BLS Laboratory Quality Assurance Specialist

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Department

OPH-Bureau of Lab Services

Job Summary

Job Description

• Oversees all aspects of quality assurance and compliance with applicable regulations and standards for pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical processes, which includes internal audits; interactions with laboratory testing personnel, supervisors, and managers.
• Provides written reports of all audits, including deficiencies/findings and recommendations, to responsible parties within 30 days of completing the audit, unless extenuating circumstances arise. 
• Revises, reviews, and/or approvals laboratory policies, procedures, quality assurance manuals, and other documentation.
• Verifies that required employee qualifications, initial demonstration of competence, and ongoing training/competency are completed and recorded.
• Reviews and/or approves verification/validation of new test methods.
• Prepares for, facilitates, and responds to on-site audits for agencies certifying or accrediting testing performed by the Office of Public Health (OPH) Bureau of Lab Services (BLS) or public health unit laboratories.
• Reports any deviations from approved protocols to supervisors, management, and leadership.
• Institutes and monitors corrective actions (e.g. developing new or implementing changes processes/procedures) in collaboration with laboratory supervisors, managers, safety officer and laboratory directors.
• Oversees the OPH BLS or public health unit laboratories compliance and document control system(s), ensuring document control of all documents is established, maintained, and ensuring accessibility of current revisions/versions of all necessary documents.
• Provides basic training and continuing education to laboratory staff and submitters statewide regarding issues that affect specimen testing, transport and result reporting.
• Participates in meetings related to compliance and/or quality assurance issues.
• Coordinates with laboratory managers and supervisors to ensure that all proficiency testing is performed in compliance with applicable regulations and standards.
• Maintains compliance with federal and state laws and regulations and ensures the retention and protection of laboratory data at all times.
• Maintains awareness and understanding of laboratory safety and security including following good chemical hygiene practices when handling samples and chemical reagents.
• Reports unsafe conditions to the laboratory supervisor.
• Other tasks as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS
REQUIRED:

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Minimum 3 years professional experience working in a biological laboratory, chemical laboratory or environmental laboratory.
• Minimum 1 year professional experience with laboratory quality assurance.
• Must have a valid Clinical Laboratory Scientist Generalist (CLS-G) or Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLC-S) license issued by the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners.
• Excellent analytical and critical thinking skills; effective organizational and time management skills.
• Great attention to detail and follow up.

• Ability to manage projects, assignments, and competing priorities.
• Proficient in the use of Zoom, Teams, and Microsoft Office, including but not limited to Outlook, Word, and Excel.
   

DESIRED:

• Advanced degree.
• Minimum 4 years professional experience working in a biological laboratory, chemical laboratory or environmental laboratory.
• Minimum 2 years professional experience with laboratory quality assurance.
• Minimum 2 years professional experience working within a public health care setting.
• Relevant industry certifications.

Required Attachments

Please upload the following documents in the Resume/Cover Letter section. 

• Detailed resume listing relevant qualifications and experience;
• Cover Letter indicating why you are a good fit for the position and University of Louisiana Systems;
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