MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENTIST III - 64026411

Requisition No: 867533 

Agency: Department of Health

Working Title: MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENTIST III - 64026411

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 64026411 

Salary:  $2,027.61 Biweekly 

Posting Closing Date: 01/21/2026 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

State Personnel System Opportunity

Applicants accepted only from State Personnel System employees, (includes OPS, Career Service, SES or SMS employees). Applicants will not be accepted from outside of the State Personnel System.

Florida Department of Health

Bureau of Public Health Laboratories

Tampa Laboratory

Your Specific Responsibilities:

This is an independent, professional position serving as the Lead Sentinel Chicken Testing Scientist (Sentinel Chicken Testing Coordinator) assigned to the Virology Unit of the Bureau of Public Health Laboratories (BPHL) in Tampa.  This position has a Lead Worker designation and reports directly to the Arbovirus Serology and Environmental Surveillance Supervisor. Duties are performed under general supervision and involve considerable responsibility and authority. Duties are related to the examination of sentinel chicken specimens for the detection of arboviral disease agents.

Plans, schedules, leads others, and participates in:  

1. Detection of antibodies to arboviruses in non-clinical specimens using serological assays.
2. Development and validation of new assays.
3. Training employees and students in the performance of serological and molecular assays following established standard operating procedures.
4. Preparing invoices for billing for appropriate Florida and out of state sentinel chicken surveillance specimen testing.
5. Is accessible to employees while testing is performed to resolve technical problems.

Result analysis, result review, and preparation of laboratory reports, including approving test results in the Laboratory Information Management System when assigned by the Supervisor. Communicates with clients and advises on result interpretation.

Assists the supervisor with planning workloads, workflows, deadlines, and work objectives with employees:

1. Communicates on a regular basis about the status of workloads, workflows, and deadlines with the Supervisor.
2. Communicates on a regular basis with employees both individually and in staff meetings.
3. Makes decisions on appropriate technical procedures to be implemented in consultation with the Supervisor.
4. Maintains inventory of supplies and reagents and assists the Supervisor with ordering supplies.
5. Ensures established testing requirements are met related to funding deliverables or as assigned by the Supervisor.
6. Observes employee assay performance as assigned by the Supervisor.

Assists the Supervisor with:

1. Quality assurance, quality control, and proficiency testing for assigned areas of the Virology Unit in accordance with CLIA requirements.
2. The development, verification, and validation of standard operating procedures in accordance with CLIA requirements.
3. The establishment and periodic evaluation of safety measures in accordance with internal and external regulations.

Leads laboratory bench activities. Develops and makes presentations to the public, partners in the DOH, and other agencies. Participates in public health research projects and the scope and design process. Participates in data creation, maintenance, analysis, reporting, presentations, and the development of manuscripts for publication. 

Performs other related duties as required.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.

Ability to collect, record, and analyze scientific data relating to the biological sciences. 

Ability to conduct biological research, studies or analyses using scientific methods and techniques.

Ability to solve problems and make decisions. 

Knowledge of the terminology, principles and techniques used in biological research, analysis, or testing of clinical specimens.

Knowledge of procedures, techniques, and equipment used in a laboratory.

Skill in the use of lab equipment.

Ability to communicate effectively.

Ability to work independently.

Ability to plan, organize, and coordinate work assignments.

Ability to understand and apply applicable rules, regulations, policies, and procedures. 

Qualifications:

Minimum - Florida Clinical Laboratory or Public Health Laboratory Technician’s license in Microbiology

Preferred - BS in one of the chemical or biological sciences. One Year or more experience.

Florida Department of Health Mission, Vision, and Values:

Mission:

To protect, promote & improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county & community efforts.

Vision:

To be the Healthiest State in the Nation.

Values:

I nnovation: We search for creative solutions and manage resources wisely.

C ollaboration: We use teamwork to achieve common goals & solve problems.

A ccountability: We perform with integrity & respect.

R esponsiveness: We achieve our mission by serving our customers & engaging our partners.

E xcellence: We promote quality outcomes through learning & continuous performance improvement.

Where You Will Work:

Tampa, Florida

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits including:

• Annual and Sick Leave benefits;
• Nine paid holidays and one Personal Holiday each year;
• State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental insurance options;
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions

(For more information, please click www.myfrs.com);

• Flexible Spending Accounts;
• Tuition waivers;
• And more!

For a more complete list of benefits, including monthly costs, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.

Please be advised:

Your responses to qualifying questions for this position must be verifiable by documentation provided through the electronic application process.  

This position requires a security background check and/or drug screening and participation in direct deposit. Any misrepresentations or omissions will disqualify you from employment consideration. Note: You will be required to provide your Social Security Number (SSN) in order to conduct this background check Successful completion of a drug test is a condition of employment for safety-sensitive positions.

Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion unless they are registered with the Selective Services System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS. For more information, please visit the SSS website: http://www.sss.gov 

If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida.  Your current retirement benefits may be canceled, suspended or deemed ineligible depending upon the date of your retirement. 

The successful candidate will be required to complete the Form I-9 and that information will be verified using the E-Verify system.  E-Verify is operated by the Department of Homeland Security in partnership with the Social Security Administration to verify employment eligibility.   

Incumbents may be required to perform emergency duty before, during, and/or beyond normal work hours or days.

All Florida Department of Health positions require the incumbent to be able to learn and communicate effectively, orally and in writing, in English. Applicants who do not meet this requirement will not be considered.  

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace. 

Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-877-562-7287). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation. 

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act. 

Florida has the third largest population of veterans in the nation with more than 1.5 million service men and women.  The Florida Department of Health (department) is committed to serving members of the United States Armed Forces, veterans and their families by encouraging them to apply for vacancies that fit their area of knowledge and/or expertise.  Through the Department's VALOR program, which expedites licensing for military veterans, the Department also waives initial licensing and application fees for military veterans who apply for a health care professional license within 60 months of an honorable discharge. These initiatives help ensure that the transition from military service into the workforce is as smooth as possible and reflects our appreciation for the dedication devoted to protecting our country.    

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE.  Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply.  Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements.  Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code.  Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here.  All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.