LABORATORY QUALITY SPECIALIST II

Position Overview

The Illinois Department of Public Health is seeking a highly motivated individual to serve as Laboratory Quality Specialist II. This position will perform duties including auditing drinking water laboratories, auditing dairy laboratories, performing internal CLIA, ISO 17025, OSHA and various audits, ensuring Division of Laboratories is meeting Federal and State requirements related to clinical, environmental, epidemiological, food testing, packaging and shipping. Assists other QA supervisors in performing QA functions throughout the Springfield 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.aspx.

Essential Functions

• Travels to conduct quality assurance analysis to ensure Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) laboratory compliance with Illinois and Federal rules and regulations.
• Travels to review and inspect personnel records on training and proficiency testing for certification requirements, procedure manuals, quality control records, proficiency testing records and preventative maintenance records to determine if the laboratory meets Illinois and Federal regulations under laboratory certification programs.
• Coordinates development of standard operating procedure manuals and quality assurance manuals for environmental and clinical certification requirements.
• Assists in development and implementation of electronic databases, including Laboratory Information management Systems, to ensure compliance of laboratory records for certification programs and good laboratory practices, including quality controls specific for each test protocol, accuracy, precision, traceability and security records.
• Travels to inspect, evaluate and report on laboratory operations concerning laboratory quality assurance policies, practices and procedures.
• Travels to perform follow-up visits to assure deficiencies have been corrected; determines degree of noncompliance and need for reporting to the proper regulatory agency.
• Collaborates with IDPH legal personnel to update the Illinois Rules for the Certification and Operation of Environmental Laboratories, Title 77, Sec. 465, as required to maintain compliance with changes made to the Safe Drinking Water Act as published in the Federal Register.
• Prepares proficiency test samples of milk and milk products for a variety of tests and sends them for analysis to all participating laboratories.
• 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) year’s experience working in a water treatment plant laboratory.
• Two (2) years’ experience working in a Grade A dairy laboratory.
• Two (2) years’ experience using Microsoft Office products.
• 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.