EH Biological Analysis Manager (Laboratory Testing Supervisor PCN 187752) - State of Alaska

 

What you will be doing:
This professional position will act as the State Environmental Health Laboratory's (EHL) technical expert on regulated, non-regulated, and environmental monitoring for the biological analysis of food, drinking water, animal disease surveillance, dairy, water, and marine toxin samples. You will advise the Lab Chief on policy issues and manage the administrative, personnel, technical, and regulatory activities of the Biological Analysis Section of the EHL. You'll manage a group of technical staff members (currently 7 permanent and 1 long-term non perm) and the day-to-day operations of the Microbiology section, following State of Alaska policies, the EHL Quality Management System (including ISO 17025), and federal and state criteria for supported programs to ensure continued certifications, accreditation, approvals, compliance, and legal defensibility. This is a dynamic position, and we are looking for an enthusiastic individual with exceptional organizational, supervisory, communication, and analytical and decision-making skills to become a vital part of our team.

Our organization, mission, and culture:
The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) follows a One Health approach in its mission is to conserve, improve, and protect Alaska's natural resources and environment to enhance the health, safety, economic, and social well-being of Alaskans. Clean water, land, and food are essential to every Alaskan. This position supports DEC’s mission by producing legally defensible data to protect our environment and public health, including ensuring safe food and drinking water to Alaskans.

This Biological Manager position is key to client satisfaction due to timely and defensible testing results, as well as meeting deliverables for multiple grants and agreements. Ensuring compliance with various federal programs and maintaining ISO accreditation is integral to producing quality regulatory data and supporting industry. Additionally, the health of Alaskans is protected by the legally defensible data produced in support of drinking water, dairy, meat, food, shellfish testing, and more.  

The benefits of joining our team:
As a valued member of the team, the incumbent will have opportunities for training, a supportive work environment, and to perform work that impacts lives and livelihoods. Our colleagues are dedicated to accountability, continuous improvement, and ensuring public and environmental health. We share information and assistance to support team member success.

The working environment you can expect:
The EHL is located in its own building near the U-Med district in Anchorage, Alaska with easy, free parking, close to public transportation with sidewalks, and access to Far North Bicentennial Park and Campbell Tract trails, as well as frequent wildlife viewing. The EHL also has bike racks and shower facilities for those that use alternate transportation or lunch time exercise (walk, run, ski or bike, etc.).

We are looking for a candidate that has experience in the following areas: 

• Accountability: Holds self and others accountable for measurable high-quality and timely results. Determines objectives and sets priorities for independent daily tasks. Accepts responsibility for own actions and decisions. Complies with established control systems and rules.
• Conflict Management: Encourages creative tension and differences of opinions. Anticipates and takes steps to prevent counter-productive confrontations. Manages and resolves conflicts and disagreements in a constructive manner.
• Managing Performance: Takes responsibility for employees’ performance by setting and communicating expectations and goals that are specific and measurable, tracking progress against the goals, supporting employees’ efforts to achieve job goals (by providing resources, removing obstacles, acting as a buffer, etc.), ensuring feedback, and addressing performance problems and issues promptly. 
• Quality Management: Knowledge of the principles, methods, and tools of quality assurance, quality control, and reliability used to ensure that a project, system, or product fulfills requirements and standards.
• Self-Management: Sets well-defined and realistic personal goals; displays a high level of initiative, effort, and commitment towards completing assignments in a timely manner; works with minimal supervision; is motivated to achieve; demonstrates responsible behavior.

Special Notice:

• Please email the hiring manager to request the Position Description or other questions.
• You may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program after you’ve made the equivalent of 120 qualifying monthly payments.
• Limited relocation reimbursement can be made available.  
• Occasional (1-2 times per year) travel possible.
• This position is expected to participate in an on-call rotation to be the point of contact for temperature or building issues after hours, approximately every 4-6 weeks, and will received additional standby pay during this time.  
• This position may be exposed to pathogenic organisms such as, but not limited to, E. coli, Listeria, Salmonella, Staphylococcus, Vibrio, and Brucella.
• This position oversees a section where lethal animal testing (mouse bioassay) is performed.
• This position may be exposed or handle items including, but not limited to, food, dairy, water, shellfish, crustaceans, fish, and soils, as well as dead animals (whole carcasses, tissues, bodily fluids), live animals (including mice and potentially poultry), and parasites such as ticks (in specimen containers).
• The answers to the supplemental questions will be evaluated as writing samples.