PUBLIC HEALTH LABORATORY CONSULTANT 3 - 03112025-66087

Job Information

LOCATION OF (1) POSITION(S) TO BE FILLED: DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, COMMUNICABLE AND ENVIRONMENTAL DISEASE AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS DIVISION, DAVIDSON COUNTY

Working Title: Safety Officer

This position will be the Safety Officer and will work for the Laboratory Operations section for the laboratory.

Qualifications

Education and Experience: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in physical sciences (e.g. chemistry), ecology, life sciences (e.g. biology, microbiology, biochemistry or biophysics), medical laboratory science, pre-medicine, or other acceptable science or successful completion of an accredited medical laboratory scientist program and three years of full-time professional work in the related field.

Necessary Special Qualifications:

A PH Lab Consultant 3 performing Clinical duties the major portion of their time must: Have graduated from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in life sciences (e.g. biology, microbiology or biochemistry), medical laboratory science, pre-medicine, or other acceptable science or successful completion of an accredited medical laboratory scientist program.

A PH Lab Consultant 3 performing Chemist duties the major portion of their time must: Have graduated from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in chemistry, including at least 32 credit hours in the following areas: (1) general chemistry, (2) organic chemistry, (3) quantitative analysis, (4) instrumental analysis and (5) physical chemistry.

A PH Lab Consultant 3 performing Aquatic Biologist duties the major portion of their time must: Have graduated from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree, including at least 32 credit hours in biology, in one of the following areas: (1) biology or biological sciences, (2) botanical sciences, (3) environmental or conservation sciences, (4) zoological sciences, or (5) aquatic, terrestrial, or wetland biology or ecology or other acceptable biological science related field. Must possess and maintain a valid motor vehicle operator's license throughout the duration of employment.

Examination Method: Education and Experience, 100%, for Preferred Service positions.

Overview

Summary: Under general supervision, is responsible for routine consultant work of unusual difficulty, as it relates to clinical, chemistry, microbiological, environmental, biological and/or molecular areas; supervisory work of unusual difficulty; and performs other tasks as required.

Distinguishing Features: An employee in this class provides routine laboratory consultant work of unusual difficulty throughout a division or possibly statewide. Incumbents of the classification may supervise other PH Laboratory Consultant 1 and 2 positions or other laboratory staff. This class differs from the PH Laboratory Consultant 2 in that an incumbent of the latter performs consultant work of average difficulty. This class differs from a PH Laboratory Consultant 4 in that the latter performs work of a greater scope and complexity and statewide duties.

Responsibilities

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards:

1. Uses relevant or appropriate guidelines to determine whether test results are reportable based on laboratory, federal and/or state established policies and procedures.
2. Ensures quality control (QC) guidelines are being met.
3. Ensures confidentiality of patient information according to state and federal guidelines.
4. Examines all laboratory materials, including samples, to determine safe handling procedures are followed.
5. Ensures expired materials are disposed of as required by safety rules and regulations.

Processing Information:

1. Compiles, calculates, categorizes and verifies information or data for appropriateness.
2. Compiles papers or reports or prepare Standard Operating Procedures (SOP's) and specifications for processes, facilities, products or tests.
3. Verifies current SOP's and ensures they are accurate and up to date.
4. Uses past SOP's to create new, more efficient SOP's.

Analyzing Data or Information:

1. Interprets results of sample testing from various laboratory outputs to ensure accurate reporting.
2. Analyzes data by breaking information down into separate pieces and determining its utility.
3. Analyzes and interprets Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) data.

Training and Teaching Others:

1. Identifies, develops and/or provides all the training, documentation, and hands-on tools for divisional staff to develop full functional competency.
2. Trains personnel in appropriate laboratory procedures.
3. Develops and delivers training programs as required.

Provide Consultation and Advice to Others:

1. Advises upper management on SOP's, best practices and other workflow factors to inform strategy development and decision making.
2. Provides guidance/expert advice regarding appropriate laboratory procedures.
3. Makes recommendations for changes in operations which affect the efficiency and quality of division operations and services.

Getting Information:

1. Designs and/or coordinates experimental investigations and laboratory research.
2. Observes laboratory procedures for QA, safety and/or security updates.
3. Actively researches information concerning QA, safety, security and/or bioterrorism procedures.? Staying current with emerging technology and procedures.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems:

1. Analyzes information and evaluates results to choose the best solutions and solve problems.
2. Evaluates analytical output for correctness (e.g., quality control data) and addresses inaccuracies as required.
3. Analyzes, communicates and implements resolutions to various issues as they arise.

Documenting/Recording Information:

1. Prepares records and reports to meet division needs.
2. Documents, enters, transcribes, records, stores, destroys and maintains information in written or electronic form according to established state and federal guidelines.
3. Documents procedure improvement investigations as necessary.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge:

1. Remains current with regard to technical information and department procedures and policies and applies new knowledge appropriately.
2. Reviews information from textbooks, manuals, flowcharts and other reference sources to accurately analyze processes and procedures.
3. Actively seeks new knowledge and presents knowledge to group.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates:

1. Establishes and develops constructive and cooperative working relationships with all laboratory staff and maintains them over time.
2. Provides relevant information through the chain of command by either telephone, in written form, e-mail or in person.
3. Communicates status of assigned tasks or other relevant information to supervisors, peers or subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail or in person.

Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others:

1. Interprets policies, procedures, and/or SOP's and explains how they affect the laboratory and how they can be used.
2. Translates or explains what laboratory data means and how it can be used

Performing Administrative Activities:

1. Entering personal time and leave/overtime requests into the timekeeping system as required.
2. Performs day-today administrative tasks involving timekeeping, scheduling, ordering and management reports.
3. Processes and completes all records, reports and correspondence within the required timeframe.

Developing Objectives and Strategies:

1. Develops procedures independently for implementing new or modifying existing laboratory programs and activities.
2. Assists in developing, implementing, and enforcing major policies and procedures as it relates to laboratory activities.

Interacting With Computers:

1. Uses the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) for record management.
2. Uses computers to process information, data and control instrumentation.

Communicating with Persons Outside the Organization:

1. Presents educational laboratory information to outside agencies as required.
2. Contacts vendors and other outside agencies who administer department functions to obtain/provide required information, correct errors, and/or for clarification purposes.

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material:

1. Ensures laboratory equipment is monitored for proper functionality.
2. Ensures preventative maintenance schedules are being followed.

Judging the Quality of Things, Services or People:

1. Performs laboratory QA, QC, safety, and/or security audits as necessary.

Thinking Creatively:

1. Develops new applications, systems, protocols, and SOP's as needed.

Controlling Machines and Processes:

1. Operates laboratory equipment using control mechanisms as necessary.

Staffing Organization Units:

1. Conducting interviews for job candidates.

Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others:

1. Facilitates cooperation with members of a group to accomplish a task.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work:

1. Prioritizes and organizes tasks in order to complete them in an assigned timeframe.

Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment:

1. Operates passenger vehicles.

Performing General Physical Activities:

1. Bends, stoops, kneels, climbs and reaches as necessary.

Competencies (KSA's)

Competencies:

1. Approachability
2. Decision Quality
3. Presentation Skills
4. Directing Others
5. Functional/Technical Competency
6. Informing
7. Listening
8. Priority Setting
9. Problem Solving
10. Written Communications

Knowledge:

1. Biology
2. Chemistry
3. Clerical
4. Education and Training
5. Mathematics
6. Public Safety and Security

Skills:

1. Active Learning
2. Active Listening
3. Critical Thinking
4. Learning Strategies
5. Monitoring
6. Reading Comprehension
7. Science
8. Speaking
9. Writing
10. Instructing
11. Complex Problem Solving
12. Operations Monitoring
13. Quality Control Analysis
14. Troubleshooting
15. System Evaluation

Abilities:

1. Deductive Reasoning
2. Mathematical Reasoning
3. Oral Comprehension
4. Oral Expression
5. Problem Sensitivity
6. Speed of Closure
7. Time Sharing
8. Written Comprehension
9. Written Expression
10. Speech Clarity
11. Speech Recognition

Tools & Equipment

1. pH Meter
2. Pipette
3. Microbiology Analyzers
4. Autoclaves
5. Chemistry Analyzers
6. Microscopes
7. Balances
8. Thermocyclers
9. Computers
10. Calculators
11. Other laboratory equipment as required.

TN Driver Standards

State of Tennessee positions that may involve driving responsibilities require candidates to meet the following minimum driver qualifications:

• A valid driver's license
• For the past five years, the candidate's driver record must not have record of the following violations: driving under the influence (DUI), reckless driving, license suspension for moving violations, more than 4 moving violations.

Please include your Driver's License Information under the Licenses and Certifications section of your application.

**Agencies may allow an exception based on other factors.