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Jobs in this family perform laboratory testing for the diagnosis, treatment, surveillance, and prevention of disease causing agents. Includes positions related to laboratory support, quality assurance, or laboratory testing and compliance activities.

Jobs and Descriptions

Public Health Laboratory Technician

Laboratory support position accountable for providing basic technical support to professional laboratory staff. At this level, employees prepare samples for testing, prepare reagents, prep tools and equipment, and clean and restock laboratory equipment. Employees at this level do not participate in running tests.

Typically requires a High School Diploma or high school equivalency and 0-1 years of experience.

OCCU: 9601
Pay Grade: MS07

Public Health Laboratory Scientist I

First-level professional position accountable for performing a variety of standard and complex tests and analyses to provide data. Tests performed at this level are often characterized by a lack of well-defined procedures for detecting errors and are often performed without completely defined instructions, requiring a high degree of technical judgment and decision making to determine the most appropriate method for performing test. At this level, employees provide technical interpretation of test results.

Typically requires a Bachelor’s Degree and 0-2 years of experience.

OCCU: 9602
Pay Grade: MS09

Public Health Laboratory Scientist II

Second-level professional position accountable for performing a variety of complex tests and analyses to provide data. Employees at this level serve as senior public health laboratory technical experts and representatives and apply knowledge and judgment as a technical expert in the field and assist in lab compliance with Quality Management Systems, Federal and State regulations, and provide expert advice on Regional and National committees. At this level, employees provide technical interpretation of test results.

Typically requires a Bachelor’s Degree and 2-4 years of experience.

OCCU: 9603
Pay Grade: MS011

Public Health Laboratory Scientist III

Seasoned professional position accountable for performing a variety of complex tests and analyses to provide data. Employees at this level serve as senior public health laboratory technical experts and representatives and apply knowledge and judgment as a technical expert in the field and assist in lab compliance with Quality Management Systems, Federal and State regulations, and provide expert advice on National committees. At this level, employees provide technical interpretation of test results.  At this level, incumbents work on the most complex equipment and use problem solving skills in the interpretation and development of testing methods.

Typically requires a Bachelor’s Degree and 5+ years of experience.

OCCU: 9604
Pay Grade: MS12

Public Health Laboratory Team Lead

First-level supervisory Public Health Lab position accountable for serving as technical experts and trainers for laboratory analyses in an assigned area such as medical, environmental, forensic, animal health, agricultural, or materials testing, including the identification of program priorities and client needs. Employees have supervisory responsibilities over vocational and professional employees within the lab and have input into setting a budget. Employee supervision includes hire recommendations; training; work planning, assignments, and review; and performance assessment, coaching, and progressive discipline. Supervision at this level also requires these employees to have the knowledge and skills to perform and review the work overseen.

Typically requires a Bachelor’s Degree and 5-6 years of experience.

OCCU: 9605
Pay Grade: MS13

Public Health Laboratory Supervisor

Second-level supervisory Public Health Lab position accountable for overseeing laboratory operations in an assigned area such as medical, environmental, forensic, animal health, agricultural, or materials testing, including the identification of program priorities and client needs. Employees have supervisory responsibilities over vocational and professional employees within the lab and have input into setting a budget. Employee supervision includes hire recommendations; training; work planning, assignments, and review; and performance assessment, coaching, and progressive discipline. Supervision at this level also requires these employees to have the knowledge and skills to perform and review the work overseen.

Typically requires a Bachelor’s Degree and 7-9 years of experience.

OCCU: 9606
Pay Grade: MS16

Public Health Laboratory Manager

Clinical Laboratory position accountable for managing in the overall planning, development, coordination, and administration of laboratory services. Directs or assists administrative personnel in policy development, program planning, and coordination; assists in directing the development and implementation of departmental planning issues. Employee supervision includes hire recommendations; training; work planning, assignments, and review; and performance assessment, coaching, and progressive discipline.

Typically requires a Bachelor’s Degree, 10+ years of related experience, and 1-2 years of supervisory experience. For the Department of Health, a Doctoral Degree from an accredited four-year college or university in chemical, physical, biological or clinical laboratory sciences, certified and continue to be certified by a board approved by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and must meet Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) requirements for a laboratory director of a high complexity laboratory; and three years of experience including two years of which must have included line or functional administrative or advanced technical supervision in a clinical laboratory OR Medical Degree(s) from an accredited School of Medicine or School of Osteopathic Medicine; licensed to practice medicine or osteopathy in the State of Mississippi or certified in anatomic or clinical pathology, or both, by the American Board of Pathology or the American Osteopathic Board of Pathology. Candidate must meet Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) requirements for a laboratory director of a high complexity laboratory; and three years of experience including two years of which must have included line or functional administrative or advanced technical supervision in a clinical laboratory.

OCCU: 9607
Pay Grade: MS18