Position Description

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
POSITION DESCRIPTION FOR JOB POSTING
Position Number: 50488689	Description Activated On: 8/18/2026 8:19:26 AM

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.

The primary purpose of this position is to serve as the chief architect of quality and compliance for state regulatory testing and food safety programs. This role ensures that the Department’s laboratory and inspection services produce legally defensible, scientifically accurate data that protects the state’s citizens and its agricultural economy. This role is advanced professional work involving the administration of the Quality Assurance and Safety Programs in the Bureau of Food Safety and Laboratory Services. The individual in this position is responsible for the development, implementation, and coordination of these comprehensive Bureau programs, and is under the direct administration of the Bureau Director.

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.

1. Design, implement, and maintain a comprehensive Quality Management System (QMS) that integrates food safety inspection protocols with laboratory analytical services and of a scope determined to be adequate by director level management.
2. Enforce QMS policies and Quality Assurance (QA) program and procedures that are appropriate to analytical disciplines and regulatory standards.
3. Author and standardize bureau-wide Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure consistency across various state regions and laboratory units.
4. Maintain document control systems through direction of writing, reviewing, and approving all written policies, procedures, supporting documents, and external documents. Maintain record control systems by ensuring identification, storage, protection, back-up, archive, retrieval, retention time, and disposal of records are consistent with client needs, and by information management of the laboratory’s electronic system.
5. Conduct regular evaluations of existing programs to identify vulnerabilities in food safety oversight and implement systemic improvements to meet federal standards.
6. Lead the transition from manual record-keeping to digital Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) and automate tracking systems.
7. Act as the primary lead for maintaining ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation and its supplemental requirements imposed by the ILAC-MRA, the Code of Federal Regulation, and the Pennsylvania Code for the bureau’s laboratory, ensuring all testing is scientifically valid and legally defensible.
8. Testify in court hearings, as needed, as an expert witness regarding QA related information.
9. Ensure the impartiality of the laboratory and confidentiality client data through the enforcement of the QMS, and with internal laboratory stakeholders, establish laboratory standards of ethical scientific practice and integrity of data.
10. Oversee the calibration, maintenance, and validation of high-complexity lab equipment used for detecting pesticides, pathogens, drug residues, and contaminants.
11. Perform rigorous technical reviews of laboratory data and certificates of analysis to ensure accuracy before results are released for regulatory enforcement.
12. Maintain inter-laboratory Proficiency Testing (PT) program for applicable disciplines within the QMS. Administer PT samples to the laboratory staff, evaluate the results, and advise the Laboratory Division Chief regarding PT performance.
13. Oversee and operate the laboratory's safety program with continuous improvement by maintaining safety policy and procedure, training laboratory staff in laboratory safety practices and perform safety audits; resolve and/or coordinate the resolution of safety deficiencies in the laboratory in partnership with the Laboratory Division Chief.
14. Manage a multidisciplinary team of Lab Technicians/Quality Assurance Analysts, overseeing daily assignments, performance reviews, and professional development.
15. Develop and deliver training programs on new laboratory methods, food safety laws, and safety protocols to ensure staff competency related to the laboratory’s quality management policies and procedures. Recommend improvement measures to the Laboratory Division Chief based upon the competence of staff.
16. Evaluate team productivity and reallocate resources to address seasonal surges in agricultural testing or emergency food safety outbreaks.
17. Coordinate and lead internal audit programs to verify system compliance and serve as the bureau’s primary point of contact for department, bureau, federal, and accreditation body audits.
18. Manage the Corrective Action Preventive Action (CAPA) process, ensuring that any deviations in food safety or lab results are investigated, documented, and resolved in a timely manner. Document and tack records of non-conformance, risks, opportunities for improvement, customer feedback, and complaints.
19. Monitor changes in state and federal agricultural laws to ensure the bureau’s QA systems remain compliant with evolving regulations like FSMA.
20. Partner with internal (bureau-wide, inter bureau) and external (state, federal, private) stakeholders during foodborne illness investigations or product recalls.
21. Assist the Laboratory Division Chief with the application process and management of federal grant funds related to laboratory activities that include assistance coordinating activities with the Regulatory Division, assistance with writing grant reports, attending meetings or aiding in conforming with other grant deliverables.
22. Prepare technical briefs and quality metrics for the Bureau Director and Executive Leadership to inform policy decisions. Provide detailed reports to the Bureau Director for management review and requirements of the QMS.
23. Successful maintenance of ISO accreditation and high scores on federal program standard audits.
24. Meeting milestones for the creation and rollout of new safety protocols.
25. Minimal laboratory re-testing requirements or data entry errors.
26. Successful training completion rates and staff performance improvements.
27. Split locations between a professional office setting and BSL-2 laboratory environment.
28. Occasional travel to regional inspection sites or state-wide agricultural facilities may be required.
29. Must be comfortable working around laboratory chemicals and potential foodborne pathogens with utilizing appropriate PPE.
30. Performs related work as required and assigned by the Bureau Director.

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.

The incumbent of this position works independently and with minimal daily supervision. This incumbent is expected to make autonomous, high-level decisions and develop required programs based on their expertise, scientific data, and quality standards.

Examples of decision making include:
1. Preparing federal grant applications and submitting them after Bureau Director approval.
2. Interpreting federal guidelines to determine if the bureau’s current documentation meets the required standards for federal grant funding.
3. Preparing and delivering laboratory specific training.
4. Developing and retaining necessary records for maintaining laboratory accreditation.
5. Conducting internal QA audits of the laboratory operation.
6. Determining the structure of new SOPs and choosing which quality frameworks will be implemented to improve current workflows.
7. Developing, training, and overseeing the laboratory safety policies and practices.
Initiating immediate internal CAPAs when a process deviation is discovered within the laboratory.
8. Deciding if a laboratory test result is accurate and legally defensible or if the sample must be rejected and re-tested due to a quality deviation.
9. Selecting specific laboratory instruments or software based on technical specifications and bureau needs.
10. Deciding how to prioritize the daily workload of the laboratory staff to meet urgent testing deadlines.
11. Coordinating food testing activities and planning with Bureau Division Chiefs, Assistant Bureau Director and Bureau Director.

Examples of decisions referred to others:
1. While the QA Specialist provides data showing a food product is unsafe, the decision to issue a recall or shut down a commercial facility is referred to bureau Executive Leadership and Legal teams.
2. Proposing changes to state agricultural code or formal bureau policy based on QA findings (the incumbent advises; the Bureau Director decides).
3. While the Specialist identifies the need for new technology, the final approval for large capital expenditures or state-wide budget reallocations sits with the Bureau Director and Executive Leadership.
4. Decisions regarding the formal signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with federal partners.
5. Any communication regarding a food safety crisis or a high-profile investigation is referred to Press Release Leadership.
6. Final decisions on hiring, termination, or formal disciplinary actions (the incumbent recommends; HR and the Bureau Director finalize).

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.   Class C Driver's License

2.   N/A

3.   N/A

4.   N/A

5.   N/A

6.   N/A

Essential Functions: Provide a list of essential functions for this position. Example: Transports boxes weighing up to 60 pounds.

1.	Read and interpret complex regulations, laws, rules, policies, and procedures and translate them into actionable state laboratory protocols.
2.	Explain scientific data and quality deviations to non-technical Executive Leadership and stakeholders.
3.	Remain informed and comprehend scientific and technical literature related to the job function.
4.	Conduct visual laboratory safety and audit inspections.
5.	Navigate uneven surfaces, and frequently bend, kneel, reach and climb stairs. Communicate effectively, verbally and written.
6.	Utilize current and emerging technology to perform daily tasks (cell phones, laptops).
7.	Prepare and conduct training and presentations, attend meetings and training courses, which may include overnight travel as needed.
8.	Work independently and prioritize assignments, organize and submit reports and information in a timely manner.
9.	Maintain professionalism and manage workload professionally.
10.	Maintain the integrity of evidence, samples, and records, attend hearings, and testify as needed.