The Oregon Health Authority (OHA), Public Health Division (PHD), Oregon State Public Health Laboratory (OSPHL) in Hillsboro, OR is recruiting for an Oregon Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (ORELAP) Manager to administer and manage the ORELAP program to assure that environmental testing laboratories are accredited according to federal and state rules and regulations and TNI standards.
What will you do?
As the ORELAP Manager, you will plan, coordinator, manage and monitor the activities of the laboratory assessors for chemistry and microbiology. You will represent Oregon at TNI and participate in developing national standards for the operation and accreditation of environmental laboratories. Additionally, you will assure that ORELAP meets all requirements to maintain its status as a NELAP Accrediting Body (AB). You will use a high degree of independent judgment and expertise to interpret standards, make decisions regarding laboratory accreditation, establish policy and recommend rules related to the scope of accreditation for drinking water and cannabis testing laboratories mandated to be ORELAP accredited as well as environmental laboratories . These decisions will impact the OHA Oregon Drinking Water Program (DWP) under Public Health. Policy must assure the laboratories reports meet the needs of the DWP which has primacy from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Program policy affects the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. ORELAP accredits qualified laboratories in the state for Cannabis testing under ORS 475B.550 to 475B.590 and provide Cannabis Sampling Protocols to be consistent with the Medical Marijuana Program rules that are reference to OAR 333-064-0100 through 333-064-0110. Accreditation of the laboratories is required for DEQ to accept data provided by the laboratories.
As the ORELAP Manager, you will ensure Oregon has regulations and policies to administer EPA and NELAC standards which must be followed by all ORELAP accredited laboratories or laboratories seeking ORELAP accreditation. The ORELAP program accredits 66 primary laboratories within the state of Oregon in addition to 62 primary (which include 4 national EPA laboratories) and 23 secondary out of state laboratories for a total of 151 ORELAP accredited labs. Long range planning is required to assure viability of the program within the agency and that fees established by rule are adequate to cover program activities. You will establish policy and administer the laboratory accreditation program, affecting the agency's mission of promoting the health of Oregonians by helping to provide safe drinking water and the interagency DEQ mission of safe air, water, waste water and underground tank storage monitoring, in addition to assuring tested cannabis products are pesticide/solvent free.
What's in it for you?
You will work with a team of public health professionals who are passionate about the work they do to protect drinking water in the State of Oregon and to protect people's health by ensuring marijuana products in Oregon are tested by an ORELAP-accredited laboratory and pass testing requirements for pesticides and other contaminants before they are transferred to consumers Do you have experience coordinating a program related to environmental laboratory testing? Have you completed the NELAP Basic Training Course? Are you versed in interpreting and applying federal and state rules and regulations? If so, we want to connect with you!
We offer full medical, vision and dental benefits with paid sick leave, vacation, personal leave and 10 paid holidays per year plus pension and retirement plans. If you are an experienced environmental laboratory expert, don't delay, apply today!
This is a full-time, management service supervisory position and is not represented by a union.The Oregon Health Authority is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer committed to work force diversity.
Qualifications, Required & Requested Skills
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
A Bachelor's degree in a Laboratory Science, Biological Science or other related degree; AND five years of experience coordinating or administering a program related to environmental laboratory testing,
OR
Any combination of experience or education equivalent to eight years of experience coordinating or administering a program related to environmental laboratory testing.
Note: Transcripts are required to be attached to your application if you are using education or coursework to meet the minimum qualifications. Transcripts must be from an accredited institution and clearly show 1) your name; 2) the name and address of the institution; 3) the degree received and; 4) required courses completed with a passing grade. For application purposes, photocopies are acceptable; however official or original documents may be requested to validate education.Mandatory requirements for the position are:
- A minimum of a bachelor's degree in a biological science or course work in microbiology and/or chemistry or equivalent experience in laboratory assessment is preferred.
- Successful completion of NELAP Basic Training Course.
- Participation in at least four actual on-site assessments.
- Successful completion of the laboratory certification course for microbiology and chemistry presented by EPA EMSL-Cin as required by the EPA, before a state certification officer can accredit drinking water testing laboratories for microbiological or chemical analyses.
- Approval by EPA Region 10 certification for microbiology and chemistry before a state certification officer can accredit drinking water testing laboratories for microbiological analyses.
REQUESTED SKILLS
- Experience coordinating a program in environmental laboratory science.
- Experience interacting with the public and presenting a professional image.
- Knowledge of project supervision/management is required.
- Experience managing complex systems, identifying problems, generating alternatives, building consensus with diverse multi-disciplinary groups and implementing solutions.
- Excellent communication, training and interpersonal skills are required to communicate with highly trained professionals across multiple disciplines of microbiology and chemistry.
- Computer experience is required regarding database management and website management.
- Familiar with all EPA drinking water requirements, NELAP accreditation requirements, and possess in depth a knowledge of quality systems for laboratories.
- Familiar with all cannabis testing requirements for medical and retail marijuana products.
OSPHL obtains a baseline screen for tuberculosis exposure for all employees using a blood test. Employees working with TB or other respiratory specimens are screened periodically for TB using a blood test.
Applicants that meet the minimum qualifications and most closely match the desired attributes will be invited for an interview.
Additional Information
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
To apply, please follow these steps.
- Complete the online application by clicking 'to apply' above. Resumes or position descriptions will not be accepted in place of a completed application. Because of the volume of applications that apply, we do not review any attachments that are not specifically requested.
- The work experience and/or education section of your application must clearly demonstrate how you meet all minimum and special qualifications listed in the job announcement. If it does not, we are required to disqualify it.
- Complete the supplemental questions. Answers to the supplemental questions must be substantiated with the experience you listed in the work experience section of the application. If you say you have 10 years of experience in customer service, but don't show 10 years of experience in the application, you may be disqualified.
-
Always attach your transcripts. We highly encourage you to attach your transcripts to every application you submit, even if you believe you qualify without them.
Caution: If you fail to follow these instructions, your application will be disqualified. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered nor will attachments such as transcripts be accepted after the close date.
PRE-EMPLOYMENT CHECKS:
If you are offered employment, the offer will be contingent upon the outcome of an abuse check, criminal records check and driving records check. The information will be shared with the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), Office of Human Resources (OHR) to determine employability with the agency. Any criminal or founded abuse history will be reviewed and could result in the withdrawal of the offer or termination of employment.
VETERANS INFORMATION:
If you are an eligible veteran and wish to claim veterans preference points AND you also meet the minimum qualifications for this position, veteran's preference points will be awarded with verification . To receive veteran's preference points you MUST attach the following required documentation to your electronic application.
> A copy of your DD214/DD215 form; OR a letter from the US Dept. of Veteran's Affairs indicating you receive a non-service connected pension for the five (5) point preference.
> A copy of your DD214/DD215 form; AND a copy of your veterans' disability preference letter from the Dept. of Veterans' Affairs for the ten (10) point preference.
For more information on veterans' preference points visit www.oregonjobs.org, and select veterans' preference.
NEED HELP?
If you need assistance to participate in the application process, you are encouraged to call Cyndi Phipps-Roman at 503-945-6377 (voice) or email cynthia.phipps-roman@state.or.us 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) Monday through Friday. TTY users please use the Oregon Telecommunications Relay Service: 1-800-735-2900.
For technical support, please call toll free 1-855-524-5627, for customer service assistance.
PLEASE CONSIDER JOINING US!
The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) includes most of the state's health care programs, including Public Health, Health Policy and Analytics, Health Systems Division, and Oregon State Hospital. Incorporating the state's health care programs within one agency gives the state greater purchasing and marketing power to begin tackling the issues of cost, quality, and access to care.
OHA strives to create inclusive environments that welcome and value the diversity of the people we serve. OHA fosters fairness, equity, and inclusion to create workplace environments where everyone is treated with respect and dignity regardless of race, color, religion, sex, disability, physical stature, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, political affiliation and any other factor applicable by state or federal law.
Core benefits
Medical, vision and dental insurance
- Comprehensive medical, dental and vision plans for the employee and qualified family members
- $5,000 in employee basic life insurance
Retirement benefits
- Membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)/Oregon Public Service Retirement Plan (OPSRP)
- Employer paid defined benefit and defined contribution programs
**Effective November 1, 2016, SEIU represented employees who are Public Employee Retirement System (PERS) participating members will have their base salary increased by 6.95%. Upon becoming a PERS participating member, SEIU employees pay the employee 6% contribution to PERS.
Paid leaves and other benefits
- Sick leave earned at the rate of 8 hours per a month with no maximum accumulation
- Vacation leave earned at a minimum rate of 8 hours per month with accrual rate increases at 5-year increments
- 24 hours personal leave earned each fiscal year
- Ten paid holidays a year
The state also provides access to an innovative Employee Assistance Program that offers work-life counseling, along with homeowner, legal and family resources.
Optional benefits
- Term life (employee, spouse or domestic partner, and dependents
- Long-term and short-term disability
- Accidental Death and Dismemberment
- Long-term care (self and eligible family members)
- Flexible spending accounts
- Option to enroll in the Oregon Savings Growth Plan, a deferred compensation program offering a wide variety of investment options.
The following information describes typical benefits available for employees. Actual benefits received may differ by position or branch of government or be prorated for other than full time work.