LAB Analyst

AGRICULTURE - A Cornerstone of Washington's Economy The Washington State Department of Agriculture has been serving the state for more than 100 years. Through service, regulation, and advocacy, we keep agriculture viable and vital in Washington State, while protecting consumers, public health, and the environment. We work extensively with farmers and ranchers, but our responsibilities – from ensuring food safety to environmental protection – touch the lives of millions of people locally, nationally, and abroad. The agency includes 780 employees approximately and grows close to 1,000 employees at the peak of seasonal work. To learn more and view additional openings, please visit our Employment Page. The Food Safety & Consumer Services (FSCS) Division is one of the seven divisions in the Washington State Department of Agriculture. The FSCS Division serves consumers and stakeholders in the state of Washington by assuring the availability, safety, and integrity of the state's human and animal food supply. The division is made up of approximately 100+ FTEs through five statewide programs, including: Animal Feed, FSCS Laboratory, Food Safety, Organic, and Produce Safety. We also house the Rapid Response Team that manages food and feed emergency responses. WSDA's Food Safety and Consumer Services Laboratory (also known as the Microbiology Laboratory) provides analytical support and data to the State regulatory agencies, our Federal partners U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the agricultural community. The testing conducted at the Microbiology Laboratory Program supports WSDA's mission to protect public health, Washington's food supply, the agriculture industry, and the environment. Food and environmental samples are provided by WSDA's Food Safety and Animal Feed programs and FDA's Food Emergency Response Network (FERN). In addition, the laboratory maintains an FDA-certified State Laboratory Evaluation Officer (LEO) who regulate outside milk laboratories in Washington for antibiotic and microbial testing. Our laboratory analyzes dairy products, ready-to-eat foods, produce, animal feed and environmental samples. When there is a food emergency (food-borne illness), WSDA's Food Safety & Consumer Services Laboratory responds and provides rapid and defensible data to support regulators and epidemiologists in their quest to resolve the emergency. The Opportunity The Management Analyst supports the mission of the agency by applying extensive knowledge of policies and laboratory procedures to provide professional and technical recommendations to management and to manage administrative functions. It serves as a consultant to executive and program management in the development and implementation of policies and procedures that affect the agency’s function in food safety field, implements long-range strategic plans, formulates goals and objectives, resolves customer complaints, and meets customer requirements. The position supports all laboratory functions and the laboratory quality system. This position leads complex and/or highly technical projects including analysis, evaluation, and reporting, as well as the administration and preparation of current and new project proposals. The position assists in the implementation of complex business processes involving project management, funds management, purchasing, contract administration, business analysis, or program and budget planning. This position interacts with other program managers, WSDA staff, the Assistant Director, other executive directors, and federal partners, as well as with the building owners and tenants, to maintain proper laboratory functionality. The Management Analyst regularly performs assignments that require confidentiality and discretion, leads projects with complex contract administration and processes, and is responsible for maintaining data and reporting information for constant review and management. This position directs and reviews the budget and/or expenditures for multiple grants and projects within the FS&CS Laboratory Program, reviews the fiscal work completed by other staff members, and works directly with the WSDA fiscal office. Monitors, analyzes, and tracks budget expenditures to ensure budget spending is on track. Evaluates and provides budget reports and graphs to the Program Manager, Assistant Director, and FDA contract specialists. This position serves as one of the administrators for the LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System) database and communicates directly with the software developer to resolve issues with the software. The position leads the ongoing LIMS project group to evaluate, propose and make recommendations to enhance the LIMS system. The position is also responsible for researching, evaluating, and recommending new or alternative programs that could potentially benefit the laboratory program’s data management. This position researches, analyzes and evaluates RCWs/WACs/policies and procedures to determine if new additions and/or changes are required in laws, rules, policies, and practices that impact the division. Furthermore, this position provides high level administrative support to the FS&CS Laboratory Program and its customers while conducting research and analyzing data to identify program needs. This position is responsible for SharePoint or similar sites which include the following elements: salary, benefits, travel, program webpage information, supplies, checkbooks/uploading contracts and/or grants or other documents pertaining to the grant/cooperative award. This position's primary duties consist of office or non-manual work directly related to the management or general business operations of the agency, directly related to assisting with the running or servicing of the business, and the position requires the exercise of discretion and independent judgment with respect to matters of significance. Additionally, this position performs work requiring advanced knowledge and/or experience in the fields of biological sciences or related STEM disciplines, public health and safety, public administration, or regulatory compliance. The Management Analyst represents the principal assistant to one of the lead microbiologists within the program, helping coordinate laboratory technical operations as needed. Important Notes WSDA is recruiting for a full-time permanent Management Analyst 4 position within the Food Safety and Consumer Services Division. This position is located in Tumwater, Washington. This is a non-represented position. The base pay offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the preferred candidate's job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The typical starting salary range for this position is: Range 60 Step A $71,136 - Step L $93,288 annually. What to Expect Some of the various responsibilities within this role: Analyze technical and business needs to facilitate improvement and/or changes in technical and business services. Coordinate and collaborate with senior staff to ensure the deliverables are developed, implemented, and maintained, including, but not limited to, comprehensive improvement, project and sustainability plans, detailed budgeting, and reporting, facilitating meetings. Conduct all work necessary which spans program internal and external training, outreach, resource tools, information sharing, inventory improvement, work-planning and partnership. Work collaboratively with stakeholders/customers within and outside WSDA to assess, maintain, plan, create, assign, track, and report the development, implementation and maintenance of deliverables outlined in the laboratory’s program plan. Resolve customer complaints. Instruct staff with oversight to ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and departmental laws, requirements, regulations, policies, and procedures that govern the delivery of unit services. Research and draft proposals to program manager for changes needed/required for processes to maintain consistent implementation and reduce errors. Research and draft the program's communication materials including PowerPoint presentations for stakeholders, legislature and contractors. Participate in strategic and long-range planning with the utilization of available resources. Monitor actions plan and update the management for implementation. Provide support and coordination to find solutions for the team utilizing lean principles. Assist in developing procedures, interprets, and help apply administrative policies to the work of the unit when needed. At the request of the program manager and/or Assistant Director, coordinate or lead ad hoc projects with FS&CS and agency staff. Coordinate public records disclosure requests and oversee program website contents. Provide senior level technical advice and support to the management. Monitor program complex funding model. Provide senior level administrative support to the management with program operation, system functionality, and research and compose correspondence for the supervisor(s); exercises signature authority as authorized; monitor program/federal projects expenditures. Keep the program manager apprised of problems. Coordinate and participate in the laboratory’s FDA Flexible Funding Model Cooperative Agreement activities as needed. Represent and/or communicate on program manager’s behalf at meetings and conferences as needed. Under delegated authority, help monitor program budgets and advice the management in expenditures, revenues and balances on General Fund-State, local, federal cooperative agreements and contracts. Participate with the management in preparing allotments and adjust spending throughout fiscal periods to maintain a balanced budget. Generate regular and special request fiscal reports for the program manager and/or federal program staff. Continually access the OFM site to generate enterprise fiscal reports to verify expenditures and ensure they are accurately identified, and work with the fiscal department to make corrections; review and enter enterprise data into the FS&CS Laboratory budget worksheets; alert program manager for potential concerns. Participate in quarterly review meeting of existing, general fund state, local fund, federal grants or contracts. When contracts end, prepare yearly closing documents and reports as required. Assist in monthly or annual reports that target lean initiatives in Washington, and/or other program progress. Serve as a principal assistant to one of the lead microbiologists within the program. Perform or assist in routine surveillance to analyze dairy product quality for regulatory purpose. Evaluate and assist in laboratory technical methodologies, SOPs, work instructions and protocols. Serve as one of the laboratory safety coordinators and/or facilities coordinators to provide a functional and safe working environment, train staff in safety procedures, participate in safety meetings, coordinate the repair or improvement of the lab’s business with the manager and Assistant Director. Administrative Operations Exercise signature/spending authority for program-wide purchasing etc. Coordinate purchasing and renewal of equipment and service contracts with the management, vendors and technical staff and process equipment repairs. Serve as one of the timekeepers within the division and provide PISCES (a divisional computerized employee time & attendance system) support. Perform general administrative functions for the program, for example, handling calls, mails/packages, organizing meetings and preparing meeting minutes, etc. Arrange travel and prepare travel paperwork for all program staff members (flight, registration, rental cars, etc.) when needed. Submit employee appointment letters, payroll advisement, and benefits forms as necessary. Maintain program files, develop archives schedules, and oversee program archiving. Compose correspondence for the supervisor and exercise signature authority on administrative correspondence. Serve as one of the administrators for the LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System). Work with the database developer to resolve issues with the software. Work with laboratory personnel to propose enhancements to the database system. Monitor the system to ensure all areas are working correctly. Manage users, user profiles and coordinate with other WSDA regulatory programs regarding their utilization of the system. Continually research, evaluate, and identify data management advances and programs for future implementation. Identify, pull, and compile data that is utilized in the unit, reports to the Agency Assistant Director, executive management, WSDA staff and federal partners. Coordinate with the agency's IT support. Who should apply? Professionals with: Bachelor's degree involving major study in the fields of biological sciences or related STEM disciplines, public health and safety, public administration, regulatory compliance, or similar field AND Four (4) years of experience conducting research and analyzing policies, laws, rules, technical procedure, or regulations OR Equivalent combination of education and experience. Preferred/Desired Qualifications: Experience with state/federal cooperative agreement budgetary processes, auditing, and reporting. Experience working in a regulatory laboratory or similar technical program; Experience in providing senior level technical analyses to management, staff and customers regarding complex issues that impact programs and policies. Experience in laboratory information management systems or similar databases. Experience in ISO accreditation or a similar quality assurance system. Demonstrated ability to: Support individuals and teams; Establish relationships on trust and mutual respect, collaborative and cooperative team problem solving; Solicit input from others, trust and support the decisions of others; Promote cooperative communication and facilitate relationship building among diverse groups; Assess needs and evaluate alternatives, following through with commitments, exhibiting logical and organized thinking to assess needs and evaluating alternatives, following through with commitments, exhibiting logical and organized thinking; Adapt and be flexible, responsive to change and ability to think creatively. Experience in monitoring state general fund, local fund, and federal grant. Experience in managing and supporting facilities and advanced laboratory instrumentation. Possess excellent writing, speaking and facilitation skills. Employee Benefits A healthy work/life balance, whichmayinclude flexible work schedules, and teleworking. WSDA provides an excellent benefits package beyond traditional benefits. State employment offers Dependent Care Assistance, Flexible Spending Accounts, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver, Deferred Compensation, Employee Recognition Leave; click here for more information. 12 paid Holidays & Vacation and Leave Accruals. All Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required will be provided by the agency. Commute Trip Reduction Program. For more information about the Washington State Department of Agriculture, visit us at Prior to a new appointment into the Department of Agriculture, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position. Work Authorization Candidates who are offered a job with WSDA must possess work authorization that does not require sponsorship by the employer for a visa now or in the future; WSDA complies with the employment eligibility verification requirements of the federal employment eligibility verification form, I-9. The selected candidate must be able to provide proof of identity and eligibility to work in the United States consistent with the requirements of that form on the first day of employment. WSDA does not use E-Verify; therefore, we are not eligible to extend STEM-Optional Practice Training (OPT). For information, please visit Persons legally authorized to work in the U.S. under federal law, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients, are eligible for employment unless prohibited by other state or federal law. Equity at WSDA The Department of Agriculture recognizes, appreciates, supports, embraces, and respects all cultural identities and backgrounds while we collaborate in authentic ways. We hire amazing people that share in the commitment to our Pro-Equity Anti-Racist (PEAR) strategic plan, our Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act implementation plan, and our unique needs and desires for belonging, respect, and inclusion. We value the growth and development of our team members by providing equitable access to resources and opportunities for continuous learning, improvement, and advancement. We strive to hire, cultivate, and retain a productive and dedicated workforce that reflects the communities we serve while we are committed to a workplace that celebrates our differences and supports equal opportunity employment and inclusion regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, marital status, families with children (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sex, sexual orientation, gender identity diversity, age, status as a protected veteran, honorably discharged veteran or military status, status as an individual with the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with disabilities or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Persons with a disability, who need assistance with their application or need this announcement in an alternative format, may call 664-1960 or toll free View phone number on click.appcast.io. TTY users should first call 711 to access the Washington Relay Service. Contact Us Should you have any questions regarding this position or the online application, contact the Human Resource Office at View email address on click.appcast.io. If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, please call NEOGOV toll-free at View phone number on click.appcast.io or email View email address on click.appcast.io. The Human Resources Division may use referrals from this recruitment to help fill future similar vacancies for up to six months. #J-18808-Ljbffr