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Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |
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POSITION DESCRIPTION FOR JOB POSTING |
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Position Number: 50374450 |
Description Activated On: 7/7/2026 1:13:24 PM |
Position Purpose: Describe the primary purpose of this position and how it contributes to the organization’s objectives. Example: Provides clerical and office support within the Division to ensure its operations are conducted efficiently and effectively. This Microbiologist II position in the Bureau of Laboratories, supports the organization’s mission to safeguard public health by performing laboratory testing, characterizing, and tracking agents of infectious disease that threaten the health and welfare of the citizens of the Commonwealth. Samples examined are both clinical and environmental, including bioterrorism and foodborne agents. This is an advanced professional technical position in the Division of Microbiology section under the supervision of a Microbiologist 3. |
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Description of Duties: Describe in detail the duties and responsibilities assigned to this position. Descriptions should include the major end result of the task. Example: Types correspondence, reports, and other various documents from handwritten drafts for review and signature of the supervisor. Carries out work assignments with initiative and independence. Work is technical in nature and scientific terminology is used. Work involves the handling of sensitive material and confidential patient information. Incumbent's daily workload is dynamic, and the incumbent must make independent decisions concerning the work to be performed on a day-to-day basis. Performs conventional microbiology testing including, bioterrorism agent identifications, enteric agent identifications, and Legionella water testing, in both biosafety level 2 and 3 laboratories using LRN, FDA approved, BAM and LDT protocols. Performs molecular microbiology testing including, bioterrorism agent PCR, Norovirus PCR, Malaria & Babesia PCR, Mpox PCR, Biofire Gastrointestinal Panel PCR, Shiga toxin producing E. coli, and Legionella PCR for water testing, in both biosafety level 2 and 3 laboratories using LRN, FDA approved, BAM and LDT protocols. Perform microbiological analysis of samples associated with possible bioterrorism events. Specimens may include, but are not limited to, clinical, environmental, food, and water samples. Bioterrorism Agents include Bacillus anthracis, Brucella spp, Franciscella tularensis, Burkholderiia mallei & pseudomallei, Yersinia pestis and Ricin. In addition to conventional bacteriological methods, advanced techniques such as PCR and TRF are used in these analyses. Maintain stock cultures and inventory of select agents. Performs microbiological analysis of samples related to food borne outbreaks and grant activities related to food pathogen surveillance. This includes collaboration with the FDA NARMS program to provide retail meat testing, documentation, isolate submissions, and attending grant-specific meetings. In addition to conventional bacteriological methods, advanced techniques such as PCR and MALDI-TOF are used in these analyses. Performs bacterial and toxin identification using MALDI-TOF for enteric identification protocols and Clostridium botulinum neurotoxin assay. Prepare specimens for shipment to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other facilities. Assist in initial processing of specimens received. Tasks include opening packages, assigning accession numbers, and delivering specimens and associated paperwork to appropriate laboratories. Monitor and maintain supplies and reagent inventory. Provide technical training on technical matters for new laboratory employees, public health agencies, students, and PA clinical microbiology laboratories. Perform quality control in the pre-analytical phase in sample reception, submission forms, and quality of specimens; in the analytical phase using the quality controls and internal controls and post-analytical testing in interpretation and troubleshooting to ensure the accuracy of the test. Documents maintenance of equipment and maintains appropriate records. Performs and evaluates new diagnostic procedures to determine performance characteristics and/or suitability for this laboratory. Evaluate the performance of new procedures, methods, equipment, and reagents used in the testing when needed to be improved or changed, including reading principles and protocols, performing the validation, and analyzing results. Use laboratory information management system (LIMS) to accession specimens, manage the samples through the testing processes, and report the laboratory testing results to ensure timely reporting to laboratory and public health partners. Participate in proficiency testing to ensure high-quality standards of molecular and conventional testing methods as part of compliance with CLIA regulations. Perform quality control checks on equipment, reagents, controls, and procedures to ensure the reliability of test results. Follow Bureau Quality Control and Quality Assurance Policies to ensure accurate results. Provide technical consultation and training on technical matters for new laboratory employees, public health agencies, students, and PA clinical microbiology laboratories. Provide customer service via telephone to submitting agencies by providing timely laboratory results and laboratory status updates that aid in the decisions about diagnosis, effective treatments, and control efforts. Engage in educational activities aimed to increase technical knowledge and skills through literature searches and attendance at webinars. Shares with colleagues the information gained from external training opportunities to ensure that all staff has current up-to-date information. Adheres to safety policies as described in the Bureau of Laboratories Policy Manual, Chemical Hygiene Plan, and Bloodborne Pathogens Plan to ensure personal safety and the safety of others within the Bureau. Prepare specimens for outsource shipment and is trained in packaging and shipping standards. Assist in filing, retrieving, and photocopying reports, documents, etc. Cross-training will be required to assist with workflow in Bacteriology. Engage in educational activities aimed to increase technical knowledge and skills through literature searches and attendance at webinars. Shares with colleagues the information gained from external training opportunities to ensure that all staff has current up-to-date information. Public Health Emergency Response - This position may be given an assignment to support the public health emergency response mission of the Department of Health. Emergency assignments could at times be received with little or no advance notice and may continue for any period - ranging from a few hours to several weeks, depending on the nature of the circumstance. The emergency assignments may at times be performed under adverse conditions and may require travel to another site other than the employee's assigned headquarters for a period. This position is under the provision of the Federal Select Agent Program. An approve from the U.S. Department of Justice security risk assessment will be required. Performs other related duties as required. |
Decision Making: Describe the types of decisions made by the incumbent of this position and the types of decisions referred to others. Identify the problems or issues that can be resolved at the level of this position, versus those that must be referred to the supervisor. Example: In response to a customer inquiry, this work involves researching the status of an activity and preparing a formal response for the supervisor’s signature. Decision making is made based on defined standards or the proper professional/technical discipline. New assignments are performed independently based on knowledge of standards, procedures, and in compliance with regulations The position establishes the sequence of daily activities (unless otherwise instructed). The position decides when the retesting of a specimen is in order and interprets and reports routine test results. The position consults with the supervisor before rejecting a specimen, when interpreting and reporting aberrant test results when receiving a request for test results from a third party, and before amending established testing procedures. Supervisor reviews ongoing work progress and the results of assignments. |
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Requirements Profile: Identify any specific experience or requirements, such as a licensure, registration, or certification, which may be necessary to perform the functions of the position. Position-specific requirements should be consistent with a Special Requirement or other criteria identified in the classification specification covering this position. Example: Experience using Java; Professional Engineer License Experience: Licenses, registrations, or certifications: 1. N/A 2. N/A 3. N/A 4. N/A 5. N/A 6. N/A |
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Essential Functions: Provide a list of essential functions for this position. Example: Transports boxes weighing up to 60 pounds.
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