Public Health Laboratory Scientist

Agency

Dept of Health and Human Services

Division

Public Health

Job Classification Title

Publ Hlth Scientist (S)

Position Number

Grade

NC20

About Us

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is one of the largest most complex agencies in the state and has approximately 17000 employees. It is responsible for ensuring the health safety and well-being of all North Carolinians providing human service needs for special populations including individuals who are deaf blind developmentally disabled and mentally ill and helping poor North Carolinians achieve economic independence.

Description of Work

The Public Health Laboratory Scientist position provides full-time on-site project management and advanced laboratory scientific expertise in support of the NCSLPH Infectious Disease Branchs clinical and reference operations. It leads the development optimization verification validation and implementation of new and updated laboratory methods for detecting and characterizing a wide range of pathogens.

This role ensures high-quality compliant diagnostic activities by coordinating with quality assurance safety biosafety and other laboratory support teams. The position supervises a small team and collaborates with leadership to streamline onboarding of new assays instrumentation and workflows. It also supports surge testing during heightened public health response needs.


Key Duties Include:
- Lead development optimization verification validation and implementation of new and updated infectious disease testing methods.

- Manage method-development projects to ensure timely onboarding of assays workflows and instrumentation across the laboratory.

- Supervise 23 laboratory staff and provide technical direction and support during method development and implementation activities.

- Prepare and review validation and verification plans and reports to meet regulatory and quality standards.

- Integrate new instrument platforms and scalable workflows to improve efficiency of existing diagnostic methods.

- Coordinate with quality assurance safety and biosafety teams to ensure compliance with CLIA and laboratory quality management practices.

- Interpret analytical results assess quality control measures and support accurate clinical result reporting.

- Compile scientific data prepare technical reports and communicate findings to laboratory leadership and program partners.

- Provide technical training to laboratory staff on new methods workflows and instrumentation.

- Participate in surge testing operations during periods of increased public health demand.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences

Salary Range: $70478.00 - $123336.00

Recruitment Range: $70478.00 - $ 90580.00

Candidates now meet the minimum qualifications of a position if they meet the minimum education and experience listed on the vacancy announcement.

The Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs)/ Management Preferences are not required. Applicants who possess the following skills are preferred:

• Expert-level experience executing method development workflows including assay optimization verification validation and implementation using advanced infectious disease diagnostic techniques.

• Demonstrated proficiency applying laboratory quality assurance practices including CLIAaligned quality control review rootcause analysis and documentation of corrective actions within highcomplexity testing environments.

• Advanced skill interpreting analytical results across molecular microbiological virological and immunological methods including evaluation of quality control metrics and integration of findings into clinical reporting workflows.

• Proven experience managing laboratory project timelines coordinating multiteam implementation activities and reducing onboarding times for new assays platforms and instrumentation through structured project management practices.

• Strong competency training laboratory personnel on new diagnostic methods and workflows including delivery of technical instruction performance monitoring and documentation of process adherence.

The Posting Will Close At 11:59 P.M. The Night Before The End Date

The Position Is Time-Limited Concluding On July 31 2029

This Position Is 100% Federally Funded

About the NC Division of Public Health (DPH):
The NC Division of Public Health works to promote and contribute to the highest possible level of health for the people of North Carolina. Our entire statewide system of public health has dedicated professionals who carry out our mission every day through a wide range of essential and activities touching the lives of everyone in our state.

About the North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health (NCSLPH):

The State Laboratory of Public Health (SLPH) we provide medical and environmental laboratory services such as testing consultation and training to public and private health provider organizations responsible for the promotion protection and assurance of the health of North Carolina citizens. SLPH serves the entire state as a reference laboratory for difficult unusual or otherwise unavailable laboratory procedures and assist in the development evaluation and standardization of medical and environmental laboratory testing procedures. We provide training and consultation to improve and assure quality services in other laboratories and certify milk and water laboratories and milk analysts. We test for Acanthamoeba to Zika and everything in between!

Visit our website at to learn more.

Campus Amenities and Benefits at the State Laboratory of Public Health:

• 220000 square feet state-of-the-art facility

• Plentiful Free Parking

• Easy access to highways (70 40 and 440) NC Museum of Art Umstead State Park healthcareproviders and shopping centers

• Proximity to globally and nationally ranked universities (NC State UNC-Chapel Hill Duke)

• Fitness area with exercise equipment classes and wellness activities

• Weekly Food Trucks

• Car Cleaning and Detailing Services On-site bimonthly

• Annual Flu ShotClinicfor Employees and Families

• Monthly and quarterly career development classes including opportunities for traveling

• Library of academic journals and materials on-site

• Employee Engagement and Staff Development Activities

• NCSLPH Employee Recognition Programs

• State Health Plan and State of NC Employee Benefits

Compensation and Benefits:

The State of North Carolina offers excellent comprehensive benefits. Employees can participate in health insurance options standard and supplemental retirement plans and the NCFlex program (numerous high-quality low-cost benefits on a pre-tax basis). Employees also receive paid vacation sick and community service addition paid parental leave is available to eligible employees. Visit the website forState Benefits.

Supplemental Contact Information:

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is an Equal Opportunity Employerthat embraces an Employment First philosophy which consists of complying with all federallaws state laws and Executive Orders. We are committed to reviewing requests for reasonable accommodation at any time during the hiring process or while on the job. For more information about DHHS: uses the Merit-Based Recruitment and Selection Plan to fill positions subject to the State Human Resources Act with the most qualified individuals. Hiring salary will be based on relevant qualifications internal equity and budgetary considerations pertinent to the advertised position.

In accordance with the Governors Executive Order 303 our agency supports second-chance employment for individuals who were previously incarcerated or justice-involved. We invite all potential applicants to apply for positions for which they may be qualified.

Application Process

Be sure to complete the application in its entirety. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing this application.

• Information should be provided in the appropriate areas to include the following: Education including high school and all degrees obtained Work Experience and Certificates & Licenses. It is critical to our screening and salary determination process that applications contain comprehensive candidate information.

• Answers to Supplemental Questions are not a substitute for providing all relevant information within the body of your application. To receive credit for the supplemental questions you must provide supporting information within the Work Experience section of the application to support your answers.

• If multiple applications are submitted to an individual posting only the most recent application received prior to the closing date will be accepted. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM on the closing date.

• Applicantsmaybe subject to a criminal background check. All candidates selected for positions considered Positions of Trustwill besubject to a criminal background check.

• Due to the volume of applications received we are unable to provide information regarding the status of your application over the phone. To check the status of your application please log in to your account. Upon the closing date applications are Under Review and will be screened by Human Resources for qualified applicants. The hiring process may take several weeks.

• Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions. Transcripts and degree evaluations may be uploaded with your application.The State of North Carolina/Office of State Human Resources uses the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) as a referral resource for applicants who need to have their credentials certified as equivalent.

• For a list of organizations that perform this specialized service please visit the NACES membership website at Credit Verification

  Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions. Transcripts degree evaluations and cover letters may be uploaded with your application.

  Veterans and National Guard Preference

  • Applicants seeking Veterans Preference must attach aDD-214 Member-4 Form(Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to their applications.

  • Applicants seeking National Guard Preference must attach an NGB 23A (RPAS) along with the state application if they are a current member of the NC National Guard in good standing.

  • Applicants who are former members of either the NC Army National Guard or the NC Air National Guard with honorable discharge and six years of creditable service must attach a copy of the DD 256 or NGB 22 along with the state application.

  ADA Accommodations

  Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) DHHS is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment DHHS will ensure that people with disabilities or known limitations covered by the PWFA are provided with reasonable accommodation. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process please contact the person indicated below.

  CONTACT INFORMATION

  If there are any questions about this posting please contact Talent Acquisition at. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing this application.

  Minimum Education and Experience

  Some state job postings say you can qualify by an equivalent combination of education and experience. If that language appears below then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience OR a combination of both. See the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide for details.

  Bachelors degree from an appropriately accredited institution and three years of experience in public or private employment service-related work including experience in a lead coaching or mentoring capacity including one year in a supervisory or lead capacity

  OR

  Associate degree and five years of experience in public or private employment service-related work including experience in a lead coaching or mentoring capacity including one year in a supervisory or lead capacity

  OR

  An equivalent combination of education and experience.

  EEO Statement

  The State of North Carolina is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and dedicated to providing employees with a work environment free from all forms of unlawful employment discrimination harassment or retaliation. The state provides reasonable accommodation to employees and applicants with disabilities; known limitations related to pregnancy childbirth or related medical conditions; and for religious beliefs observances and practices.

  Recruiter:

  Tresha Walker

  Email: