|
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |
|
|
POSITION DESCRIPTION FOR JOB POSTING |
|
|
Position Number: 50651524 |
Description Activated On: 10/21/2025 4:43:56 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. Implement and oversee a new wastewater surveillance testing program in the Bureau of Laboratories, Division of Virology and Immunology. Safeguarding public health from infectious agents and the diseases that threatens the well-being of communities is a key mission for this public health laboratory position. |
|
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. Supervises a Microbiologist 2 and oversees contracted staff positions, including at least one Microbiologist. This team supports molecular virology using real-time and digital polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocols and immunology testing for the detection of public health infectious diseases including SARS-CoV-2 on clinical and environmental samples (wastewater surveillance). Performs and evaluates new diagnostic and surveillance procedures to determine the performance characteristics and/or suitability for this laboratory. Evaluate performance of new procedures, methods, equipment, materials, training, writing standard operating protocols and validation design and perform testing and analyze results. Performs project management and coordinates a team for the implementation of new and updated testing methods and programs (wastewater surveillance). Performs the full range of supervisory responsibilities, including assigning, prioritizing, delegating and reviewing work; participating in staffing activities; and training staff, including coaching and team building. Monitors the quality assurance in pre-analytical phase in sample reception, submission forms, 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. Uses laboratory information management system (LIMS) to manage and review the laboratory testing results to ensure timely reporting to laboratory and public health partners. Monitors proficiency testing to ensure and maintain high quality standards of testing for molecular detection and serology to ensure compliance with Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) regulations. Responsible for monitoring CLIA compliance in quality assurance and quality control policies such as ensuring proficiency testing and competency assessments completion. Participates in the development and implementation of quality improvement efforts. Provides technical consultation and training on technical matters for new laboratory employees, public health agencies, students and PA clinical microbiology laboratories to ensure their understanding of virology testing and surveillance. Provide customer service via telephone to submitting agencies by providing timely laboratory results and laboratory status update that aid in the decisions about diagnosis, effective treatments and control efforts. Provide technical support to submitting agencies and program offices about specimen collections and laboratory testing procedures to ensure the proper collection of the specimens in the public health laboratory. Develops and implements training and cross-training plans. Engage in educational activities aimed to increase technical knowledge and skills through literature searches and attendance at conferences. 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. 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. This is an administrative position that requires considerable decision making and independent action in the management of the wastewater surveillance testing program. Administrative, programmatic or policy issues which require decision making at a higher level are referred to the Public Health Laboratory Division Director. |
||||||||||||||||||||
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: Supervisory experience is preferred. Licenses, registrations, or certifications: 1. N/A 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.
|