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SalaryLocation: Davidson County
Last Day to Apply: Apr 1 , 2024
Business Unit: Scientists / Foresters
Job Family: Agriculture
Job Opening ID: 56381
Job Information
LOCATION OF (1) POSITION(S) TO BE FILLED: DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, TECHNICAL SERVICES DIVISION, DAVIDSON COUNTY
WORKING TITLE:
Histotechnician
Qualifications
Education and Experience: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in biology, chemistry, microbiology, medical technology, or related biological, physical, or agricultural science with a minimum of eighteen semester hours (27 quarter hours) of coursework involving laboratory study related to the microbiological field (i.e., histology, soil chemistry, virology, immunology, bacteriology, etc.)
OR
Licensed as a Medical Laboratory Technologist by the Tennessee Department of Health.
Necessary Special Qualifications: None.Summary
Summary: Under immediate supervision, is responsible for professional microbiologic laboratory work of average difficulty; and performs related work as required.
Distinguishing Features: *This is the entry level class in the Microbiologist sub-series. An incumbent in this class assists in performing analysis and identification of microorganisms in their relation to disease as well as other analysis related to particular departmental programs. Initially, an employee receives close supervision, but as experience is gained, supervision becomes more general. This class differs from that of Microbiologist 2* in that an incumbent of the latter functions at the working level.
- An applicant appointed to this flexibly staffed class will be reclassified to the next higher class in the series after successful completion of a mandatory one-year training period; inadequate or marginal performance during the training period will result in automatic demotion or termination.
Responsibilities
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work:
- Learns to prioritize and organize tasks in order to complete them in an assigned timeframe while optimizing resources and taking into consideration factors such as performing tests based on number of samples submitted, time and resources required for tests, and priority of tests.
- Assists in performing analytical methods (i.e., tests) selected for the particular sample submitted.
- Assist in performing tasks required to support laboratory functions such as preparing reagents, cleaning, and maintaining equipment, and maintaining supply inventory.
Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information:
- Assist in preparing and checking specimens, solutions, reagents, and other materials necessary for conducting tests.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems:
- Learns to analyze information and evaluates results to determine the validity of test results.
Processing Information:
- Learns to compile, calculate, categorize, and verify information or data for appropriateness of reporting.
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge:
- Remain current with regard to technical information and departmental procedures and policies.
- Reviews information from manuals, work instructions, flowcharts, and other reference sources to accurately analyze and report test results.
Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People:
- Learn to assess diagnostic samples for suitability for testing (e.g., quantity, sample preservation, contamination, proper transport conditions, and proper container).
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events:
- Learn to identify situations or circumstances for the purpose of troubleshooting.
Interacting With Computers:
- Learns to use computers and laboratory information systems to process and access information, data, and control instrumentation.
Documenting/Recording Information:
- Documents, enters, transcribes, records, stores, and maintains information in written and electronic form using notebooks, file copies, computer software etc.
Getting Information:
- Receive information on accession form and/or electronically to determine completeness.
- Assists in gathering incomplete information by calling submitter to provide needed information such as date taken, tests needed and sample description.
Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings:
- Learn to prepare various types of specimens for examination by various diagnostic techniques.
- Learns to monitor test processes for adherence to quality control standards by comparing test results to known standards such as using positive and negative controls and acceptable appearance of diagnostic product.
- Learns to monitor test equipment for proper functioning such as monitoring temperatures, detecting malfunction alarms, and recognizing incorrectly processed samples.
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards:
- Learns to use relevant or appropriate guidelines to determine whether test results are reportable based on laboratory established policies and procedures.
- Learn to work within established quality control guidelines.
- Ensure confidentiality of client information.
Controlling Machines and Processes:
- Learn to operate laboratory equipment by following instruction manual and using control mechanisms such as power switches and control knobs.
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships:
- Establishes and develops constructive and cooperative working relationships with all laboratory staff and maintains them over time.
Communicating with Persons Outside Organization:
- Assist in communicating results of tests with submitters in person, in writing, by telephone fax or e-mail.
- Assist in communicating with vendors and manufacturers regarding performance issues, troubleshooting, etc.
Performing General Physical Activities:
- Perform repetitive activities or motions during specimen processing or analysis.
- Performs physical activities that involve use of hands, arms, and legs to relocate and stock reagents, samples and supplies to testing areas weighing up to 50 pounds.
- May spend prolonged periods of time at a computer monitor, microscopes, etc. related to the performance of tests or procedures (i.e., visual activity).
- Bends, stoops, kneels, and reaches as necessary to maintain cleanliness in the laboratory.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates:
- Communicate status of assigned tasks or other relevant information to supervisors or peers by telephone, in written form, e-mail or in person.
Monitoring and Controlling Resources:
- Learn to monitor reagents and consumables to ensure an adequate supply for testing needs.
Performing Administrative Activities:
- Learn to create documents (e.g., logs, schedules, tally sheets, monthly reports) by utilizing computer.
- Learn to print labels for reagents.
- Learn to orders lab supplies and reagents.
Repairing and Maintaining Equipment:
- Learn to perform preventative maintenance on laboratory equipment used in assigned area.
Competencies
Competencies:
- Functional/Technical Competency
- Intellectual Horsepower
- Problem Solving
- Technical Learning
- Priority Setting
- Time Management
- Perseverance
- Boss Relationships
- Composure
- Integrity and Trust
Knowledge:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Clerical
- Customer and Personal Service
- Mathematics
Skills:
- Active Learning
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Learning Strategies
- Mathematics
- Reading Comprehension
- Science
- Speaking
- Writing
- Coordination
- Service Orientation
- Complex Problem Solving
- Operation and Control
- Operations Monitoring
- Quality Control Analysis
- Troubleshooting
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Time Management
Abilities:
- Category Flexibility
- Deductive Reasoning
- Flexibility of Closure
- Inductive Reasoning
- Information Ordering
- Mathematical Reasoning
- Memorization
- Number Facility
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Perpetual Speed
- Problem Sensitivity
- Selective Attention
- Spatial Orientation
- Speed of Closure
- Time Sharing
- Written Comprehension
- Written Expression
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Control Precision
- Finger Dexterity
- Manual Dexterity
- Auditory Attention
- Depth Perception
- Near Vision
- Night Vision
- Speech Clarity
- Speech Recognition
- Visual Color Discrimination
