State of Maryland

A Public Health Laboratory Scientist VI Chemistry is highly responsible, technical administrative laboratory work in the Laboratories Administration of the Maryland Department of Health (MDH).  Employees in this classification are in charge of one of the several major divisions of the Laboratories Administration or of a Regional Public Health Laboratory.  Employees in this classification are responsible for the general administration and technical supervision of the Environmental Chemistry Division; or a Regional Public Health Laboratory.  Employees in this classification are responsible for providing technical assistance in general administration to the Director, Laboratories Administration; developing programs for the respective divisions; maintaining a high quality level of work; and developing new technical procedures.  Employees in this classification are also responsible for collaborating in evaluation and control programs of the Laboratories Administration and for providing assistance in the technical administration of branch laboratories.  Employees in this classification, as specialists in the environmental chemistry field, have considerable public contact and are required to provide advice and assistance to Physicians, professional staff of hospitals, private laboratories and representatives of public agencies.  Employees in this classification directly supervise high-level Laboratory Scientists who are heads of special laboratories, sections within their division, or branch laboratories within their region and through them supervise all employees of a division or a Regional Public Health Laboratory.

Employees in this classification receive general administrative direction from the Director, Laboratories Administration.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Public Health Laboratory Scientist VI is differentiated from the Public Health Laboratory Scientist Manager in that the Public Health Laboratory Scientist VI is responsible for the general administration and technical supervision of all the staff in a division or for a Regional Public Health Laboratory in the MDH Laboratories Administration while the Public Health Laboratory Scientist Manager has supervisory responsibility for Public Health Laboratory Scientist Supervisors and manages a regional laboratory or serves as an Assistant Division Chief in the Maryland Laboratories Administration.

Responsible for the operation of the Environmental Chemistry Division which currently includes the following: Food Laboratory; Water and Sewage Laboratory; Pharmaceutical Laboratory; Air Pollution Laboratory; Bedding Laboratory; and an Occupational Health Laboratory or Directs the activities of a Regional Public Health Laboratory;

Plans with the Director, Laboratories Administration the development of programs for the Environmental Chemistry Division or a Regional Public Health Laboratory;

Directs research within the Division;

Keeps all operational procedures up-to-date and in acceptable form;

Assists the Director of Laboratories Administration;

Acts as a consultant in the Environmental Chemistry specialty area and renders assistance to Physicians and staff of hospitals, private laboratories and other hospital laboratories, as well as representatives of public health agencies;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the basic principles of environmental chemistry;

Knowledge, at the expert level, of the operation and care of specialized laboratory equipment;

Skill in techniques in following and preparing scientific methods and procedures;

Ability to acquire a thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of each unit of the Environmental Chemistry Division, including areas, such as food, water, sewage, drugs, occupational health and air pollution;

Ability to supervise professional and subprofessional personnel in the performance of laboratory tests;

Ability to coordinate the work of the Environmental Chemistry Division with that of other units of the Laboratories Administration;

Ability to direct and conduct independent research in improving laboratory methods and procedures and to conduct investigational studies;

Ability to prepare comprehensive scientific reports;

Ability to direct the maintenance of accurate laboratory records;

Ability to assist the Director, Laboratories Administration in overall program development;

Ability to work with lay and technical groups as well as with fellow employees.  

Education:    A Doctorate degree from an accredited college or university in Chemistry.

Experience:  Three years of experience in Chemistry, including at least one year of laboratory supervisory experience.

Note: Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in Health Science Research Officer classifications or Medical Laboratory Specialists specialty codes in the Science related field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience and education.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Professional Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Professional Service positions.  Some positions in Professional Service classifications may be designated as Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is not assigned to a bargaining unit, as indicated by the designation of S (Supervisor), M (Manager), T (Agency Head), U (Board or Commission Member), W (Student), X (Used by Agency or Excluded by Executive Order), or Z (Confidential).  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.