DEPT OF HEALTH SERVICES

The Arizona Department of Health Services promotes and protects the health of Arizona’s children and adults. Our mission is to promote, protect, and improve the health and wellness of individuals and communities in Arizona. We strive to set the standard for personal and community health through direct care, science, public policy, and leadership. ADHS promotes alternative work schedules, flexible hours. We have positions that can fit any stage in your career, from entry to senior level. We offer a robust benefit package, including the ADHS Student Loan Assistance Program, where eligible employees can receive up to $300.00 per month for their outstanding student loans. Come check us out and see how you can make a difference in the lives of all Arizonans.

Public Health Scientist Senior

Job Location:

Address: 250 N 17th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85007

Posting Details:

Salary: $ 74,778

Grade: 22

Job Summary:

This position is under the Office of Microbiology & Molecular Diagnostics which provides statewide clinical diagnostic and reference testing services for microbiological agents that aid in the diagnosis, management, and surveillance of infectious diseases that are of public health importance. This position is responsible for developing standard operating procedures for laboratory testing using various complex testing methods, with a focus on molecular methods such as next-generation sequencing. Additionally, the position will develop data analysis pipelines and conduct data validation to monitor various CQI metrics of next-generation sequencing for the office.

Job Duties:

Perform complex and specialized microbiological and molecular test procedures on specimens/samples submitted for laboratory analysis.

Perform sequencing data analysis and data validation.

Assist in the development and implementation of protocols for infectious diseases of public health importance.

Conduct training and/or competencies to Public Health Scientists on test methods.

Performs preventative maintenance of laboratory instruments. Orders and reorders supplies for work unit as needed.

Other duties as assigned as related to the position

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs):

Knowledge of:

Advanced understanding of bioinformatics, genomics, and next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies.
Knowledge of microbial genomics, pathogen evolution, and public health surveillance applications.
Familiarity with high-throughput sequencing platforms (e.g., Illumina, Oxford Nanopore) and library preparation methods.
Understanding of data management principles, including data security, integrity, and quality control in a public health context.
Awareness of national public health data reporting requirements and platforms (e.g., CDC databases, GISAID, PulseNet).
Knowledge of scripting and programming languages for data analysis (e.g., Python, R, Bash, or Perl).

Skill in:

Proficient in bioinformatics pipeline development, automation, and optimization.
Ability to perform complex genomic analyses, including variant detection, phylogenetic analysis, and lineage/clade assignment.
Skilled in data visualization, interpretation, and presentation for technical and non-technical audiences.
Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting skills for sequencing workflows and computational analyses.
Effective collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, including laboratory staff, epidemiologists, and IT specialists
Skilled in documentation, reporting, and maintaining reproducible analytical workflows.

Ability to:

Ability to analyze large-scale genomic and epidemiological datasets efficiently and accurately.
Ability to develop, validate, and maintain reproducible bioinformatics pipelines.
Ability to translate complex bioinformatics results into actionable public health recommendations.
Ability to stay current with advances in sequencing technologies, bioinformatics tools, and public health genomics.
Ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines in a fast-paced laboratory environment.
Ability to communicate technical findings clearly to internal and external stakeholders.

Selective Preference(s):

Bachelor’s degree or higher in related field with 4 years of work experience. Master's degree may substitute for one year of required lab experience. Professional certifications such as ASCP and ASM may substitute for one year of required laboratory experience.

Pre-Employment Requirements:

Driver's License
Candidate must meet the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act (CLIA) minimum requirements for the performance of high complexity testing as defined in the CLIA regulation subpart 06171 493.1489(b)(2)(i).

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

Benefits:

The State of Arizona provides an excellent comprehensive benefits package including:

Affordable medical and dental insurance plans
Paid vacation and sick time
Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program).
10 paid holidays per year
Wellness program and plans
Life insurance
Short/long-term disability insurance
Defined retirement plan
Award winning Infant at Work program
Credit union membership
Transit subsidy
ADHS Student Assistance Pilot Program

Retirement:

To help you build a financially secure future, the State makes monthly contributions to finance your retirement benefit. The State will contribute to the ASRS in an amount equal to your contribution. In other words, you and the State will each pay 50% of the total cost of the benefit. New State employees have a 27-week wait period for contributions to begin.

The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by emailing nicole.zawacki@azdhs.gov. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodation. DHS is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. All newly hired employees will be subject to E-Verify Employment Eligibility Verification.

State of Arizona

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