Laboratory Technician I - Public Health - County of Riverside
Riverside, CA 92501
About the Job
First review of applications will be on Thursday, February 22, 2024
Riverside University Health System (RUHS) seeks a Laboratory Technician I who will be assigned to their Public Health Laboratory.
The incumbent in this position will perform laboratory testing. The Laboratory Technician I, will also be tasked with assisting with sample collection, organization, and testing environment samples. Public Health Laboratory desires candidates who have public health or environmental lab experience.
Under close supervision, assists with laboratory work involved in making repetitive biological tests or examinations; prepares complicated reagents and stains; performs other related duties as required.
The Laboratory Technician I is the entry-level classification in the Laboratory Technician series and reports to an appropriate supervisory or manager-level position. Incumbents perform moderately complex analyses of human and non-human samples that require minimal interpretation and independent judgment under the guidance of a Public Health Microbiologist or Clinical Laboratory Scientist.
The Laboratory Technician I is distinguished from the Laboratory Technician II in that the latter is the experienced journey-level classification within the series and incumbents are expected to perform with greater independence and proficiency.
EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES
• Assist with laboratory testing following standard laboratory procedures.
• Perform moderately complex analytical procedures on specimens or substances under the supervision or guidance of more senior or professional staff, following operational steps that are either automatically executed or easily controlled.
• Perform standardized bacteriologic tests on water, milk and other specified samples submitted by authorized sources to determine the presence, level and/or category of coliform and fecal coliform contamination.
• Collect blood and urine samples from patients and process these specimens including entry/receipt of specimens in a laboratory information system, centrifugation, and distribution/sending to reference laboratories.
• Assist Public Health Microbiologists in researching and implementing new diagnostic and surveillance assay methods and performing microbiological, immunological, virological, mycobateriological, mycological, food and water testing, which includes the preparation of various reagents and specimens for testing and analysis; determine pH and sterility factors.
• Assist Clinical Laboratory Scientists in the performance of testing in hematology, chemistry, urinalysis, and other areas as assigned.
• Perform all laboratory tasks, functions, and procedures safely, as described in safety procedures, manuals and other provided documents.
• Check, calibrate, and maintain laboratory instruments and equipment to established performance standards following clearly defined instructions and using minimal independent judgment; assist with the validation of instruments and equipment.
• Inspect, prepare, and dispense prepackaged reagents or premeasured solutions that require no special handling, precautions, or storage conditions according to appropriate laboratory protocols and/or manufacturer's instructions.
• Assist in the preparation of specimens for examination, including processing of raw specimens, and the preparation of staining of slide according to laboratory protocols.
• When applicable, draw blood from patients in the laboratory or on the wards to obtain samples for testing; may release blood from blood banks; may release bodies from hospital morgue.
• Answer questions in person or by phone from physicians, nursing personnel, and others regarding procedures, scheduling and results of tests.
• Retrieve confidential information from the laboratory's computer system.
• Prepare, label, package, and ship specimens, laboratory supplies, and/or reagents according to applicable regulatory requirements.
• Maintain supplies, including ordering, receiving, stocking, temperature-appropriate storage, and distributing.
• Serve as a resource and assist in the training and work assignments of staff performing support functions.
• Assist with maintenance of quality assurance systems.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education: Equivalent to an associate's degree that included 18 semester or 27 quarter units in biology, chemistry, microbiology, or closely related field. (Additional qualifying experience in a public health or medical laboratory setting may substitute for the required education based on one year of full-time experience equaling 30 semester or 45 quarter units.)
Experience: One year of laboratory-related experience.
Knowledge of: Aseptic laboratory technique; basic math sufficient to maintain supply inventory; basic safety and quality standards related to the handling and testing of specimens.
Ability to: Accurately inventory laboratory supplies and equipment; wash, clean and sterilize laboratory supplies and equipment; operate contemporary laboratory and office equipment; communicate clearly both verbally and in writing; read, understand and follow written and oral instructions; sort alphabetize, file and maintain records; establish and maintain effective working relationships.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Veteran's Preference:
The County has a Veteran's Preference Policy. Upload a copy of your (or your spouse's) Member-4 Form DD-214 indicating dates of service, and a copy of your spouse's letter of disability (if applicable) with your application. For privacy reasons, it is recommended that you remove your social security information from the document(s). A Human Resources Representative will review the materials and determine if you qualify for veterans' preference. See the policy here .
Reasonable Accommodations
The County of Riverside is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter for the position noted above. For additional information and/or to obtain the appropriate form for requesting a reasonable accommodation, please visit the Disability Access Office web page located at: http://dao.rc-hr.com/ .
Other Requirements
License/Certificate: Possession of a valid California Driver's License may be required.
What's Next?
This recruitment is open to all applicants.
Applicants who are current County of Riverside employees and/or current employees of the Department/Agency may be considered before other applicants depending on the volume of applications received.
Qualified applicants may be considered for future vacancies throughout the County.
Application Period
BASED ON THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS RECEIVED, THIS POSTING MAY CLOSE WITHOUT NOTICE.
Applications received prior to the closing date will be considered based on the information submitted. Changes or alterations cannot be accepted. No late applications will be permitted.
Include relevant work experience details on your resume and/or application.
Applicants who fail to provide information demonstrating they possess the position requirements may not be considered further in the application process. A description of job duties directly copied from the job classification or job posting will not be considered.
All applicants must provide a copy of any license(s), official/unofficial transcript(s), degrees, and/or related employment documents to your NeoGov account before the closing date of the job posting. If your education was completed outside of the United States, you will need to provide a copy of your Foreign Education Equivalency evaluation from a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services ( NACES ) or Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. ( AICE ).
For more information regarding this position, please contact the recruiter, Jammie Smith, via email at jasmith@rivco.org .
GENERAL APPLICATION INFORMATION:
Please read and follow any special application instructions on this posting. Click the 'Apply' link located on this page to submit your application. For instructions on the application process, examinations, Veteran's preference, pre-employment accommodation or other employment questions, please refer to our web site, www.rc-hr.com . A pre-employment physical examination and background check may be required.
MEDICAL/DENTAL/VISION INSURANCE: A choice of different medical, dental and visions plan are available to elect. The County provides a Flexible Benefit Credit contribution as governed by the applicable LIUNA Memorandum of Understanding to contribute towards the cost of these plans.
Note: Employees on assignment through the Temporary Assignment Program (TAP) receive different benefits. See the list here .
MISCELLANEOUS RETIREMENT: County of Riverside has three retirement Tiers through the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS).
- Tier I (Classic Member - Formula 3% @ 60): Applicable to current and former County of Riverside local miscellaneous employees hired prior to 08/24/2012 and did not withdraw CalPERS contributions. The employee contribution is eight (8%) percent.
- Tier II (Classic Member - Formula 2% @ 60): Applicable to local miscellaneous employees 1) hired after 08/23/2012 through 12/31/2012; 2) Previously employed with another CalPERS contracting public agency or a reciprocal retirement system, with a break in service of less than six months between the separation date with the previous employer and the appointment date with the County of Riverside. The employee contribution is seven (7%) percent.
- Tier III (PEPRA New Member - Formula 2% @ 62): Applicable to CalPERS local miscellaneous new members hired on or after the implementation of the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) which took effect January 1, 2013. As of July 1, 2020, the employee contribution is 7.25% and subject to change annually.
A new member is defined as any of the following:
CalPERS refers to all members that do not fit within the definition of a new member as "classic members".
Contribution rates are subject to change based on the County of Riverside annual actuarial valuation.
Note:
This summary is for general information purposes only. Additional questions regarding retirement formulas can be sent to retirement@rivco.org or by calling the Benefits Information Line at (951) 955-4981,
Option 2.
If you have prior service credit with another CalPERS agency or within agencies, please contact CalPERS at (888) 225-7377 to determine which retirement tier would be applicable to you. CalPERS is governed by the Public Employees' Retirement Law. The Retirement Law is complex and subject to change. If there's any conflict between this summary and the law, the law will prevail over this summary.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION: Voluntary employee contribution with a choice between two 457 deferred compensation plan options.
VACATION ACCRUAL (Bi-Weekly Accrual):
0< 3 year = 80 Hours (10 Days)
4< 9 years = 120 Hours (15 Days)
10 or more years = 160 Hours (20 Days)
Maximum Vacation leave accumulation is 480 hours.
SICK LEAVE: Four (4) hours Sick Leave accrual per pay period with unlimited accrual.
HOLIDAYS: Normally 12 paid holidays per year
BEREAVEMENT LEAVE: Allowed 5 days (3 days are County paid; 2 additional days can be taken from accrued Sick Leave balance)
BASIC LIFE INSURANCE: Equal to one times annual base salary not to exceed $50,000 of term life coverage. Premiums are paid by the County. Additional Supplemental Life plan is available for employee purchase.
DISABILITY: Short-term Disability benefit pays up to a maximum of $461.54 weekly, payable up to a maximum of 52 weeks.
POST RETIREMENT MEDICAL CONTRIBUTION: A monthly contribution is made by the County towards retiree health insurance offered through the County as governed by the applicable Memorandum of Understanding.
OTHER: There may be other benefit provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding. Please contact the recruiter listed on the job posting directly for more information.
