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AGRICULTURAL LABORATORY SCIENTIST I (Contractual)

Salisbury Animal Health Laboratory

Recruitment #23-000078-0002

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Introduction

The Maryland Department of Agriculture is a department under Maryland's Executive Branch.  Formed in 1972 by the Maryland General Assembly to address the agriculture needs for the State of Maryland, the Department oversees and serves as a regulatory body for animal health , consumer services to include marketing and lab services, plant and pest management and resource conservation.  As the number one industry in Maryland, the diversity of agriculture programs in the State continue to expand and grow.

The MDA Animal Health Program prevents and controls infectious and contagious diseases in Maryland livestock and poultry with particular emphasis on those diseases that threaten public health, endanger food supplies or threaten the economic security of the animal industries.

Join our Team and make a difference in preventing contagious and infectious disease in Maryland livestock.


 Full-Time contractual position with eligibility for subsidized health benefits and limited paid leave.

GRADE

0016

LOCATION OF POSITION

27722 Nanticoke Road, Unit 3 Salisbury, MD 21801

Main Purpose of Job

This position serves primarily to support the Agency mission to prevent and control infectious disease of livestock and poultry, and to assure consumer confidence by conducting veterinary analytic and diagnostic tests in the assigned regional laboratory of the Maryland Department of Agriculture. This position is primarily responsible for assisting the Large Animal Pathologist in performing large and small livestock necropsies, including operation and management of the incinerator and associated record keeping and document management. Additional necropsy duties include Rabies testing as well as appropriate sample collection & preparation. This employee secondarily assists with laboratory diagnostic work as assigned such as fecal sample preparation and testing, sample and paperwork set-up for other testing, sample preparation for packing and shipping, packing & shipping of biological specimens, media preparation, ordering of reagents and supplies, and with other elements of diagnostic testing conducted in the Laboratory. This position manages resources and operations. This position is considered an essential employee for continuity of operations purposes.

This position requires use of heavy machinery such as but not limited to table saws, chain saws, knives, conveyors, 3 ton hoist, and a large ram loading incinerator. Work with large and small livestock necropsies is labor intensive. This work occurs on a daily basis, with surges due to events such as weather, disease outbreak scenarios, or other livestock related events.

POSITION DUTIES

Learns to assist the Large Animal Pathologist with gross necropsy, conducts cleanup and disinfection of the necropsy suite after completion of necropsy, and stocks supplies used during necropsy.

Learns to serve as primary scientist necropsy technician for Rabies sample collection & preparation, and Rabies fluorescent antibody testing. Participates in the Rabies proficiency test and assures that applicable reagents, controls, and supplies are in-stock and available for use at all times. 

Participates in and passes the 3-day Incinerator Operator Training required by the Maryland Department of Environment (MDE). Participates in and passes annual 1-day refresher Incinerator Operator Training as required by MDE. 

Learns to periodically clean out freezers and save fixed tissues, properly disposing of discarded samples, as directed and according to the Laboratory sample retention and disposal procedures. 

This position may learn to assist with sample set up & testing as directed for tests such as fecal testing or other parasitology testing. 

This position may also learn to help with sample and paperwork set-up for in-house serology, microbiology and PCR Testing. 

Learn to assist with sample preparation for packing and shipping. This includes preparation of samples dropped off by clients for send-out or in-house testing, including centrifugation of blood samples and proper packaging preparation for shipping per internal procedures. 

Learns to help maintain laboratory equipment in working order, assisting in requesting calibration or repair in a timely fashion. Learns to strictly adhere to biosecurity, biosafety and personal protection equipment SOP for all laboratory activities.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Experience: Four years of experience performing veterinary analytical, diagnostic, and epidemiological laboratory testing work.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Bachelor's degree in the biological or chemical sciences from an accredited college or university including one course in general microbiology and one course in pathogenic, clinical or medical microbiology for the required experience.

2. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in natural resources management and biological science classification or natural resources management and biological science specialty codes in the animal science field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

DESIRED OR PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

1. Experience handling large and/or small animals in a setting such as a laboratory or veterinary 
clinic (e.g. animal care, performing necropsies, etc.). Please specify large and/or small animals.

2. Experience incinerating pathological waste.

3. Experience with veterinary analytical testing such as parasitology, slide staining, or other 
diagnostic techniques.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

1. Candidates for some positions may be given a medical examination to rule out color blindness.

2. Employees in this classification must be willing to undergo and maintain rabies immunization.

SELECTION PROCESS

Please make sure that you provide sufficient information on your application to show that you meet the qualifications for this recruitment. All information concerning your qualifications must be submitted by the closing date. We will not consider information submitted after this date. 

EXAMINATION PROCESS

The assessment may consist of a rating of your education, training, and experience related to the requirements of the position. It is important that you provide complete and accurate information on your application. Please report all experience and education that is related to this position.

BENEFITS

Contractual employees who work for an agency covered under the State Employee and Retiree Health and Welfare Benefits Program, have a current employment contract and work 30 or more hours a week (or on average 130 hours per month) may be eligible for subsidized health benefits coverage for themselves and their dependents. As a contractual employee, you will be responsible for paying 25% of the premiums for your medical and prescription coverage, including any eligible dependents you have enrolled. The State of Maryland will subsidize the remaining 75% of the cost for these benefits. You can also elect to enroll in dental coverage, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, and life insurance, but will be responsible to pay the full premium for these benefits.

Leave may be granted to a contractual employee who has worked 120 days in a 12 month period. This leave accrues at a rate of one hour for every 30 hours worked, not to exceed 40 hours per calendar year.

FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS

Online applications are STRONGLY preferred.  If you unable to apply online, you may mail a paper application to: Maryland Department of Agriculture Human Resource Office, Room 304 50 Harry S Truman Parkway Annapolis, MD 21401.  If you are submitting additional information, such as diplomas and transcripts, the preferred method is to upload them online with your application. 

If you are unable to upload, you may mail, hand-deliver or fax (HR Fax # 443-602-9831).  All paper applications must be received by 4:30 PM on the closing date, no exceptions.  (Postmarks not accepted.)   Resumes will NOT be accepted in lieu of completing the online or paper application. 

As an equal opportunity employer, Maryland is committed to recruiting, retaining and promoting employees who are reflective of the State’s diversity. People with disabilities and bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply. We thank our Veterans for their service to our country.  TTY Users: call via Maryland Relay For questions concerning this recruitment, please contact: Kathleen Newhouse at 410-841-5837 or kathleen.newhouse2@maryland.gov.




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