What are the responsibilities and job description for the Laboratory Technician position at State of Alaska?
Join the Department of Health!
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Please take a look at our job announcement below.
If you can see yourself in this role, apply now—your next opportunity awaits!
This position is open to Alaskan Residents only.
Please check out the residency definition to determine if you qualify.
What you will be doing:
As a laboratory technician, you will support the efforts of the clinical staff, including accessioning specimens and triaging for testing, performing equipment maintenance, documenting calibrations when needed, performing preanalytical testing methods, and many other duties assigned to support the mission. Working as a public health laboratory technician prepares you for Public Health Microbiologist positions as they arise. The Alaska State Public Health Laboratories (ASPHL) play a critical role in the state's public health infrastructure. They aim to provide analytical and technical laboratory information supporting state and national public health disease prevention programs. Specifically, they focus on rapid recognition of the spread of communicable diseases.
Our organization, mission, and culture:
The mission of the Division of Public Health is to protect and promote the health of Alaskans. As a member of our team, you will contribute every day to the improvement of the health of Alaskans and their families.
The Division of Public Health exemplifies these values:
- Accountability- We are committed to responsible use of human, financial and environmental resources.
- Respect- We provide services without discrimination or judgment.
- Human potential- We are committed to developing each Alaskan's potential as a healthy individual as well as fostering strong, healthy communities.
- Integrity- We are honest and ethical in all we do.
- Scientific Excellence- We are committed to adding to and contributing to the body of scientific knowledge and using the best available knowledge and data to set public health policy.
The benefits of joining our team:
We are a dynamic, diverse, high-performing team where no two days are the same. We offer the ability to utilize your professional talents in significant ways to create meaningful contributions to the public's health.
- 12 paid holidays
- Paid leave
- Retirement Options
- Insurance (health, vision, and dental)
- Job stability and security
The Anchorage State Public Health Laboratory is surrounded by six beautiful mountain ranges and is near the city trail system for walking, running, biking, and skiing. Options for dining out for lunch are plentiful and diverse in Alaska's largest city.
The position is part of a collaborative work group of professional staff collectively working towards goals to protect and improve the health and well-being of Alaskans. The Division of Public Health includes a large and broad range of experienced, dedicated, and supportive staff. We enjoy working through the challenges of our tasks and value the contributions of each employee. We view public health as a critical piece of homeland security, and we remain committed to collaborating with internal and external partners across Alaska and the United States to protect the overall health of our population.
Who we are looking for:
- Biology: Knowledge of the environment, plant and animal living tissue, cells, organisms, and entities, including their functions, interdependencies and interactions with each other and the environment.
- Analytical Thinking/Problem Solving: uses a logical, systematic, sequential approach to address problems or opportunities or manage a situation by drawing on one's knowledge and experience base and calling on other references and resources as necessary.
- Accountability: Holds self and others accountable for measurable, high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results. Determines objectives, sets priorities, and delegates work. Accepts responsibility for own actions and decisions. Complies with established control systems and rules.
- Hazardous Materials: Knowledge of hazardous materials and waste and their uses, interactions, dangers, production, handling, storage, and disposal.
- Quality Management: Knowledge of the principles, methods, and tools of quality assurance, quality control, and reliability used to ensure that a project, system, or product fulfills requirements and standards.
- A valid Driver's License is required at the time of appointment.
- OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Act, Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act of 1988; OSHA requirements for Laboratories 54CFR 2329-2984.
- Preferred candidates will meet the federal criteria for testing personnel in high complexity laboratories as described in 42 CFR § 493.1489 - Standard; Testing personnel qualifications. This can generally be met by a Bachelor of Science, OR completion of at least 60 semester hours from an accredited institution that, at a minimum, include 24 hours of medical lab technology courses, or 24 hours of science courses that include 6 semester hours of chemistry, 6 semester hours of biology, and 12 semester hours of chemistry, biology, or medical lab technology in any combination
Minimum Qualifications
An Associate of Science degree from an accredited college in Medical Technician, chemistry, or other laboratory science.
OR
Two years of postsecondary education from an accredited college that includes 60 semester hours/80 quarter hours with either 24 semester hours/36 quarter hours of medical laboratory technology courses or 24 semester hours/36 quarter hours of science courses with six semester hours/eight quarter hours of chemistry, six semester hours/eight quarter hours of biology, and 12 additional semester hours/16 quarter hours in any combination of chemistry, biology, or medical laboratory technology.
Special Note:
Some positions in this class require a background investigation in accordance with the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002.
Some positions in this class require the incumbent to be immunized against infectious diseases.
Additional Required Information
At the time of the interview, please provide the following:
- Three (3) professional references whom we may contact by phone, one (1) of whom must be your current or most recent supervisor, if not already provided in the application.
- A copy of academic transcripts (unofficial are okay; please ensure that the institution name/URL is listed on the transcripts) is used to verify that you meet the minimum qualifications.
Please read the below information carefully. This applies to your application submission.
To verify education is being used to meet and/or support the required minimum qualifications/competencies, you must fill in the Education section of the application. If you have not obtained a degree, please indicate the number of units completed. Copies of transcripts are required to verify educational credentials used to meet or support the minimum qualifications/competencies for a position and are required with each application. (Unofficial is okay; please ensure the institution/URL name is listed on the transcripts). Transcripts can be attached at the time of application or provided at the time of interview; if not, transcripts will be required before employment.
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR FOREIGN EDUCATION
If education is completed in a foreign college or university, it may be used to meet the above requirements, if applicable. If utilizing this education, you must show that the education credentials have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and that such education has been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs or an accredited U.S. state university reports the other institution as one whose transcript is given full value, or full value is given in subject areas applicable to the curricula at the state university. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. The omission of the required documentation listed will result in an incomplete application, and you will not receive further consideration.
WORK EXPERIENCE
When using work experience not already documented in your application, please provide the employer's name, your job title, employment dates, and whether you were working full-time or part-time. Applications will be reviewed to determine if the responses are supported and if minimum qualifications are met. Work experience needed to meet the minimum qualifications must be documented in the application. If the application does not support minimum qualifications, the applicant may not advance to the interview and selection phase of the recruitment. A resume will not be used to determine that minimum qualifications have been met for the position to which you are applying. If you have currently or previously been appointed to a flexibly staffed position, please ensure your work experience within a flexibly staffed position indicates the actual dates employed at each level. Ensure your time and any subsequent flex promotion(s) are documented as a separate position. This is required as minimum qualifications require experience at a particular level in which the lower level may not be considered. If this information is not accurately reflected in your application, this may cause the processing of your application for consideration to be delayed.
NOTE: Attaching a resume or curriculum vitae is not an alternative to filling out the application.
Noting "see resume or CV" or any similar response on any portion of your application may lead to a determination your application is incomplete and removal from consideration for this job posting.
The State of Alaska does not provide VISA Employer sponsorships.
MULTIPLE VACANCIES
This recruitment may be used for more than one (1) vacancy. The applicant pool acquired during this recruitment may be used for future vacancies for up to ninety (90) days after this recruitment closes. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply to each recruitment notice to ensure consideration for all vacancies.
APPLICATION NOTICE
You can ONLY apply for this position through the Workplace Alaska website or via hardcopy application. If you accessed this recruitment bulletin through a job search portal such as AlaskaJobs or any other database, you MUST use a Workplace Alaska online or hardcopy application to apply successfully. Instructions on how to apply with Workplace Alaska may be found on the Workplace Alaska "How to Apply" webpage, found here: http://doa.alaska.gov/dop/workplace/help/
NOTICE
Questions regarding the application process can be directed to the Workplace Alaska hotline at 800-587-0430 (toll-free) or (907) 465- 4095. If you choose to be contacted by email, please ensure your email address is correct on your application and that the spam filter will permit email from the 'govermentjobs.com' domains. For information on allowing emails from the 'governmentjobs.com' domains, visit the Lost Password Help page at https://www.governmentjobs.com/OnlineApplication/User/ResetPassword.
EEO STATEMENT
The State of Alaska complies with Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Individuals with disabilities who require accommodation, auxiliary aides or services, or alternative communication formats, please call 1-800-587-4095 in Juneau or TTY: Alaska Relay 711 or 1-800-770-8973 or correspond with the Division of Personnel & Labor Relations at P. O. Box 110201, Juneau, AK 99811-0201. The State of Alaska is an equal-opportunity employer.
WORKPLACE ALASKA APPLICATION QUESTIONS & ASSISTANCE
Questions regarding application submission or system operation errors should be directed to the Workplace Alaska hotline at 1-800-587-0430 (toll-free) or (907) 465-4095 if you are in the Juneau area. Requests for information may also be emailed to recruitment.services@alaska.gov.
For applicant password assistance, please visit https://www.governmentjobs.com/OnlineApplication/User/ResetPassword.
Contact Information
For specific information in reference to the position, feel free to contact the hiring manager at:
Name/Title: Theresa Savidge/ Public Health Microbiologist 3
Phone: 907-334-2108
Email: theresa.savidge@alaska.gov
Careers with the State of Alaska offer MANY benefits
The following information describes typical benefits available to employees of the State of Alaska. Actual benefits received may differ by bargaining unit or branch of government, position type, or be prorated for other than full time work.
For a quick breakdown of the insurance, health, and retirement benefits available for State Employees you can view an orientation video from Division of Retirement and Benefits. (Please note this video is specifically designed for new State Employees.)
Insurance Benefits
- Health insurance, which includes employer contributions toward medical/vision/dental
- The following employee groups are under AlaskaCare Benefits administered by the State: See https://drb.alaska.gov/help/plans.html for additional information.
- AVTEC
- Confidential
- Correctional Officers
- Marine Engineers
- Mt. Edgecumbe Teachers
- Supervisory
- Unlicensed Vessel Personnel/Inland Boatman's Union
- Exempt employees (not covered by collective bargaining)
- The following employee groups are covered by Union health trusts. Contact the appropriate Union for additional information.
- General Government
- Labor, Trades and Crafts
- Public Safety Employees Association
- Masters, Mates & Pilots
- The following employee groups are under AlaskaCare Benefits administered by the State: See https://drb.alaska.gov/help/plans.html for additional information.
- Employer paid Basic Life insurance with additional coverage available (amount depends on Bargaining Unit)
Optional Insurance Benefits
- Group-based insurance premiums for
- Term life (employee, spouse or qualified same sex partner, and dependents)
- Long-term and short-term disability
- Accidental Death and Dismemberment
- Long-term care (self and eligible family members)
- Supplemental Survivor Benefits
- Employee-funded flexible spending accounts for tax savings on eligible health care or dependent care expenses
Retirement Benefits
- Membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)/Teachers' Retirement System (TRS)
- Matching employer contribution into a defined contribution program (new employees)
- Employer contribution into a defined benefit or defined contribution program (current employees)
- Contributions to the Alaska Supplemental Annuity Plan in lieu of contributions to Social Security
- Option to enroll in the Alaska Deferred Compensation Program
- Note: The Defined Contribution Plan, Supplemental Annuity Plan and Deferred Compensation Program offer a variety of investment options
See https://drb.alaska.gov/retiree/ for additional information
Paid Leave & Other Benefits- Personal leave with an accrual rate increase based on time served
- Twelve (12) paid holidays a year
