STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Laboratory Assistant 3 (35 Hour)

Recruitment #231002-5238HN-001

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Introduction


The State of Connecticut, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) is a free-standing. modern facility located on the UCONN Health Center Campus in Farmington, CT.  The office is a state-wide medical examiner system charged with the investigation of sudden and unexpected deaths that, by statute, fall under our jurisdiction. 

We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented, Laboratory Assistant 3, to join our dynamic team.  

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU:
  • A chance to work for a Forbes top company: ‘Forbes’ State of Connecticut Ranked One of the Best Employers of 2023 State of CT Receives National Recognition for Offering Job Growth, Competitive Benefits, and Flexible Schedule 
  • State of Connecticut is an eligible Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer, meaning you may be eligible to have qualifying student loans forgiven after 10 years of service.  Click here for more information.
  • Industry leading health benefits, including medical and dental coverage
  • State Employee Retirment System (SERS) Tier IV (new hires after 7.17.23)
  • Voluntary Deferred Compensation 45 Plan through Empower (formerly Prudential)
  • Paid time off - including 13 holidays per calendar year
  • Dedicated employee parking

    •
    POSITION HIGHLIGHTS:
  • Onsite
  • Full-Time
  • 8:30am -4:00pm Monday thru Friday, with weekend coverage on a rotating basis

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    THE ROLE:
    The Laboratory Assistant 3: 
    • Answers incoming calls and inputs and/or edits cases into computerized system; 
    • Coordinates removal, transport and release of bodies with funeral homes or hospitals; 
    • Acts as liaison to police departments, hospitals and physicians; 
    • Types and assembles related paperwork;
    • Checks and documents personal property and evidence; 
    • Relays information to public;
    • Assists with preparing bodies for identification; 
    • May clean and sterilize glassware, utensils and laboratory instruments; 
    • May operate basic laboratory equipment; 
    • May prepare simple solutions and reagents; 
    • May be required to properly handle evidence, prepare biological samples for transportation to outside laboratories, assist with procedures in the in-house histology and anthropology laboratories and transport biological evidence to and from OCME; performs related duties as required. 
    FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:
    Please visit our 'Applicant Tips on How to Apply' page.

    Selection Plan

    In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process.  Applicants invited to interview may be required to submit additional documentation, which supports their qualification(s) for this position.  These documents may include:  a resume, performance reviews, supervisory references, college transcripts, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.

    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.

    Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign onto their Personal Status Board daily to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment 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 jsanz@ocme.org.

    Should you have questions pertaining to any phase of this recruitment, please contact the hiring agency's human resources office: jsanz@ocme.org, 860-679-3982.

    NOTE: The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.

    PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

    In a state health, academic or diagnostic laboratory this class is accountable for performing a range of technical laboratory work with emphasis on special techniques and more complex technical examinations involving independent calculations, more advanced laboratory equipment and analytical judgements.

    In an academic institution laboratory complex this class is accountable for preparing and maintaining student laboratories.

    EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

    STATE HEALTH, ACADEMIC OR DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORY:

    • Prepares specimens/samples, culture media, solutions and reagents of varying complexity but with emphasis on use of more specialized techniques and calibrated measuring devices, analytical balances and independent calculations; 
    • Performs more complex technical examinations; 
    • Assists in collection and identification of specimens for special laboratory studies; 
    • Performs minor maintenance on laboratory equipment; 
    • Maintains inventory of all testing materials prepared; 
    • Keeps records of laboratory findings and prepares reports; 
    • May lead lower level laboratory employees in preparatory techniques and performance of technical examinations; 
    • Performs related duties as required.
    ACADEMIC INSTITUTION LABORATORY COMPLEX: 

    • Prepares materials and equipment needed to carry out student laboratory assignments and maintain large student laboratories, e.g., media, solutions, reagents and stains of varying types and complexities, preserved materials and animal specimens, instructional media, etc.; 
    • Ensures cleanliness and proper set up of laboratory equipment, materials and facilities; 
    • Requisitions needed supplies and maintains inventory; 
    • Assembles and breaks down laboratory exercises and course materials; 
    • Oversees and assists student workers and other lower level laboratory employees; 
    • Prepares reports; 
    • Performs related duties as required.
    OFFICE OF CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER OFFICE:

    • Registering and gathering information on new cases;
    • Rename and upload identification documents;
    • Coordinate removal, transport, and release of bodies;
    • Check and documents personal property and evidence;
    • Releases evidence;  
    • Act as liaison to police, hospitals, pathologists;
    • Relays information to the public; 
    • Performs in house testing as needed (CO);
    • Understanding of medical terminology;
    • Basic laboratory experience;
    • Train new hires;
    • Oral and written communication;  
    • Experience as a team lead;    
    • Experience supervising a staff;
    • Staff scheduling;
    • Overtime scheduling; 
    • Performance evaluations;
    • Handle employee issues.                                                                                                       

    KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

    • Knowledge of specialized laboratory techniques and procedures; 
    • Ability to
      • make independent analytical judgements and carry out independent calculations; 
      • prepare reports and keep technical records.

    MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

    Four (4) years of experience in laboratory work.

    MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

    Two (2) years of the General Experience must have been in a related laboratory setting at the level of Laboratory Assistant 2 or above.

    MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

    College training in the biological or physical sciences may be substituted for the General or Special 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.

    PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Previous supervisory experience
  • Histology experience

    • PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

    Incumbents in this class must be willing to undergo periodic tests or immunizations for communicable diseases as necessary.

    WORKING CONDITIONS

    Incumbents in this class may occasionally be required to lift standard laboratory equipment; may be exposed to some risk of injury from such elements as toxic vapors and toxic and/or disease-carrying substances; may be exposed to moderately disagreeable conditions.

    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.

    ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

    As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.




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