Laboratory Information Management System Specialist (35 Hour)

Our mission at the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) is to protect and improve the health and safety of the people of Connecticut by assuring the conditions in which people can be healthy, preventing disease, injury, and disability, and promoting the equal enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health, which is a human right and a priority of the state.  

The State of Connecticut, DPH is recruiting for a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) Specialist for the State Public Health Laboratory (SPHL).  This position is conveniently located in Rocky Hill, CT.  The work schedule is full-time, typically Monday through Friday, 35 hours weekly. The position number is 125471.

The SPHL is a modern facility that is responsible for testing both clinical and environmental samples for the DPH and various State agencies. The data generated by the SPHL is used to make decisions regarding protection of the public health of the residents of Connecticut.   

The LIMS Specialist will be working with Laboratory testing staff as part of their duties.  The types of testing performed in the SPHL include:

• Antibiotic susceptibility,
• Bio and chemical threat agents,
• Emerging pathogenic organisms,
• Drinking water analyses,
• Foodborne outbreaks,
• Pathogens in foods,
• Dairy testing,
• STDs,
• Newborn screening,
• Rabies,
• Tuberculosis, and
• Viruses.  

We participate in a competitive benefits plan that includes healthcare coverage, a retirement plan, as well as paid time off!

This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. Candidates who meet the Minimum Qualifications - as listed on the job opening - will be considered for this role, as determined by qualifications stated on the submitted application.  

Please ensure that your application is complete and you have included your resume in the “Resume Tab” of your application as you will be unable to make revisions once you submit your application into the JobAps system.  Individuals considered for interview will be required to submit additional documentation supporting their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include performance reviews, attendance, supervisory references, college transcripts, licensure, etc.  You do not have to attach these documents to your application.   

Applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies.

This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs) which will be sent to you via email after the closing date. The email notification will include an expiration date by which you must submit (Finish) your responses. Please regularly check your email for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders, as emails could end up there in error. 

Should you have questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Doreen Clemson at Doreen.Clemson@ct.gov or (860) 785-9855.

In the Department of Public Health, the sole position in this class will serve as the statewide representative over the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) and is accountable for overseeing and coordinating the development, implementation and maintenance of the LIMS and assuring compliance with business and laboratory needs.

Oversees and coordinates the ongoing development, validation and implementation of the LIMS, including the development or revision of LIMS policies and procedures; conducts business analysis, including the integration of system requirements and gap analysis in collaboration with federal and state partners, stakeholders, vendors, laboratory staff and external clients; serves as a liaison between laboratory, fiscal and information technology staff on LIMS matters, including maintaining uninterrupted LIMS service and conducting upgrades to LIMS hardware, software, systems security, and instrumentation; develops and conducts training to laboratory staff and clients on existing and newly developed LIMS functionalities, policies, and procedures; oversees the creation of automated reports and queries to evaluate laboratory and systems performance and to enhance overall laboratory quality assurance and quality control; supports laboratory compliance with requirements for certification and accreditation; retrieves data from LIMS at the request of management; acts as liaison with other operating units, agencies and outside officials regarding LIMS matters; may participate in workgroups to promote the electronic sharing of health information; performs related duties as required.

Considerable knowledge of laboratory information management systems; considerable knowledge of current laboratory methods, applications, examinations, equipment, instrumentation and material; considerable knowledge of laboratory quality assurance and quality control policies and procedures; knowledge of universal laboratory precautions; considerable ability to utilize computer software; considerable interpersonal skills; considerable oral and written communication skills; ability to conduct analytical and consultative activities; ability to interpret laboratory findings.

Eight (8) years of professional experience performing scientific work in a public health, general biological, clinical or chemical laboratory.

Two (2) years of the General Experience must have been at the full working level in a laboratory working with complex instrumentation and laboratory information management systems.

For state employees this is interpreted at the level of Microbiologist 2 or Chemist 2.

1. College training in chemical, physical, biological, or clinical laboratory science may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
2. A Master's degree in chemical, physical, biological, or clinical laboratory science may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

Preference will be given to candidates who possess:  

• Experience with clinical and environmental laboratory testing procedures;
• Experience with a laboratory information management system (LIMS) including extracting data, reporting, creating queries, security, hardware, interfacing a LIMS with laboratory instrumentation, and troubleshooting LIMS errors;
• Experience with designing and implementing quality control procedures associated with LIMS activities such as documentation, testing, and developing policies for meeting regulatory requirements;
• Experience with training staff and clients in the use of computer functionalities including new and revised software, and interfacing the LIMS with customer databases; and
• Experience with electronic laboratory reporting (ELR) including HL7 messaging, LOINC codes, SNOMED codes, and secure file transport protocol (FTP).

1. Incumbents in this class must be willing to periodically undergo tests or immunizations for communicable diseases.
2. Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.
3. Incumbents may be required to undergo and successfully complete security background checks.

Incumbents in this class may be exposed to communicable diseases and hazardous substances while observing laboratory activities.

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.