Quality Assurance Officer - CL441 & CL477

Collaborate. Innovate. Elevate Quality.  Join Us as a Quality Assurance Officer at DCLS!

Are you passionate about quality, compliance, and continuous improvement? Join our team and play a critical role in shaping a world-class Quality Management System that ensures accuracy and reliability in laboratory operations.

 

 

Title: Senior Scientist (Quality Assurance Officer) – CL441 & CL477 

State Role Title: Scientist II

Hiring Range: $69,000 - $83,000

Pay Band: 5

Agency: Department of General Services

Location: DCLS

Agency Website: www.dgs.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

The Virginia Department of General Services (DGS) is seeking two qualified candidates to serve as Quality Assurance Officers in the Quality Assurance & Safety Group for the Commonwealth's Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services (DCLS), which is one of the largest and most diverse consolidated state laboratories in the nation. With an annual budget of over 30 million dollars and over 250 state employees, DCLS performs approximately 9 million tests annually. Results from these tests are used confidently by local, state, and federal public health, agriculture, food regulatory, environmental protection, and law enforcement officials serving to protect our citizens, food supply environment and commerce. DCLS is a member of several public health networks and emergency response groups; the Consolidated Laboratory also directs Commonwealth’s environmental laboratory accreditation program.

The Quality Assurance team ensures excellence at DCLS through a continuous cycle of monitoring, evaluation, and improvement. We establish and implement systematic processes that consistently assess and enhance the quality of services provided, supporting the highest standards across the organization.

The Quality Assurance Officer works across teams to implement a consistent, proactive approach for monitoring, assessing, and improving service quality throughout DCLS.

 Job duties include, but are not limited to:

• Maintain a Quality Management System (QMS) for compliance with CLIA, ISO17025:2017 and 2016 TNI regulations.
• Review and revise QMS Manual and quality SOPs.
• Use internal audit findings and recommendations to provide annual trend analysis report.  
• Review method verification/validation proposals.
• Provide guidance to managers and staff on quality processes, regulatory requirements, and best practices.
• Lead internal audits and prepare reports.
• Prepare laboratory groups for external audits and inspections.
• Provide training and support to staff on quality assurance topics and regulatory requirements.

Minimum Requirements:

• Laboratory knowledge and expertise with chemistry, microbiology and/or molecular biology, and quality assurance methods, principles and practices.
• A detailed understanding of quality assurance concepts.
• Experience in improving and maintaining a laboratory quality management system.
• Experience interpreting laboratory quality assurance (QA) data and forecasting future needs.
• Experience writing, editing, and/or revising Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), job aids and policies.
• Experience of computer applications, LIMS and document management systems.
• Demonstrated ability working as an effective lead worker.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work successfully in a team environment.
• Demonstrated experience providing customer support.  
• Ability to plan, organize, and schedule work.

This position is in Richmond, Virginia and must report on-site.

DGS offers excellent health benefits at affordable pricing, pre-tax spending accounts, paid life insurance, paid Short- and Long-Term Disability benefits, paid holidays, vacation, and other leave benefits, wellness programs, and a state retirement plan with options for tax-deferred retirement savings including employer matching. Additionally, supplemental bus passes, ride share, or parking are available, and DGS is a qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. 

Sponsorship will not be provided for this position now or in the future. Confirmation of eligibility to work will be required at tim