Laboratory Technology III

This posting is only open to current residents of the State of Colorado. ABOUT CDPHE: <span class="fr-mk" style="display: none;"> </span><span class="fr-mk" style="display: none;"> </span><span class="fr-mk" style="display: none;"> </span> ABOUT CDPHE: At the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, we are charged with protecting Colorado’s health and environment – a responsibility that affects every person and every community in the state. CDPHE is distinctive because we bring public health and environmental protection together under one agency, recognizing that healthy people depend on healthy places. Our teams prevent diseases and injury, respond to emergencies ranging from E.coli outbreaks to global pandemics, reduce air pollution, protect water quality, regulate health facilities, manage environmental hazards, perform advanced laboratory testing, provide birth and death records, and implement health promoting programs. We turn science and data into action, set statewide standards, and work alongside local public health agencies and community partners to meet Colorado’s most pressing health and environmental challenges. Working at CDPHE means applying your expertise to complex, consequential work that can improve lives across the state.

Our mission captures this broad portfolio of work: to advance Colorado’s health and protect the places we live, learn, work, and play. Our vision is a healthy and sustainable Colorado where current and future generations can thrive. Achieving the mission and vision takes bold action, talented people, broad partnerships, and a commitment to serving every Coloradan.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

• TERM LIMIT: THIS POSITION IS TERM LIMITED AND FUNDING CANNOT BE GUARANTEED BEYOND 07/31/2027. THE INCUMBENT IN THIS POSITION MUST BE WILLING AND ABLE TO RESIGN ON THIS DATE OR WHEN FUNDS RUN OUT, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST.
• This position will be onsite and required to report to the office located at: 8100 E Lowry Blvd, Denver, CO 80230

CDPHE Offers: CDPHE offers a comprehensive benefits package and the opportunity to build a meaningful career in public service. Benefits include:

• Medical and dental plans.

• Colorado PERA retirement options, including defined benefit plan or defined contribution plan.

• Optional 401(K) and 457 retirement plans.

• Employer-paid life insurance.

• Short- and long-term disability coverage.

• Potential flexible working arrangements

• 11 paid holidays per year and generous paid time off.

• Free parking and access to RTD bus lines.

• Tuition assistance.

• Employee wellness programs.

• Professional development opportunities.

• Career opportunities throughout Colorado state government.

Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

The Work Unit:The Genomic Surveillance Program performs analytical testing of clinical, animal, and environmental specimens using current culture, molecular, and NGS biological methods. The program exists to ensure timely, accurate test results in support of environmental monitoring, patient diagnosis/management, and epidemiological investigations of communicable disease outbreaks. The Sequencing group within the Genomic Surveillance Program exists to provide accurate data and test results regarding detection, identification and typing of microorganisms of public health importance/concern in clinical or environmental specimens. Further, the Sequencing Unit supports clinical diagnostic testing used for patient diagnosis and actionable treatment guidance, as well as contributes to routine sentinel surveillance testing to provide regional aggregate data to the CDC and local public health. The Sequencing unit will also support other Programs within CDPHE, as well as other units within the Genomic Surveillance program by maintaining competencies to ensure increased testing capacity is consistently supported and scalable to meet public health demand. What You Will Do:This position exists to conduct high-complexity testing and analyses of specimens for the detection, identification, and typing of microorganisms of public health importance and concern within clinical specimens. This position utilizes conventional and molecular testing for the identification of pathogenic microorganisms in clinical and surveillance specimens according to existing methodologies. This position is responsible for ensuring that specimens are handled and processed following established procedures and that results are generated and reported within the required turnaround time. This position supports molecular and serological testing of submitted clinical specimens in accordance with existing methodologies following established multistep, complex algorithms. This position participates in validation or verification testing to increase testing capacity or evaluate additional testing methodologies. It also performs all quality assurance and quality control requirements including required QC testing and documentation in accordance with established protocols or as instructed by the unit work lead or supervisor. Including delegations of authority for QA/QC records. This position is responsible for accurate reporting and results entry and may be responsible for delivery of testing results to appropriate public health and healthcare professionals. This position is responsible for responding to specimen submitters and epidemiologists (as needed) to efficiently reconcile specimen submission questions and to quickly and accurately communicate results to CDPHE partners.

Key Responsibilities:

Analytical Testing This position is responsible with minimal oversight for molecular, microbiological and NGS based testing within the Genomic Surveillance Program. This position is responsible for assay troubleshooting as well as assay validation, verification, and optimization with guidance and minimal oversight operating as an individual contributor on the team. When verifying, validating, or optimizing new or existing assays, this position contributes to performing initial or continuing literature reviews, pilot assay design and setup, including the selection and evaluation of controls, as well as facilitating the execution of the assay, and perform initial review of assay results. Additionally, this position contributes to the acceptance criteria for the results and is responsible for coordinating resolution of any errors, challenges, or failures encountered, appropriately escalating communications to leadership to support a resolution. This position works closely with the PSRS team and Genomic Surveillance leadership to ensure the needs of the work unit and program are met, including keeping the unit and program up to date on current or advancing methodologies and following, documenting, updating, and communicating CLIA guidelines.

General Lab Duties With minimal oversight, this position provides general laboratory support to ensure all laboratory logistics and testing methods can be successfully maintained. Responsibilities therein include maintaining supply inventory, organizing and keeping freezer repositories, reviewing quality documents and logs, and ensuring instrument and laboratory cleaning as well as maintenance if consistently performed to meet safety and quality standards. This position will work with the supervisor to schedule and maintain all instrument contracts and preventative maintenance as well as upload all records.

Instrumentation

• With minimal oversight, this position requires the operation, calibration, and maintenance of all equipment used for qualitative and/or quantitative assays and analyses.
• Additionally, this position ensures that verification and validation of protocols performed on each instrument and the functionality of each instrument are evaluated and documented on a regular basis.

Residency Requirement:

This posting is only open to residents of the State of Colorado at the time of submitting your application. Class Code & Classification Description:

C8D3XX Laboratory Technology IIIMinimum Qualifications: NOTE: An applicant may meet the minimum qualifications for this job in one of two ways: They may qualify through their work experience alone or through a combination of education and work experience.

Experience Only:Six (6) years of relevant experience in public health microbiology, serology, molecular sciences, next generation sequencing, waste water testing and bioinformatics or other closely related experience. an occupation related to the work assigned to this position.

Or

Education and Experience:A combination of related education in Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Biochemistry and/or relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned to this position equal to six (6) years.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: In addition to the minimum requirements, the successful candidate in this position will have the following highly desirable experience and competencies:

• Demonstrated hands-on experience performing next-generation sequencing (NGS) workflows for pathogen detection, identification, characterization, or genomic surveillance, including sequencing library preparation and operation of sequencing instrumentation.
• Experience applying molecular or genomic methods to infectious disease surveillance, including sequencing bacterial isolates or viral specimens to support pathogen characterization, epidemiological investigations, or public health surveillance.
• Hands-on experience performing nucleic acid extraction and purification and PCR/qPCR-based testing for infectious disease detection or characterization using clinical, environmental, or other biological specimens.
• Experience developing, optimizing, verifying, or validating molecular or sequencing-based testing methods, including experimental design, pilot testing, selection and evaluation of controls, and assessment of assay performance.
• Experience documenting or evaluating method performance against defined acceptance criteria, investigating quality control failures, and documenting troubleshooting or corrective actions.
• Experience working in a public health, clinical, or environmental laboratory operating under established quality systems, including maintaining accurate and traceable QA/QC records and following controlled standard operating procedures.
• Experience developing, revising, or maintaining standard operating procedures, technical protocols, verification/validation plans, or technical reports supporting molecular testing or sequencing workflows.
• Hands-on experience operating, maintaining, calibrating, and troubleshooting laboratory instrumentation used for molecular testing or sequencing, including documentation of maintenance and instrument performance.
• Experience reviewing scientific literature, manufacturer documentation, or established protocols to inform method evaluation, assay optimization, troubleshooting, or implementation of new or modified testing methodologies.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize complex laboratory testing, assess specimen suitability and result acceptability, resolve technical problems with limited oversight, and communicate or escalate unresolved issues appropriately.
• Experience maintaining laboratory inventories, reagent and consumable supplies, equipment maintenance records, and specimen storage or repository records to support continuity of laboratory operations.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:• This posting is only open to residents of the State of Colorado at the time of submitting your application.

• A pre-employment background check will be conducted as part of the selection process.

• Critical Status: This is a critical position and can be expected to work and/or remain at their worksite in delayed start, early release, or closure situations

• Critical Status: Must be available in the event of an emergency, (e.g., bio-terrorist attack, chemical attack, disease outbreak or all hazards) and be required to report to work immediately at the regular or alternate location. During this time, travel restrictions may be in place.

• Critical Status: Must be available in the event of the activation of the Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) and be required to report to work immediately at the regular or alternate location. During this time, travel restrictions may be in place.

• TRAVEL: Varies, Up to 1 time per year (2-3 nights/trip)

Appeal Rights:

As an applicant who has been removed from consideration during the selection or comparative analysis process, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board and/or request a review by the State Personnel Director. A standard appeal form is available on the State Personnel Board website,https://spb.colorado.gov/forms-and-filing. If you appeal, your appeal must be submitted in writing on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative, and received at the following address within ten (10) days of your receipt of this notice: Colorado State Personnel Board/State Personnel Director, Attn: Appeals Processing, 1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver, CO 80203. Fax: 303-866-5038. Phone: 303-866-3300. Email address: [email protected]. The ten-day deadline and these appeal procedures also apply to all charges of discrimination. Refer to Chapters 4 and 8 of the State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, 4 CCR 801, for information about the appeals process. The State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures are available at spb.colorado.gov. A complete application packet must include:

• Completed State of Colorado application.

• If using education to qualify for this position a copy of your transcripts (unofficial acceptable) or diploma must be provided with application. Transcripts must be attached to your colorado.gov/jobs application.

• If you are a veteran, a copy of your DD214 must be attached to your colorado.gov/jobs application.

The Selection Process:

• All applications that are received by the closing of this announcement will be reviewed against the Minimum Qualifications in this announcement. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications proceed to the next step.

• Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted based on merit and fitness through a comparative analysis process.

Part of, or all of, the comparative analysis for this position may be a structured application review, which involves a review of the information you submit in your application materials by Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) against the preferred qualifications.

• A top group, up to six candidates, will be invited to schedule an interview with the hiring manager.

CDPHE does not provide visa sponsorship at this time. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

E-Verify: CDPHE uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.

ADAAA Accommodations: The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your