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Laboratory Tech I

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Laboratory Tech I

Salary

$50,724.00 - $55,796.40 Annually

Location

Denver Metro, CO

Job Type

Full Time

Job Number

FAA00409-08/26/25

Department

Department of Public Health & Environment

Division

Division of Disease Control and Public Health Response

Opening Date

08/26/2025

Closing Date

9/10/2025 11:59 PM Mountain

FLSA

Determined by Position

Type of Announcement

This position is open only to Colorado state residents.

Primary Physical Work Address

8100 Lowry Blvd, Denver, CO 80230

FLSA Status

Exempt; position is not eligible for overtime compensation.

Department Contact Information

[email protected]

How To Apply

Please submit an online application for this position at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/colorado. Reach out to the Department Contact to apply using a paper application, including any supplemental questions. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received by the appropriate Human Resources office before the closing date and time listed.

+ Description

+ Benefits

+ Questions

Department Information

This position is open to current residents of Colorado.

This position is an onsite position.

This posting may be used to fill multiple positions.

The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical conditions related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

Although the full salary range for this position is provided, appointments are typically made at or near the range minimum.

TheColorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE)serves Coloradans by providing high-quality, and cost-effective public health and environmental protection services that promote healthy people in healthy places. Staff members focus on evidence-based best practices in the public health and environmental fields and play a critical role in educating people in Colorado so they can make informed choices. In addition to maintaining and enhancing our core programs, the Department continues to identify and respond to emerging issues affecting Colorado's public and environmental health.

Be BOLD.....Make a REAL difference . . . and join us in serving our communities advancing Colorado's health and protecting the places we live, work, learn, and play, to create a healthy and sustainable Colorado where current and future generations thrive.

Our mission … is to advance Colorado's health and protect the places we live, work, learn, and play.

Our vision … is to create a healthy and sustainable Colorado where current and future generations thrive.

In addition to free parking, access to RTD bus lines, Cherry Creek bike path and flexible working arrangements, click the link below to review additional benefits and perks!!! https://cdphe.colorado.gov/careers

Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information, go to: https://studentloans.gov/myDirectLoan/pslfFlow.action#!/pslf/launch

The referral list generated by this position announcement may be used to fill multiple position vacancies and may be extended.

Description of Job

The Division of Disease Control and Public Health Response (DCPHR) is the department’s lead surveillance, planning and response arm for public events including communicable disease outbreaks and epidemics, pandemics, bioterrorism, and other public health and mass casualty events and disasters. The division includes the Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response; State Public Health Laboratory ; Health Equity Branch, Communicable Disease Branch; Immunization Branch; Public Health Informatics , Reporting, and Refugee Branch ; and Operations Branch . The Division exists to ensure that the Department has the ability to effectively prepare for, monitor, detect, diagnose, investigate, and nimbly respond to all types of conditions, events and disasters that impact the public’s health.

The Work Unit:

The Microbiology Program unit consists of two laboratories: Clinical Microbiology and Environmental Microbiology. The Clinical Microbiology laboratory performs analytical laboratory testing on human clinical samples and/or bacterial isolates provided from CO clinical laboratories and uses current technologies for microorganism identification such as culture, molecular, and mass-spectrometry methods. This department exists to provide timely and accurate laboratory test results in support of patient diagnosis/treatment management, such as TB, as well as for epidemiological investigations of communicable disease outbreaks, such as food-borne illness.

What you will be doing:

The purpose of this position is to perform analytical testing of food and environmental samples in order to detect, identify, and characterize microorganisms of public health importance, in addition to providing extensive testing for the DEHS state-wide milk testing program. This position requires strict adherence to quality assurance and quality control standards in accordance with expectations outlined by FDA, ISO and EPA guidelines. This position requires a skill set which understands aseptic technique, decontamination procedures, handling/storage of chemicals, familiarity with food and water-borne infectious disease pathogens, and utilization/maintenance of different instrument platforms. This position requires previous experience with food testing and hands-on experience with microorganisms.

Analytical Testing

+ Decide if specimen/sample meets acceptance criteria. For example, if a specimen/sample is two weeks old and the test requires the sample be 48 hours old, this is considered unacceptable.

+ Evaluates test results for quality control purposes.

+ Identifies, anticipates, troubleshoots and corrects problems with tests according to defined protocols and notifies supervisor and work lead.

+ Notifies senior scientists for guidance before proceeding when anomalies to procedures, techniques, and tests used in the analyses of samples do not conform to SOP.

+ Reporting results, based on depth, breadth and scope of knowledge of clinical or human testing, interprets such results with respect to the testing methodology and SOP.

General Laboratory Duties

+ Support general laboratory operations within the Microbiology Program.

+ Perform routine maintenance of equipment

+ General laboratory cleaning and decontamination procedures.

+ Completion of instrument calibration/maintenance logs.

+ Maintain supply inventory and restocking the work unit areas to allow for uninterrupted testing activities.

Quality Assurance/Quality Control

+ Ensures that all quality assurance and quality control measures are completed according to the quality program of the Colorado State Public Health Laboratory.

+ Make any recommended changes to already established standard operating procedures upon notification from the unit supervisor.

Instrumentation

+ This position is knowledgeable in operation, calibration, and maintenance of applicable environmental microbiology equipment, and must be familiar with the aseptic technique and operation of general as well as sophisticated laboratory equipment.

+ The user understands the theory behind the testing equipment and how it is applied to generation of testing results.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Residency Requirement:

This posting is only open to residents of the State of Colorado at the time of submitting your application.

Class Code & Classification Description:

C8D1XXLABORATORY TECHNOLOGY I (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4enHpLSVk4ebFoxU0ZsVC1neE0/view?usp=sharing&resourcekey=0-NjlTU-YMhZdhMTZvhv8mTw)

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Experience Only:

Two (2) years of full time professional experience* in a laboratory setting performing testing and analyses of specimens or work experience closely related to the job duties stated above

OR

Education and Experience:

A combination of related education** and/or relevant experience* in science, biological science (e.g., microbiology, food microbiology, molecular biology, biochemistry) or closely related degree related to the work assigned to this position equal to two (2) years

*This experience must be substantiated within the Work Experience section of your application. "See Resume" will not be accepted. In addition, part-time work will be prorated.

**A copy of your transcripts must be submitted at the time of application. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. Late transcripts will not be accepted.

Preferred Qualifications and Essential Competencies:

Relevant years of State service contribute to a candidate's position-related knowledge, skill, ability, behavior or other posted competency should be considered as a preferred qualification and given weight under the process.

+ Certification by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP) or equivalent

+ Knowledge of microbiology and molecular biology concepts, principles, and theories and their practical applications

+ Experience performing the diagnosis and screening of infectious diseases

+ Knowledge of and use of laboratory equipment such thermocyclers, autoclaves, and automated sample preparation equipment

+ Experience or training using automated nucleic acid extraction equipment including, but not limited to Qiagen EZ1, KingFisher Flex, and Roche MagNA Pure

+ Knowledge of laboratory testing procedures and instrumentation

+ Equipment maintenance skills (performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed)

+ Operation monitoring skills (watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly)

+ Excellent customer service skills

+ Ability to communicate both orally and in writing with a wide range of customers

+ Knowledge of generally accepted laboratory QA/QC procedures

+ Knowledge of spreadsheet, database and word processing applications

+ Excellent problem solving and troubleshooting skills

+ Excellent planning and organizing skills

+ Excellent analytical skills

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

Must be willing to:

+ Pursuant to CDPHE policy, a background check is required for all positions at CDPHE

+ Must be available in the event of an emergency, (e.g., bio-terrorist attack, chemical attack, disease outbreak or all hazards) and be required to report to work immediately at the regular or alternate location. During this time, travel restrictions may be in place.

+ Must be available in the event of the activation of the Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) and be required to report to work immediately at the regular or alternate location. During this time, travel restrictions may be in place.

+ Traveling to conferences to collaborate with other State Labs about three times a year

+ On-site position

+ Ability to obtain certification under FDA's Pasteurized Milk Ordinance

+ Proof of COVID vaccination

Appeal Rights:

An applicant who has been removed from an employment list or removed from consideration during the selection process may request a review by the State Personnel Director.

As an applicant directly affected by the results of the selection or comparative analysis process, you may file a written appeal with the State Personnel Director.

Review of the completed, signed and submitted appeal will be timely on the basis of written material submitted by you, using the official appeal form signed by you or your representative. This form must be completed and delivered to the State Personnel Board by email at [email protected] within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the Department’s action.

For further information on the Board Rules, you can refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at spb.colorado.gov/board-rules .

Supplemental Information

Supplemental Information

A complete application packet must include:

+ A completed State of Colorado application.

+ If using education to qualify, a copy of your college/university transcripts. Transcripts must be attached to your colorado.gov/jobs application.

+ If you are a veteran, a copy of your DD214 attached to your colorado.gov/jobs application.

The Selection Process:

+ All applications that are received by the closing of this announcement will be reviewed against the Minimum Qualifications in this announcement. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications proceed to the next step.

+ Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted based on merit and fitness through a comparative analysis process.

+ Part of, or all of, the comparative analysis for this position may be a structured application review, which involves a review of the information you submit in your application materials by Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) against the preferred qualifications.

+ A top group, up to six candidates, will be invited to schedule an interview with the hiring manager.

E-Verify: CDPHE uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more aboutE-Verify (http://www.dhs.gov/e-verify) , including your rights and responsibilities.

ADAAA Accommodations:

The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Coordinator, Daniel Mckenna at [email protected] or call 303-692-6319.

Toll Free Applicant Technical Support: If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (e.g. uploading or attaching documents to your online application) call NEOGOV technical support at 855-524-5627 Mon-Fri between 6 am and 6 pm (Pacific Time). Helpful hints: if you are having difficulty uploading or attaching documents to your application first- ensure your documents are PDF or Microsoft Word files, and second, close the document before you attempt to upload (attach) it.

The State of Colorado offers permanent employees a variety of benefits including medical, dental, life and disability insurance, as well as a comprehensive leave program. Please click the following link for detailed information: www.colorado.gov/pacific/dhr/benefits

Please note that each agency's contact information is different; therefore, we encourage all applicants to view the full, official job announcement which includes contact information and class title. Select the job you wish to view, then click on the "Print" icon.

01

A pre-employment criminal background check will be conducted as part of the selection process. As a condition of employment, are you willing and able to submit to a background check if offered the position?

+ Yes

+ No

02

Critical Status: As a condition of employment, candidates must be available in the event of an emergency, (e.g., bio-terrorist attack, chemical attack, disease outbreak or all hazards) and be required to report to work immediately at the regular or alternate location. During this time, travel restrictions may be in place. Are you willing and able to comply with this requirement?

+ Yes

+ No

03

Critical Status: As a condition of employment, candidates must be available in the event of the activation of the Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) and be required to report to work immediately at the regular or alternate location. During this time, travel restrictions may be in place. Are you willing and able to comply with this requirement?

+ Yes

+ No

04

Please explain what Quality Assurance means to you and provide examples of Quality Assurance measures or protocols in place at a laboratory you worked in.

05

Please provide an example of a difficult analytical test that you have encountered in a laboratory setting. What was the issue, how did you determine how to deal with the difficulty, and what was the outcome? What were the impacts or consequences? What resources did you rely on? Did you revisit the issue later?

06

Please describe your experience preforming microbiological testing in a regulated environment. If you do not have regulated lab experience (CLIA, ISO, CAP, EPA, etc.), please describe what you know about regulated laboratory environments and how they differ from non-regulated laboratories.

07

Please describe your experience in the application of standard microbiological methods and the characterization of bacterial isolates by molecular-based methods, including methods used and any previous experience with antimicrobial resistance mechanisms.

Required Question

Employer

State of Colorado

Address

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Website

https://careers.colorado.gov/

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