Join Virginia’s State Laboratory and Make a Difference!

Make an impact on public health and environmental safety! Join Virginia’s state laboratory as a Scientist I, performing highly technical and specialized testing to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis. If you’re detail-oriented and passionate about science, apply today to help protect communities across the Commonwealth.

State Role Title: Scientist I

Hiring Range: $62,000 - $78,000

Pay Band: 4

Location: DCLS

Agency Website: www.dgs.virginia.gov

Job Duties

The Virginia Department of General Services (DGS) is seeking a qualified candidate to serve as 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.

The Microbial Reference Group at DCLS provides laboratory testing services focused on the detection and identification of bacterial and fungal pathogens that cause disease in humans, which could be present in the food we eat or in the environment. This group also has the responsibility for providing laboratory testing for high-consequence pathogens or pathogens that may be used as biological agents by terrorists or persons that want to threaten or cause harm to the citizens of the Commonwealth. Human and environmental samples are tested routinely as part of investigations involving emerging infectious disease, gastrointestinal illnesses outbreaks and in support of autopsy and suspicious death investigations. The laboratory testing supports many local, state and federal agencies, as well as private and public laboratories throughout Virginia.

This Scientist will perform high complexity testing in the Mycobacteriology Laboratory detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Minimum Requirements:

• 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.
• Experience with laboratory safety practices and laboratory operations.
• Knowledge of microbiology.
• Knowledge of quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) procedures.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Good technical skills and strong attention to detail, including the ability to follow procedures, identify errors, and problem-solve.
• Ability to prioritize work in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to occasionally handle, push, pull, and/or move 50 or more lbs.
• Ability to work occasional after-hours and/or weekends as needed for emergency coverage and workflow.

This position will be in Richmond, Virginia and must report on-site.

Additional Considerations:

• Experience independently performing high complexity testing in a BSL-2 and/or BSL-3 laboratory.
• Experience with clinical microbiological cultures and/or molecular methods.
• Experience with mycobacteriology and/or mycology and pathogen identification.
• 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).

Special Instructions

The online state application must contain all required information and fully respond to questions to be considered for this job opportunity. Please be sure that all of your relevant qualifications and considerations are specifically addressed in your submitted application.