LABORATORY QUALITY SPECIALIST II

Position Overview

The Illinois Department of Public Health is seeking a highly motivated individual to serve as Laboratory Quality Specialist 2. This position will perform duties including performing internal CLIA, ISO 17025, OSHA and Select Agent audits, ensuring DOL is meeting Federal and State requires related to clinical, environmental, epidemiological, food testing, packaging and shipping. Assists other QA supervisors in performing QA functions throughout the Chicago Laboratory. Provides guidance to laboratory staff in the performance of daily QA/QC functions. Prepares monthly statistical reports. Reviews documents and reports of the CDC and prepares summaries for review by the QA Section Chief and CLIA Laboratory Director.

Benefits Statement

As a State of Illinois Employee, you will receive a robust benefit package that includes the following:

• Flexible and hybrid work schedules are available in many program areas (when available and dependent upon position)
• Competitive Group Insurance benefits including health, life, dental and vision plans.
• Pension plan through the State Employees Retirement System
• Deferred Compensation Program – voluntary supplemental retirement plan
• Optional pre-tax programs -Medical Care Assistance Plan (MCAP) & Dependent Care Assistant Plan (DCAP)
• 10-25 days of paid vacation time annually (10 days for first year of state employment)
• 12 paid sick days annually which carryover year to year
• 3 paid personal business days per calendar year (pro-rated dependent on start date)
• 13-14 paid holidays per year
• 12 weeks of paid parental leave
• Employee Assistance Program and/or mental health resources

These are just a few of the many perks available to all State employees. For more information about our benefits please follow this link: https://www2.illinois.gov/cms/benefits/Pages/default.asp

Essential Functions

• Travels to conduct quality assurance analysis to ensure IDPH Laboratory complies with Illinois and Federal rules and regulations.
• Reviews/inspects personnel forms, procedure manuals, quality control records, proficiency testing records and preventative maintenance records to determine if the lab meets Illinois and Federal regulations.
• Travels to inspect, evaluate, and report on laboratory operations concerning laboratory quality assurance policies, practices and procedures.
• Interprets rules and regulations and provides technical information to the lab as needed.
• Performs follow-up visits to assure deficiencies have been corrected.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires a bachelor’s degree in microbiology, chemistry, medical technology or a related field from a recognized college or university, supplemented by four (4) years’ professional laboratory or other related experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Thorough knowledge of laboratory methods and procedures, laboratory rules and regulations, such as "Standard Methods", Safe Drinking Water Act, CLIA, Select Agent, ISO 17025, OSHA, Pasteurized Milk Ordinance, DOT, IATA.
• Two (2) years of professional experience performing quality assurance audits of clinical, environmental or epidemiology laboratories.
• Two (2) years of experience working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and outside agencies for specimen handling and data collection.
• Two (2) years’ experience using Microsoft Office products and with a laboratory information management system (LIMS).
• Two (2) years’ experience applying quality assurance/quality control practices in a laboratory.

Conditions of Employment

• Requires ability to travel in the performance of duties.
• Requires appropriate, valid driver’s license.

*The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.

About the Agency

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is tasked with the oversight of communities within Illinois to achieve and maintain optimal health and safety. With an annual budget of over $2 billion in state and federal funds, 6 regional offices, 3 laboratories and over 1,200 employees, IDPH is equipped to fulfill its mission of protecting the health and wellness of the people of Illinois through the prevention, health promotion, regulation and control of disease and injury.