Laboratory Technician (PCN 061586)

State of Alaska; Fairbanks (AK); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

11 paid holidays

Paid leave

Retirement options

Health/vision/dental insurance

Job stability

Job summary

The Alaska State Virology Laboratory (ASVL) seeks a Public Health Microbiologist to support high‑complexity diagnostic testing and disease surveillance across Alaska. Responsibilities include accessioning and triaging clinical specimens, preparing reagents, maintaining equipment, and contributing to quality and safety practices.

Ideal candidates will have an Associate of Science in a laboratory science or equivalent, and demonstrated competency in biology, analytical thinking, and regulatory

Qualifications

• Biology knowledge of living tissues and organisms, their functions and interactions.
• Analytical thinking and problem solving; logical, systematic approach.
• Accountability for high‑quality, timely results and compliance with controls.
• Hazardous materials knowledge: handling, storage and disposal.
• Quality management principles to ensure requirements and standards are met.

Responsibilities

• Accession and triage clinical specimens.
• Perform pre‑analytical testing processes.
• Maintain laboratory equipment.
• Prepare reagents and supplies.
• Support quality and safety practices in the lab.

Skills

Biology

Analytical Thinking

Accountability

Hazardous Materials

Quality Management

Education

AS degree in Medical Technician, chemistry, or lab science

Two years of postsecondary education with specified science/chemistry courses

Job description

This Individual Position is Exempt from the Hiring Freeze. Qualified Applicants are Encouraged To Apply.

Welcome to the Department of Health!

We’d be delighted to have you join our team.

This position is open to Alaskan Residents only.

Please check out the residency definition to determine if you qualify.

The Alaska State Virology Laboratory (ASVL) is a high-complexity public health laboratory supporting disease surveillance and diagnostic testing for communities across Alaska.

What you will be doing:

In this role, you will play an important role in the laboratory’s daily operations by accessioning and triaging clinical specimens, performing pre-analytical testing processes, maintaining laboratory equipment, preparing reagents and supplies, and supporting quality and safety practices. Your work directly supports the rapid recognition and response to communicable diseases throughout Alaska. You will provide valuable hands‑on experience in a high-complexity clinical laboratory and offer an excellent opportunity to develop the technical skills and experience needed to advance into Public Health Microbiologist positions.

Our organization, mission, and culture:

The Division of Public Health's mission is to protect and promote the health of Alaskans.

As a member of our team, you will contribute every day to improving the health of Alaskans and their families.

The Division of Public Health exemplifies these values:

• Accountability – We are committed to responsible use of human, financial, and environmental resources.
• Respect – We provide services without discrimination or judgment.
• Human potential – We are committed to developing each Alaskan’s potential as a healthy individual and fostering strong, healthy communities.
• Integrity – We are honest and ethical in all we do.
• Scientific Excellence – We are committed to adding to and contributing to the body of scientific knowledge and using the best available knowledge and data to set public health policy.

The benefits of joining our team:

We are a dynamic, diverse, high‑performing team where no two days are the same. We offer the opportunity to use your professional talents in meaningful ways to contribute to public health.

• 11 paid holidays
• Paid leave
• Retirement Options
• Insurance (health, vision, and dental)
• Job stability and security

The working environment you can expect:

The Alaska State Virology Lab, a state‑of‑the‑art virological testing facility, is seated on the beautiful University of Alaska Fairbanks upper campus. University perks can be enjoyed by ASVL staff by attending campus seminars associated with virology, visiting the prestigious Museum of the North, eating at nearby cafes on campus, and using the extensive 10‑kilometer trail system for walking, running, or skiing.

Who we are looking for:

The ideal candidate will possess some or all of the following position‑specific competencies in addition to the minimum qualifications listed below:

• Biology: Knowledge of the environment, plant and animal living tissue, cells, organisms, and entities, including their functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
• Analytical Thinking/Problem Solving: Uses a logical, systematic, sequential approach to address problems or opportunities or manage a situation by drawing on one’s knowledge and experience base and calling on other references and resources as necessary.
• Accountability: Holds self and others accountable for measurable, high‑quality, timely, and cost‑effective results. Determines objectives, sets priorities, and delegates work. Accepts responsibility for own actions and decisions. Complies with established control systems and rules.
• Hazardous Materials: Knowledge of hazardous materials and waste and their uses, interactions, dangers, production, handling, storage, and disposal.
• Quality Management: Knowledge of the principles, methods, and tools of quality assurance, quality control, and reliability used to ensure that a project, system, or product fulfills requirements and standards.

Special Notice:

• OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Act, Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act of 1988; OSHA requirements for Laboratories 54CFR 2329-2984
• Preferred candidates will meet the federal criteria for testing personnel in high‑complexity laboratories as described in 42 CFR § 493.1489

To view the general description and example of duties for this job class, please go to the following link and search for Laboratory Technician: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/Alaska/classspecs

An Associate of Science degree from an accredited college in Medical Technician, chemistry, or other laboratory science.

*OR* Two years of postsecondary education from an accredited college that includes 60 semester hours/80 quarter hours with either 24 semester hours/36 quarter hours of medical laboratory technology courses or 24 semester hours/36 quarter hours of science courses with six semester hours/eight quarter hours of chemistry, six semester hours/eight quarter hours of biology, and 12 additional semester hours/16 quarter hours in any combination of chemistry, biology, or medical laboratory technology.

Special Note:

Some positions in this class require a background investigation in accordance with the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002.

Some positions in this class require the incumbent to be immunized against infectious diseases.

At the time of the interview, please provide the following:

1. Three (3) professional references, whom we may contact by phone, are required. One (1) of these references must be your current or most recent supervisor, if not already provided in the application.
2. A copy of academic transcripts (unofficial is okay; please ensure that the institution name/URL is listed on the transcripts) is used to verify that you meet the minimum qualifications.

EDUCATION

To verify education is being used to meet and/or support the required minimum qualifications/competencies, you must fill in the Education section of the application If you have not obtained a degree, please indicate the number of units completed Copies of transcripts are required to verify educational credentials used to meet or support the minimum qualifications/competencies for a position and are required with each application (Unofficial is okay; please ensure the institution/URL name is listed on the transcripts) Transcripts can be attached at the time of application or provided at the time of interview; if not, transcripts will be required before employment.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR FOREIGN EDUCATION

If education is completed in a foreign college or university, it may be used to meet the above requirements, if applicable. If utilizing this education, you must show that the education credentials have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and that such education has been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs or an accredited U.S. state university reports the other institution as one whose transcript is given full value, or full value is given in subject areas applicable to the curricula at the state university. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. Omitting the required documentation listed will result in an incomplete application, and you will not receive further consideration.

WORK EXPERIENCE

When using work experience not documented in your application, please provide the employer's name, job title, employment dates, and whether you worked full-time or part-time. Applications will be reviewed to determine if the responses are supported and if minimum qualifications are met. Work experience needed to meet the minimum qualifications must be documented in the application. If the application does not support minimum qualifications, the applicant may not advance to the interview and selection phase of the recruitment.

A resume will not be used to determine that minimum qualifications have been met for the position you are applying for.

If you are currently or have previously been appointed to a flexibly staffed position, ensure your work experience within a flexibly staffed position indicates the actual dates employed at each level. Ensure your time and any subsequent flex promotion(s) are documented as a separate position. This is required because minimum qualifications require experience at a particular level, and the lower level may not be considered. If this information is not accurately reflected in your application, this may cause the processing of your application for consideration to be delayed.

NOTE: Attaching a resume or curriculum vitae is not an alternative to filling out the application.

Noting "see resume or CV" or any similar response on any portion of your application may lead to a determination that your application is incomplete and removal from consideration for this job posting.The State of Alaska does not provide VISA Employer sponsorships.

EEO STATEMENT

The State of Alaska complies with Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Individuals with disabilities who require accommodations, auxiliary aids, or services, or alternative communication formats, please call 1-800-587-4095 in Juneau or TTY: Alaska Relay 711 or 1-800-770-8973 or correspond with the Division of Personnel & Labor Relations at P.O. Box 110201, Juneau, AK 99811-0201. The State of Alaska is an equal-opportunity employer.

Nisha Fowler, Public Health Microbiologist 3

Phone: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]