Public Health Scientist Senior (Quality Assurance Officer)

Arizona Department of Health Services

Position: Public Health Scientist (Quality Assurance Officer)

Division of Preparedness /Bureau of State Lab

Location: 150 N 18th Ave Phoenix, AZ. 85007

Annual Salary: $60,650

The purpose of the position is to monitor the Quality Assurance needs primarily for the Office of Microbiology but may include other offices within the laboratory. Assist with the inspection and administrative functions for the CLIA, ISO 17025, and other regulatory programs.

Responsibilities:

• Monitor all aspects of Quality Assurance in the Office of Microbiology, and other offices as assigned, with internal audits and accuracy checks including follow up.
• Submit reports on the status of each of the sections.
• Perform internal investigations if significant issues are identified by internal audit, complaints, or QA reviews.
• Review of Supervisor's QA reports, all corrective actions, and all proficiency testing.
• Review the verification of performances.
• Review of testing procedures for compliance with laboratory regulations (e.g. CLIA, ISO, EPA, etc).
• Provide training on quality topics such as safety, regulations, and good lab practices.
• Assist with development and changes to the laboratory information management systems quality reports.
• Updating and maintaining the Guide to Laboratory Services, Quality Systems Plan, and Quality Assurance Manual.
• Assist with external inspections performed by CLIA, ISO, EPA, and other organizations performing laboratory accreditation activities.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• General laboratory procedures, emphasis microbiology/molecular.
• Federal regulations and Arizona Revised Statutes related to laboratory testing.
• Good understanding of laboratory management and operational concepts.
• Specialized lab procedures (i.e. PCR, WGS).
• Lab safety precautions emphasis when working with infectious agents and hazardous materials.
• Performance Management (PM), and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) and Lean methodologies.

Skills in:

• Review and reading of professional literature.
• Requires oral and written communication, analytical, interpersonal, listening, organizational, and evaluation.
• Repetition.
• Training courses and conferences.

Ability to:

• Change priorities as issues arise.
• Problem solving.
• Work independently with minimal supervision.
• Work independently or in a team to perform reviews of laboratory sections.
• Able to see whole picture and not center on minor details.
• Requires ability to analyze analytical data, reporting and evaluation of analyst qualifications in providing compliance data.
• Support a diverse multi-cultural workforce that reflects the community, promotes equal opportunity at all levels of public employment, and creates an inclusive work environment that enables all individuals to perform to their fullest potential free from discrimination.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major or minor in a laboratory science including twelve semester hours in microbiology or chemistry.
• Professional background in laboratory science, microbiology or chemistry, with at least 4 years of experience.

Pre-Employment Requirements:

Driving is required for State Business.

• Employees who drive on state business require possession of and the ability to retain a current, valid state-issued driver's license appropriate to the assignment. Employees who drive on state business are subject to driver's license checks, must maintain acceptable driving records and must complete any driver training (See Arizona Administrative Code R2-10-207.11).

Benefits:

The State of Arizona provides an excellent comprehensive benefits package including:

− Affordable medical and dental insurance plans

− Paid vacation and sick time

− 10 paid holidays per year

− Wellness program and plans

− Life insurance

− Short/long-term disability insurance

− Defined retirement plan

− Award winning Infant at Work program

− Credit union membership

− Transit subsidy

− ADHS Student Assistance Pilot Program

Retirement:

To help you build a financially secure future, the State makes monthly contributions to finance your retirement benefit. The State will make a contribution to the ASRS in an amount equal to your contribution. In other words, you and the State will each pay 50% of the total cost of the benefit. New State employees have a 27 week wait period for contributions to begin.