Laboratory Technician IV

LABORATORY TECHNICIAN IV FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES DIVISION OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY ***OPEN COMPETITIVE OPPORTUNITY*** CONTACT: Dr. Joanna Hyland at (321) 697-1445 MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: A high school diploma or its equivalent and four (4) years of experience in laboratory work. College or vocational/technical training from an accredited institution can substitute at the rate of 30 semester, 45 quarter or 720 classroom hours for each year of the required experience provided such education includes three (3) courses in the physical and/or natural sciences. Requires possession of a valid Driver License. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS: Incumbent must pass a pulmonary function test with medical evaluation, must undergo and pass regular respirator fit-testing, and must wear a respirator when required. Will be subject to the requirements of the proper use of appropriate respirator. ***Information contained in responses to Qualifying Questions concerning education and knowledge, skills and/or abilities must also be disclosed on the State of Florida Employment Application.*** NOTES: There will be some alternate work hours required to accomplish duties and responsibilities. JOB DUTIES: Assists senior histotechnologists in the daily preparation of histopathology slides for examination by the pathologists, which will be done independently and generally assisted by another histotechnician. Slide preparation includes, but is not limited to, necropsy and mail-in fixed-tissue trimming and processing, tissue embedding, microtomy, hematoxylin and eosin staining, special staining, and coverslipping. Performs routine quality control (Q/C) and maintenance of equipment and reagents and follows good laboratory practices throughout the processes. Cross-trains in Clinical Pathology/Parasitology section to serve as a back-up for performing and analyzing fecal floatations, McMaster egg counts, fecal sedimentations, Cryptosporidium/Giardia snap test, Tritrichomonas culture pouch analysis and manual blood film examinations. Incumbent will learn the operation, procedure, maintenance and troubleshooting of the complete blood cell and blood chemistry analyzers. Serves as a laboratory technician primarily responsible for testing activities in the Bacteriology Section for Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM) testing which includes receiving, accessioning, and processing the specimens. Responsible for making the specific media required for CEM culture, and setting up quality control tests for prepared media. Responsible for bacterial and fungal culture and identification and for making various culture media and biochemicals required for bacterial and fungal culture and identification. Assists the supervisor and the lead Biological Scientist of the Bacteriology Section in the review, revision, or creation of new Quality System documents for the Section. Maintains and utilizes stock quality control bacterial cultures associated with these procedures and practices. Responsible for sample send-out testing in a timely manner. Send-out testing includes processing of the samples in accordance with established Quality Assurance (QA) Practices and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that apply to the laboratory for forwarding samples to outside laboratories for analysis. Performs other duties as assigned. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES: Computer skills Ability to lift and carry up to 20 pounds THE FOLLOWING BENEFITS ARE INCLUDED: State of Florida Retirement Package 10 Paid Holidays annually 104 Hours of Paid Annual Leave annually 104 Hours of Paid Sick Leave annually Health Insurance - State covers the majority of health insurance premiums for individual and family coverage Life Insurance Additional supplemental insurances are available such as dental, vision, etc. Tax Deferred Medical and Child Care Reimbursement Accounts available Tax Deferred Savings Program available through payroll deduction SPECIAL NOTES: The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or the People First Service Center (1-877-562-7287). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation. The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act. VETERANS' PREFERENCE DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS HAVE RECENTLY CHANGED. To obtain revised and updated information on Veterans' Preference documentation requirements, click here. Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, applicants eligible for Veterans' Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply. However, applicants claiming Veterans' Preference must attach supporting documentation with each application submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code. All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement. Applicants may also fax their supporting documentation to People First at 1-888-403-2110. We hire only U. S. citizens and lawfully authorized alien workers. Our agency participates in the E-Verify System which is a federal government electronic database available for employers to use to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.