Public Health Laboratory Scientist 1-3

About the role

The mission of the Louisiana Department of Health is to protect and promote health and to ensure access to medical, preventive, and rehabilitative services for all residents of the State of Louisiana.

Learn more about Louisiana Department of Health

Join the Louisiana Office of Public Health Laboratory and play a vital role in protecting public health through environmental testing and analysis. This position offers the opportunity to perform specialized drinking water and environmental chemistry testing using advanced laboratory instrumentation while supporting statewide public health initiatives and collaborating with laboratory professionals, regulatory agencies, and public health partners.

Preference will be given to applicants with previous experience in an EPA-regulated laboratory. This position requires daily interaction with OPH Laboratory staff, OPH Program staff and regulatory agencies.

A bachelor's degree in a biological, environmental, or chemical science.SPECIAL SECURITY REQUIREMENTS:Applicants must be able to pass a criminal background check and/or security clearance, including but not limited to those required for the Federal Select Agent Program and the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners license requirements.CLINICAL TESTING POSITIONS:For positions which involve processing and analysis of human specimens and/or the generation or interpretation of laboratory results that may be used in the diagnosis or treatment of a disease or condition in humans, the incumbent must have a current license to practice as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist Generalist (CLS-G) or a Clinical Laboratory Scientist Specialist (CLS-S) issued by the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners (LSBME).A temporary license to practice as a CLS-G or a CLS-S issued by the LSBME shall fulfill this requirement only for the limited time granted by the LSBME.

The incumbent is required to satisfy the requirements for a CLS-G or CLS-S permanent license prior to the expiration of the temporary license.

The official job specifications for this role, as defined by the State Civil Service, can be found here.Job Duties:

• Perform organic, inorganic, and trace metals analyses on environmental samples in accordance with established laboratory procedures and quality standards.
• Conduct drinking water testing using EPA-approved methodologies to support compliance with Safe Drinking Water regulations.
• Operate, maintain, and troubleshoot laboratory instrumentation, including gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), as applicable.
• Prepare, analyze, and document environmental samples while ensuring the accuracy, integrity, and timeliness of laboratory results.
• Maintain compliance with EPA regulations, laboratory quality assurance protocols, and applicable accreditation requirements.
• Collaborate with Office of Public Health Laboratory staff, program personnel, and regulatory agencies to support environmental public health initiatives.
• Maintain laboratory records, prepare technical reports, and participate in quality improvement activities to ensure efficient laboratory operations.

Position-Specific Details

Location: Office of Public Health / Central Laboratory / East Baton Rouge Parish

Appointment Type: This position may be filled as a Probationary or a Promotional appointment

Position Number(s): 118282

Career Progression: This position may be filled as a Public Health Laboratory Scientist 1, 2, or 3 determined by the qualifications of the candidate selected. This position provides the opportunity to advance within this job series.

How To Apply

No Civil Service test score is required in order to be considered for this vacancy.

To apply for this vacancy, click on the “Apply” link above and complete an electronic application, which can be used for this vacancy as well as future job opportunities. Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Further status message information is located under the Information section of the Current Job Opportunities page.

• Information to support your eligibility for the position must be included in the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education). Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completed education and experience sections. Applications may be rejected if incomplete.

For information on how to check your application status and understand status updates, please

• Contact Information: Paul Tran
• LA Department of Health (LDH)
• Division of Human Resources
• PO Box 4818
• Baton Rouge, LA 70821225-342-6477

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