STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Laboratory Quality Assurance Manager

Office/On-site

Recruitment #240910-8900MP-001

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Introduction

Are you a leader in quality assurance, passionate about public health, and ready to make a difference?  We encourage you to apply today! 

The State of Connecticut, Department of Public Health (DPH) State Public Health Laboratory in Rocky Hill is seeking a permanent Laboratory Quality Assurance (QA) Manager, reporting directly to the Laboratory Director. This leadership position will direct and coordinate all aspects of quality assurance and quality control programs of the state public health laboratory.  

  • Location: Connecticut State Public Health Laboratory in Rocky Hill
  • Work Hours: Full time, 40 hours per week
  • Schedule: First shift, Monday through Friday 
DISCOVER THE OPPORTUNITY TO:
  • Apply expertise in accreditation standards and information management policies for programs such as CLIA, EPA, ISO, and HIPAA.
  • Ensure compliance with regulatory bodies related to laboratory certifications.
  • Utilize strong knowledge in Microbiology and Clinical Chemistry to support various analytical areas of the laboratory.
  • Create and maintain quality assurance manuals for laboratory certifications.
  • Monitor quality assurance data and manage internal and external audits, including responding to audit findings.
  • Manage proficiency testing programs, document control systems, competency assessments, and training.
  • Implement quality management systems, such as Six Sigma or LEAN, to optimize laboratory processes.
  • Analyze data, identify trends, and monitor quality deviations to recommend corrective actions.
  • Develop detailed reports for management using technical knowledge and laboratory experience.
    MORE ABOUT US
    The Mission of 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.

    DPH accomplishes this through the implementation of its Strategic Plan which outlines the actions that DPH is taking to accomplish its Mission. 

    Selection Plan

    FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING: 

    Please read or watch our Applicant Tips on How to Apply!


    Please Note: For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.

    TO APPLY
    • In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening. The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified. 
    • In order to receive educational credits toward qualification for this job posting, the institution must be accredited.  If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the recruiter listed on this job posting.
    • You must specify your qualifications on your application. You will be unable to make revisions once you submit your application for this posting to the JobAps system.
    • In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process.
    • All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period. It is the candidate’s obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception. Requests should be made to DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.
    • This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules.
    AFTER YOU APPLY 
    • Although applicants will receive correspondence via email and/or phone, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process. 
    • This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the question's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam.
    • NOTE: At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.
    • The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
    • Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position. Read through this helpful link to prepare for your interview.
    • Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State Employees which is available at www.ct.gov/ethics.
      CONNECT WITH US 
      • Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process.
      • Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account. If you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Pamela Rochette at Pamela.Rochette@ct.gov. 

      PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

      In the Departments of Emergency Services and Public Protection and Public Health this class is accountable for directing a comprehensive program of quality assurance and monitoring compliance activities of the laboratory.

      EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

      • Directs staff and operations of the laboratory quality assurance program;
      • Coordinates, plans and manages quality assurance activities of the laboratory to ensure meeting all national and international standards for quality in testing;
      • Formulates program goals and objectives;
      • Develops or assists in development of related policy;
      • Interprets and administers pertinent laws;
      • Evaluates staff;
      • Prepares or assists in preparation of program budget;
      • Maintains contacts with individuals within and outside of program who might impact program activities;
      • Oversees development, preparation and maintenance of quality assurance manuals to meet current standards;
      • Ensures all laboratory staff trained in critical requirements of quality control;
      • Monitors quality assurance data and initiates corrective action as required;
      • Serves as key liaison with accrediting bodies regarding inspection activities including attending inspection exit interviews and preparation of response to written inspection reports;
      • Oversees compliance in laboratory safety and security standards set forth by accrediting and regulatory bodies;
      • Performs investigations of quality concerns performing internal audits of the laboratory upon direction of the Laboratory Director;
      • Leads the recruitment and hiring of staff, including outreach, interview and selection;
      • Performs related duties as required.
      DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES AND PUBLIC PROTECTION:
      • Ensures adherence to all quality assurance policies and procedures of the laboratory: Quality Assurance Standards (QAS) established by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) or current laboratory accrediting body, International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission (ISO/IEC 17025), and Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods (SWGDAM);
      • Performs related duties as required.

      KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

      • Considerable knowledge of
        • and ability to apply management principles and practices;
        • relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations;
        • nationally and internationally accepted standards for certification of clinical, environmental, radiological, biochemical or forensic science laboratories;
        • applications of laboratory science in public health programs or forensic science sections;
        • biological and chemical sciences;
        • development and application of quality assurance principles to laboratory practice;
        • use of statistics used to track and evaluate laboratory quality;
      • Considerable
        • interpersonal skills;
        • oral and written communication skills;
      • Ability to train all levels of personnel in laboratory quality, safety and security requirements.

      MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

      Ten (10) years of experience in public health, biological, environmental, commercial, clinical or chemical laboratory work or forensic analysis of evidentiary material.

      MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

      Two (2) years of the General Experience must have been in a lead capacity overseeing the activities of professional laboratory personnel or forensic analysis of evidentiary material.

      NOTE: For state employees this experience is interpreted at the level of a Principal Microbiologist, Principal Chemist or Forensic Science Examiner 2.

      MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

      • College training in biological or chemical sciences, forensic science, applied genomics, biochemistry, chemistry, genetics or molecular and cell biology or a closely related field 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.
      • A Master's degree in biological or chemical sciences, forensic science, applied genomics, biochemistry, chemistry, genetics or molecular and cell biology may be substituted for five (5) years of the General Experience.
      • A Doctorate degree in biological or chemical sciences, forensic science, applied genomics, biochemistry, chemistry, genetics or molecular and cell biology may be substituted for six (6) years of the General Experience.
      NOTE: Education may only be substituted for a total of six (6) years of the General Experience.

      PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

      • Experience with accreditation standards and information management policies for programs such as CLIA, CAP, EPA, ISO and HIPAA. Experience includes the ability to provide leadership and guidance to staff to ensure that quality policies, processes and procedures are established, current and adhered to by all laboratory staff.
      • Experience following the principles, practices, and techniques of the various analytical areas of the laboratory with an emphasis on Microbiology and Clinical Chemistry.
      • Experience managing internal and external audit processes and responding to audit findings, external assessments; proficiency testing programs; document control systems; competency assessment; training and other quality management systems such as Six Sigma or LEAN.
      • Experience analyzing data, identifying trends, monitoring prevention and corrective actions of quality deviations with recommendations for resolution to include developing reports for management utilizing technical knowledge and laboratory experience.
      • Experience working with the Chemical Safety officer and Biosafety officer to align quality practices, including data analysis, monitoring of trends, prevention, corrections, continuous quality improvement and customer satisfaction.
      • Experience managing complex projects independently and in a team environment, maintaining working relationships with multi-cultural and multi-disciplined staff. Experience demonstrating advanced verbal and written communication skills to collaborate, present and explain technical laboratory information and recommendations to management.
      • Experience with the development and the implementation of laboratory safety standard operating procedures including: Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens; Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories; Radiation Safety requirements and the Chemical Hygiene Plan.

      SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

      • Incumbents in this class must be willing to periodically undergo tests or immunizations for communicable diseases.
      • Incumbents in this class may be required to meet job specific certifications or meet specific education and/or experience requirements of a licensing or accrediting body.
      • Incumbents in this class may be required to undergo and successfully complete security background checks.
      • Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

      Conclusion

      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.

      ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

      As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.




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