1449
• Comprehensive knowledge and demonstrated experience in the application and procedures of microbiology.
• Experience independently performing high complexity testing and routine analysis in a BSL-2 laboratory.
• Experience using laboratory equipment associated computer systems and laboratory information management systems (LIMS) for the analysis of specimens and reporting of results, respectively.
• Experience with laboratory safety practices and laboratory operations
• Experience operating and troubleshooting complex laboratory instrumentation.
• Experience performing and documenting QA/QC procedures and interpreting QC data/results.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate professionally and effectively both written and orally.
• Experience training personnel and effectively leading a team.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience performing high complexity testing in a BSL-3 laboratory.
• Experience with clinical microbiological cultures and bacterial pathogen identification
  
• Experience with antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST)
• Experience with molecular methods and procedures
  
• Experience with the development and validation of new methods
• Experience compiling and analyzing complex data, drawing independent conclusions, and providing interpretations of data.
• Experience writing standard operating procedures and reports of research findings/interpretations.
• Demonstrated ability and experience coordinating, leading, organizing, and prioritizing the work of others.
• Experience effectively implementing corrections, corrective actions, and preventive actions in a laboratory.