STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Principal Microbiologist (35 Hour)

Office/On-site

Recruitment #220807-6375HC-001

Go Back View Benefits

Introduction



Are you looking for the next step in your career? Interested in joining the outstanding team with the Department of Public Health (DPH) in Rocky Hill? We encourage you to apply today!

We are seeking a qualified individual for the position of Principal Microbiologist, to support the Connecticut Newborn Screening (CT NBS) Program. This position will be located centrally at the State Public Health Laboratory, located at 395 West Street in Rocky Hill. This is a full-time, first shift, thirty five (35) hour per week position with a typical work schedule of Monday through Friday.

The Connecticut Newborn Screening Program (CT NBS) is a public health program that screens all babies born in the state for many serious but treatable metabolic and genetic disorders. This program currently utilizes bloodspot screening to detect over sixty-five (65) disorders. Our program works to ensure that every newborn, who is born or resides in Connecticut, has a valid newborn screening on record and that those infants with abnormal screening results are promptly referred to a specialty treatment center for further evaluation and treatment when needed. These comprehensive efforts help prevent unnecessary disability and premature death. 

The Mission of the State of Connecticut, DPH is to protect and improve the health and safety of the people of Connecticut by:

  • Assuring the conditions in which people can be healthy
  • Preventing disease, injury, and disability
  • Promoting the equal enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health, which is a human right and a priority of the state.
DPH accomplishes this through the implementation of its Strategic Plan which outlines the actions that DPH is taking to accomplish its Mission.

Selection Plan

In order to be considered for this job opening you must be a current State of CT employee of the agency listed above for at least six (6) months of full-time service or full-time equivalent service, absent any applicable collective bargaining language, and meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application.

This position may be subject to Federal requirements for COVID-19 Vaccination Immunization.

To Apply:
  • In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening. The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
  • You must specify your qualifications on your application. You will be unable to make revisions once you submit your application for this posting to the JobAps system.
  • In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process.
  • All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period. It is the candidate’s obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception. Requests should be made to DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.
  • This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules.
Important Next Step Information for After You Apply:
  • Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process.
  • This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the question's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam.
  • Note: At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.
  • The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
  • Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position.
  • Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State Employees which is available at www.ct.gov/ethics.
Connect With Us:
  • Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process.
  • Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account. If you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment please contact Joseph K. Fried at Joseph.Fried@ct.gov, 860-924-7053.
FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:
Please visit our 'Applicant Tips on How to Apply' page.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Department of Public Health this class is accountable for acting as a working supervisor responsible for a large and/or complex grouping of work in a laboratory.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

Plans unit workflow and determines priorities; schedules, assigns, oversees and reviews work; establishes and maintains unit procedures; provides staff training and assistance; conducts or assists in conducting performance evaluations; acts as liaison with other operating units, agencies and outside officials regarding unit policies and procedures; conducts complex or specialized as well as routine microbiological, biomedical, molecular and biochemical analysis as necessary to ensure prompt processing of specimens; maintains quality assurance programs; prepares and maintains records, reports and correspondence; processes specimens under chain-of-custody; maintains knowledge of current developments and changes in field of expertise; oversees the use of and utilizes universal laboratory precautions; utilizes computers to operate and maintain instrumentation and to access, interpret, modify and report test results; acts for Supervising Microbiologist in his or her absence; may be responsible for leading staff and a variety of activities outside normal working hours; may make recommendations on policies or standards; may testify in court; performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

Considerable knowledge of current theories, principles and practices of biomedical sciences and microbiological disciplines including bacteriology, parasitology, virology and others as they relate to public health; considerable knowledge of current laboratory methods, equipment, instrumentation and material; considerable knowledge of quality assurance and quality control policies and procedures; knowledge of universal laboratory precautions; knowledge of common statistical techniques and ability to make sophisticated calculations; considerable oral and written communication skills; interpersonal skills; ability to perform advanced biomedical, microbiological and biochemical examinations; ability to conduct analytical, consultative and research activities; ability to interpret complex examination results in the context of patient history and epidemiology of disease or agent; ability to utilize computer software; some supervisory ability.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Eight (8) years of experience in a public health or medical laboratory involving scientific work in the field of microbiology, biochemistry or molecular biology.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

Two (2) years of the General Experience must have been at the full working level in the field of microbiology. For state employees this is interpreted at the level of Microbiologist 2.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

1. College training in the natural sciences may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
2. A Master's degree in the natural sciences may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Experience with current Newborn Screening assays such as Immunofluorescent assays, PCR techniques, HPLC analyses, IEF gel analyses, FIA and LC-MS/MS assays and carrying out bioanalytical extraction procedures for the detection of genetic and metabolic newborn screening disorders
  • Experience validating and implementing new Newborn Screening protocols, carrying out data analysis and calculations to demonstrate acceptability of Newborn Screening testing methods and writing or revising standard operating procedures
  • Experience training professional staff to meet requirements for carrying out and ensuring proper biosafety (BSL-2) and chemical hygiene standards, principles and practices within a Newborn Screening Laboratory
  • Experience training professional staff for existing, new and enhanced screening methodologies to meet requirements for clinical testing within a Newborn Screening Laboratory
  • Experience with troubleshooting Newborn Screening instrumentation and methodologies to ensure proper operation and experience with training staff to properly use and carry out maintenance procedures on Newborn Screening instrumentation
  • Experience with data and trend analysis, presentation of data and results, review, recording and review of results and final reports for laboratory testing procedures using a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint
  • Experience working as part of a multidisciplinary team within a Newborn Screening Program environment

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

1. Incumbents in this class must be willing to periodically undergo tests or immunizations for communicable diseases.
2. Incumbents in this class may be required to have specific education and/or experience to meet the various certification and/or licensing requirements.
3. Incumbents may be required to undergo and successfully complete security background checks.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Incumbents in this class may be exposed to communicable diseases and hazardous substances.

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.





E-mailPhone: (860) 713-52058am - 4:30pm M-FPowered by JobAps