State of Maryland

A Public Health Laboratory Scientist Supervisor is the supervisory level of work performing public health analytical, diagnostic, environmental and epidemiological laboratory testing in a public health laboratory.  Employees in this classification supervise lower-level Public Health Laboratory Scientists General performing a variety of laboratory tests, assays, analytical procedure validations and quality assurance and quality control studies in such fields as analytical and environmental chemistry, diagnostic and environmental microbiology and immunology, biochemistry, molecular biology and virology.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a Public Health Laboratory Scientist Manager.  Work is performed in a laboratory setting.  Employees may be required to work evenings, weekends and holidays.  Employees are required to observe infection control precautions in order to prevent contamination and the spread of disease.

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 Supervisor is differentiated from the Public Health Laboratory Scientist Lead in that the Public Health Laboratory Scientist Supervisor has supervisory responsibility for lower-level Public Health Laboratory Scientists General while and the Public Health Laboratory General Lead assigns, reviews and approves the work of and trains lower-level Public Health Laboratory Scientists General.  The Public Health Laboratory Scientist Supervisor is differentiated from the Public Laboratory Scientist Manager in that the Public Laboratory Scientist Manager has supervisory responsibility for Public Health Laboratory Scientist Supervisors, and generally manages a regional laboratory, or serves as Assistant Division Chief in the Laboratories Administration.

Supervises, schedules, assigns and evaluates the work of lower-level Public Health Laboratory Scientists General and other lower-level laboratory employees;

Supervises and coordinates the operation of public health laboratory testing and the accuracy and reliability of pre-analytical, analytical and post-analytical testing on a daily basis;

Supervises the training of lower-level Public Health Laboratory Scientists General;

Troubleshoots laboratory testing, the maintenance and repair of laboratory instruments and recommends the purchase of laboratory equipment;

Supervises acceptance, rejection and appropriateness of test specimens and samples;

Supervises the propagation and identification of viruses in tissue culture, the culturing, isolation and identification of infectious and environmental microorganisms from blood, body tissues, water and foods, the quality of biochemical and bioimmunological assays to screen populations for hereditary disorders and the performance and quality of analytical chemistry testing performed for environmental health and protection;

Supervises the safe handling, containment, manipulation and disposal of infectious microorganisms, radiochemicals and hazardous chemicals;

Reviews action logs, customer complaints and quality assurance and quality control problems;

Enforces State standards and federal regulatory requirements for medical and environmental laboratories; Oversees quality control, quality assurance measures and continuing quality improvement processes individually and through team efforts;

Produces and supervises the production of standard operating procedures and quality assurance manuals;

Conducts training lectures and seminars;

Compiles quarterly report data;

Identifies and develops testing costs and budgets for unit or section;

Serves as an expert witness in court cases;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of college-level biology, chemistry, and medical laboratory technology applicable to public health laboratory practice in biochemistry, environmental chemistry, microbiology, virology, immunology, and molecular biology;

Knowledge of mathematics, including algebra and statistics;

Knowledge of the theory and operation of common laboratory supplies, chemicals, equipment and instruments used in medical and public health laboratories;

Skill in understanding and following laboratory procedures and policies;

Skill in the use of common diagnostic and environmental laboratory supplies, reagents, chemicals and equipment;

Skill in the application of standard precautions in handling potentially infectious biological materials and hazardous chemicals;

Ability to supervise the work of lower-level Public Health Laboratory Scientists General and other lower-level laboratory employees;

Ability to supervise and coordinate the operation of public health laboratory testing;

Ability to supervise quality control and quality assurance methods;

Ability to communicate effectively and to establish and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues and customers.

Education:   A Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry, Biology, Biotechnology, Chemistry, Genetics, Immunology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Medical Technology, Pharmacy or Zoology from an accredited college or university.

Experience: Four years of experience working in a chemistry laboratory performing analytical tests on environmental, biological or multi-matrix samples; or four years of experience working in a medical or public health laboratory performing diagnostic or public health testing on human specimens.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute additional graduate education at an accredited college or university at the rate of 30 credit hours in the above noted disciplines for each year of the required experience for up to two years of the required experience.

2. 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 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 Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated 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.