State of Maryland

A Public Health Laboratory Scientist VII is highly responsible technical administrative work in the Laboratories Administration of the Maryland Department of Health (MDH).   Employees in this classification assist the Director, Laboratories Administration, oversee the operation of the divisions of the Administration and are responsible for the general administration and technical supervision of these divisions. Employees in this classification are responsible for developing programs and new technical procedures, maintaining at a high level the quality of work of the Laboratories Administration, and providing technical assistance in general administration.  Employees in this classification are also responsible for collaborating in the evaluation and control programs of the Administration and for providing assistance in the technical administration of branch and regional laboratories.   Employees in this classification, as a specialist in the field, are required to render advice and assistance to physicians, professional staffs of hospitals, private laboratories and representatives of public health agencies, as well as to the division heads in the Administration and have considerable public contact.  Employees in this classification directly supervise high level Laboratory Scientists who head the various divisions and through them supervise all employees of the Administration.

Employees in this classification receive general administrative direction from the Director, Laboratories Administration.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Public Health Laboratory Scientist VII is differentiated from the Public Health Laboratory Scientist VI in that the Public Health Laboratory Scientist VII is responsible for the general administration and technical supervision of all the staff in in the MDH Laboratories Administration while the Public Health Laboratory Scientist VI is responsible for the general administration and technical supervision of all the staff in a division or for a Regional Public Health Laboratory in the MDH Laboratories Administration.

Executes established programs and policies of the Laboratories Administration and serves as Director in the absence of same;

Provides consultation studies and formulates recommendations pertaining to operation of the laboratories, including all branch and regional laboratories;

Centralizes the coordination of special studies, research and training activities of the Administration;

Advises appropriate agencies on the medical laboratory aspects of civil defense;

Keeps all operational procedures up to date and in acceptable form;

May represent the Administration in meetings with officials of the Maryland Department of Health and other agencies, with or in lieu of the Director, Laboratories Administration; 

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge, at the expert level, of the operation and care of specialized laboratory equipment;

Knowledge of skills and manipulative techniques necessary for following and preparing scientific methods and procedures;

Knowledge of the basic principles of chemistry and microbiology;

Knowledge of basic management and administrative techniques;

Ability to exercise broad administrative responsibility in regard to policies and personnel;

Ability to supervise professional and subprofessional personnel in the performance of laboratory tests;

Ability to assist in the coordination of the work of the Laboratories Administration;

Ability to direct and conduct independent research in improving laboratory methods and procedures and to carry on investigational studies;

Ability to prepare comprehensive scientific reports;

Ability to prepare comprehensive plans of studies for application for federal research grants;

Ability to direct the maintenance of accurate laboratory records;

Ability to assist the Director, Laboratories Administration in overall program development;

Ability to work with lay and technical groups as well as with fellow employees.

Education:   A Doctorate degree from an accredited college or university in the fields of microbiology or chemistry.

Experience: Five years of experience in the field of microbiology or chemistry, two years of experience must have included responsibility for the direction and supervision of program and staff personnel. 

Note: Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in Health Science Research Officer classifications or Medical Laboratory Specialists specialty codes in the Science related field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience and education.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Professional Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Professional Service positions.  Some positions in Professional Service classifications may be designated as Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is not assigned to a bargaining unit, as indicated by the designation of S (Supervisor), M (Manager), T (Agency Head), U (Board or Commission Member), W (Student), X (Used by Agency or Excluded by Executive Order), or Z (Confidential).  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.