Rabies Laboratory Assistant Technician

Department ofHealth and Human Services (DHHS)

Laboratory Technician II

Opening Date: April 23 2025

Closing Date: May 6 2025

Job Class Code: 4212

Grade: 16 (Pro / Tech)

Salary: $36795.20 $50481.60 per year

Position Number:

Location: Augusta

The Maine Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory (HETL) is looking for an individual to work as a laboratory assistant within the TB/Rabies section and provide aid to other lab sections as needed. In this position you will be required to be vaccinated against the Rabies virus.

This position supports the HETL Microbiology section. Primary responsibility will be to perform procedures that aid in the diagnosis of Rabies in suspected domestic and wild animals. These procedures include performing necropsies preparing smears and staining slides. This position is also responsible for overseeing the decontamination and sterilization of materials used in the Clinical Microbiology sections as well as other various duties assigned.

Core Responsibilities:

As a key member of the TB/Rabies team your core responsibilities will include:
Perform daily temperature and other checks for autoclaves and washers
Perform Rabies testing tasks
o Check for animals in the outside refrigerator
o Accession (log into lab database) animals
o Perform necropsy and make slides
o Stain slides deliver and notify appropriate staff that slides are available
o Decontamination and disposal of rabies waste
Check Media Prep tasks
Wash glassware and other lab items
Perform weekly quality control test for autoclave(s)
Perform eye wash and safety shower checks for Necropsy suite

Minimum Qualifications:

A two 2 year combination of education training and experience which demonstrates a knowledge of medical or environmental technology and/or analytical chemistry and laboratory equipment testing and techniques.

Preferred candidates will also have:
Rabies vaccination/titer
Excellent oral and written communication skills
Experience in performing necropsies
Knowledge and experience with autoclaves and laboratory washers
Knowledge and experience with laboratory equipment used to make reagents and media for a clinical laboratory
A working knowledge of a laboratory information management system (LIMS)
Experience with laboratory database and patient data entry into system
The ability to work with managers and staff on various tasks

Thinking about applying

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Agency information:

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is dedicated to promoting health safety resilience and opportunity for Maine people. The Department provides health and social services to approximately a third of the States population including children families older Mainers and individuals with disabilities mental illness and substance use disorders. The Department also promotes public health operates two state psychiatric hospitals and provides oversight to health care providers.

The mission for the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) within which this position is located is to develop and deliver services to preserve protect and promote the health and wellbeing of the citizens of Maine.

Application Information:

For additional information about this position please contact Lori Webber TB/Rabies Supervisor at.

*To apply please upload a resume and cover letter with your application.

Please submit all documents or files in PDF format.

To request a paper application please contact

Benefits of working for the State of Maine:

No matter where you work across Maine state government you find employees who embody our state mottoDirigo or I leadas they provide essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforces health and wellbeing with a valuable total compensation package including:

• WorkLife Fit Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays 12 days of sick leave and 3 weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service and overtimeexempt employees receive personal leave.
• Health Insurance Coverage The State of Maine pays 8595 of employeeonly premiums $11196.96 $12514.32 annual value) depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs for you and your family including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State.
• Dental Insurance The State of Maine pays 100 of employeeonly dental premiums $387.92 annual value).
• Retirement Plan The State contributes the equivalent of 13.29 of the employees pay towards the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS).

• Parental leave is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a childincluding fathers and adoptive parentsreceive six weeks of fully paid parental leave. Additional unpaid leave may also be available under the Family and Medical Leave Act.

State employees are eligible for anextensive and highly competitive benefits package covering many aspects of wellness. Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness.

Note: Benefits may vary somewhat according to specific collective bargaining agreements and are prorated foranything less than fulltime.

Theres a job and then theres purposeful transformative work. Our aim is to create a workplace where you can learn grow and continuously refine your skills. Applicants demonstrate job requirements in differing ways and we appreciate that many skills and backgrounds can make people successful in this role.

As an Equal Opportunity employer Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness. We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members and our process ensures an inclusive environment to applicants of all backgrounds including diverse race color sex sexual orientation or gender identity physical or mental disability religion age ancestry national origin familial status or genetics.

If youre looking for a great next step and want to feel good about what you do wed love to hear from you. Please note reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.