Microbiology Quality Assurance Officer

About the role

*IMPORTANT NOTE: Candidate(s) selected for the Associate Laboratory Microbiologist position through this posting will be hired on a provisional basis. To be considered for permanent employment in this role, provisional employees will need to take and pass the next civil service examination for Associate Laboratory Microbiologist and obtain a list number issued by the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services. Please be aware that employees who do not take and pass the exam, may not be able to continue in the provisional position.*

The NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) enriches the environment and protects public health for all New Yorkers by providing 1.1 billion gallons of high quality drinking water, managing wastewater and stormwater, and reducing air, noise, and hazardous materials pollution. DEP is the largest combined municipal water and wastewater utility in the country, with nearly 6,000 employees. DEP's water supply system is comprised of 19 reservoirs and 3 controlled lakes throughout the system's 2,000 square mile watershed that extends 125 miles north and west of the City.

The Bureau of Wastewater Treatment (BWT) is responsible for the operation and maintenance of all facilities related to the treatment of sewage within the five boroughs of the City. This includes 14 wastewater treatment plants, sludge dewatering facilities, collections facilities (pumping stations, combined sewer overflow retention facilities, regulators, tide gates, etc.), wastewater laboratories and harbor vessels.

Under general direction, with wide discretion for independent action and decision making, the selected candidate will work under the general supervision of the Chief of Quality Management and Environmental Health & Safety Section. The selected candidate will serve as a focal point for and will be responsible for the oversight and review of quality control within the assigned laboratory operated by the Bureau.

Responsibility will include reviewing laboratory data for defensibility and compliance with analytical and regulatory standards.

In addition, the selected candidate will be responsible, with input from the lab, for writing, reviewing and keeping Standard Operating Procedures, Quality Manuals and other quality documents current and in compliance with analytical and regulatory standards; periodically observe analytical analysis and work with the lab in correcting deficiencies; conduct periodic internal audits of the entire technical operation and safety practices and notify management of deficiencies in the quality systems and assure that proper and timely corrective actions are taken; assure adequate training of the lab staff and maintain training records; monitor the laboratory environmental health and safety issues; and perform purchasing of laboratory consumable items.

Job Tasks/Duties

• The candidate is responsible for the Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) of the Newtown Creek Microbiology lab.
• Assure that laboratory data complies with relevant analytical, and regulatory standards
• Review of audits performed by external assessors and unsatisfactory proficiency test results
• Familiarization and revision of Quality Documents
• Support service and tasks related to laboratory operations
• Demonstrates knowledge of and support for EEO standards and procedures
• Prepare, maintain, and archive quality documents
• Prepare investigative and corrective action reports

Qualifications & Requirements

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with specialization in medical technology or in one of the chemical, physical, or biological sciences, and one year of laboratory experience at the technologist level in the appropriate laboratory specialty or specialties; or
• Ninety college credits from an accredited college or university including or supplemented by either (a) or (b) below, and one year of laboratory experience at the technologist level in the appropriate laboratory specialty or specialties.

Additional information

(a) For those whose training was completed prior to September 15, 1963: a total of at least 24 credits in chemistry and biology courses combined, including at least nine credits in chemistry, of which six credits must be in inorganic chemistry; and including at least 12 credits in biology courses pertinent to the medical sciences.

(b) For those whose training was completed after September 15, 1963: 16 credits in chemistry courses acceptable towards a major in chemistry, including at least six credits in inorganic chemistry; and 16 credits in biology courses acceptable towards a major in biology; and three credits in mathematics.