The State of Florida Hiring for LABORATORY TECHNICIAN I at Kissimmee, FL Full Time

Requisition No: 633582

Agency: Agriculture and Consumer Services

Working Title: LABORATORY TECHNICIAN I – 42000937 1 1

Position Number: 42000937

Salary: $27,040.00 – $28,000.18

Posting Closing Date: 05/09/2022

LABORATORY TECHNICIAN I

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES

DIVISION OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY

***OPEN COMPETITIVE OPPORTUNITY***

CONTACT:

Dr. Reddy Bommineni

2700 North John Young Parkway

Kissimmee, Florida 34741

Phone: 321-697-1400

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

A high school diploma or its equivalent and one (1) year of experience in laboratory work.

College or vocational/technical training 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 courses in the physical and/or natural sciences.

Certain positions within this class require individuals to meet specific federal or state regulations as identified by the employing agency.

If using a college or vocational/technical training to substitute for the required years of experience, a TRANSCRIPT MUST BE SUBMITTED AT TIME OF APPLICATION via PEOPLE FIRST OR US MAIL TO: CONTACT PERSON AND MUST BE POST MARKED BY CLOSING DATE OF THIS ADVERTISEMENT. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.

Requires possession of a valid Driver License.

***ATTENTION CANDIDATES***

To be considered for a position with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services:

• All fields in the Candidate Profile must be completed.
• Work history, hours worked, and formal education fields must be filled out to determine qualifications for this position.
• Responses to Qualifying Questions must be verifiable in the Candidate Profile.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services values
and supports employment of individuals with disabilities. Qualified
individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Some alternate work hours required to accomplish duties and responsibilities. The incumbent may be required to work split shift on Saturdays to provide coverage for sample acceptance.

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.

The incumbent must wear personal protective equipment (PPE) when required.

Occasional travel.

NOTES:

Successful applicants must pass a background screening, including fingerprinting, as a condition of employment.

JOB DUTIES:

Serves as point of contact to all customers (internal and external). Greets customers/clients in a professional manner. Assists customers/clients with completing required submission forms. Addresses all customer questions regarding the Shipping/Receiving Section. Answers multi-line telephone system and logs calls; checks and routes voice messages; determines importance of calls; answers basic billing questions and provides information on testing costs, submission requirements and shipping procedures. Receives and posts payments to customers’ accounts within the USA Laboratory Information Management System (USALIMS), reconciles and balances end of shift reports. Prints, scans, emails or mails out bulk reports; mails clients’ invoices/statements; and processes and delivers mail. Retrieves information from the [email protected] daily, forwarding to proper departments and responding accordingly. Receives, logs, and distributes faxes to the appropriate departments. Verifies veterinarian license accreditation and address for all Health Certificate order forms (via online program) and notifies veterinarians of any corrections to be returned and re-submitted. Confirms Coggins test results are signed, stamped, and scanned into the USALIMS. Confirms client account is current before providing finalized report to the clients. Uploads reports received from a collaborating laboratory. Monitors office supplies within the Shipping/Receiving Section. Assists in checking all U.S. regular mail for suspicious looking items prior to delivery to sections. Assists with laboratory marketing events.

Assists in receiving, documenting, handling, and processing samples submitted to the laboratory and in the shipping of samples to other laboratories. Enters client and sample information into the USALIMS database. Contacts clients if there is a question concerning condition of samples submitted for testing and answers clients’ questions concerning sample handling and proper procedures for shipping to laboratory. Confirms the accuracy of the accompanying submission request including signing and dating of the chain of custody documents. When specimens are damaged in shipment, communicates situation to the sender. Assists sorting by section, timely processing and delivery or notification for pickup to testing sections. Assists in scanning sample submission forms into USALIMS and verifies by checking via document import maintenance or other means if the sample submission forms are attached appropriately to accessions in USALIMS. Assists in the efficient organization of samples received, opening of packages, checking contents, matching samples to submission forms, chronological sorting, labeling and processing (as per instructions) of samples prior to distribution.. Ensures strict compliance with Shipping/Receiving Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), as mandated by Quality Assurance-Quality Control and the Shipping/Receiving supervisor. Assists in shipping samples to other laboratories when required, prepares internal records, shipping forms and documents in compliance with applicable state, federal and HAZMAT regulations. Ensures strict compliance with all diagnostic specimen shipping regulations to ensure appropriate packaging of samples submitted to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory or other reference laboratories for testing. Attends training as needed for compliance. Assists in organization of laboratory materials and supplies and cleanliness of Shipping/Receiving Section. Maintains files of submission requests, worksheets, SOPs, forms, and all paperwork for samples that need to be sent out to reference laboratories. Invoices clients’ lab accounts for outbound supply requests and inbound samples using the Laboratory Sample Submission Service.

Researches and collects data for Customer Service Reports as requested. Incumbent is responsible for removing animal carcasses from delivery vehicles, and transferring animals to necropsy lab when the Necropsy Section Laboratory Technician I (diener) is absent, otherwise engaged, or during emergencies. Incumbent is knowledgeable in the operation of hoist and other equipment necessary for the receipt of carcasses. Incumbent is responsible for providing backup assistance within the Necropsy lab, including general assistance and cleaning up during necropsies, when the diener is absent.

Performs other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Computer skills
• Oral communication skills
• Receptionist skills
• Ability to handle a multiple phone line
• Ability to operate a photocopying machine
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds

THE FOLLOWING BENEFITS ARE INCLUDED:

• State of Florida Retirement Package
• 10 Paid Holidays annually
• Annual Leave
• Sick Leave
• 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 are 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.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). 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. Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply. Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements. Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each 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. Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here. All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.