Laboratory Technician (Environmental Microbiology)

Modified: March 20, 2020 2:20pm

COUNTY OF ERIE - DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL
invites applications for the position of:

Laboratory Technician (Environmental Microbiology)

#64-307 - Open Competitive (open to the public)

Salary: $51,868 - $61,613 Annually
Opening Date: March 20, 2020
Closing Date: April 13, 2020
Application fee: $20.00

Residence Requirements:

CANDIDATES MUST HAVE BEEN LEGAL RESIDENTS OF ERIE COUNTY FOR AT LEAST ONE MONTH IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE DATE OF THE WRITTEN TEST AND MUST BE LEGAL RESIDENTS OF ERIE COUNTY AT THE TIME OF APPOINTMENT. There is one present vacancy at the Erie County Water Authority. 

Examples of Duties:

A Laboratory Technician (Environmental Microbiology) performs a variety of general, routine and specialized diagnostic water tests in a laboratory at the Water Authority; 

Sets up, cleans and maintains equipment and instruments to be used in laboratory tests;

Performs microbiological tests which include total coli forms, HPC, algae enumeration and identification, AODC, AOC, Giardia and cryptosporidium analysis; microscopic particulate, etc;

Performs qualitative tests on water to determine its levels of various chemical parameters which include hardness, alkalinity, nutrients, metals, etc;

Performs microscopic examinations using bright field, phase contrast, differential interference contract and ipifluorescence techniques;

Prepares various types of media, reagents, test solutions, smears, stains and slides; Conducts field sampling with portable laboratory equipment;

Exercises care and safety in handling toxic and biologically active specimens and in using laboratory equipment; Maintains records and prepares reports of tests and examinations; May assist in the orientation and training of other staff members.

Qualifications:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:  Candidates must meet one of the following requirements on or before the date of the written test:

A.) Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Microbiology, or Environmental Biology; or

B.) Completion of sixty (60) semester credit hours from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university which included at least twenty-four (24) semester credit hours in Microbiology, Biology, Environmental Biology or Chemistry and two (2) years of laboratory experience conducting microbiology, biology, environmental biology or chemical tests.

Notes:

1. In addition to the two (2) years of experience required under option “B”, the completion of one addition year of laboratory experience specifically in a water treatment laboratory, water quality laboratory or in a laboratory performing testing of the same/similar compounds, utilizing Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) testing methods and instruments found in an environmental laboratory may be substituted for twelve (12) of the twenty-four (24) semester credit hours in Microbiology, Biology, Environmental Biology or Chemistry as required in “B” .

2. Verifiable part-time and/or volunteer experience will be pro-rated toward meeting full-time experience requirements.

3. Your degree and/or college credit must have been awarded by a regionally accredited college or university or one recognized by the New York State Education Department as following acceptable educational practices. A grade of "D" or better is necessary for a course to be credited as successfully completed. If your degree and/or college credit was awarded by an educational institution outside of the United States and its territories, you must provide independent verification of equivalency. You can write to this Department for a list of acceptable companies providing this service; you must pay the required evaluation fee.

Notice to Candidates: Transcripts will now be accepted by the Department of Personnel ONLY at time of application.
All subsequent transcripts must be submitted at time of interview.

Examination date:

May 16, 2020

Applications Must Be Postmarked or Hand Delivered By:

April 13, 2020

The New York State Department of Civil Service has not prepared a test guide for this examination. However, candidates may find information in the publication 'General Guide to Written Tests' helpful in preparing for this test. This publication is available on line at:https://www.cs.ny.gov/testing/testguides.cfm.

Subjects of Examination:

Scopes / Subjects of examination: A test designed to evaluate knowledge, skills and /or abilities in the following areas.

Record keeping

These questions test for accuracy and attention to detail in keeping laboratory test records. The candidate will be asked to transfer information from laboratory test request forms onto a test log form, and then to locate and interpret required information from the test log form. No knowledge of any particular record-keeping system is required.
 

General principles of bacteriology, mycology, and diagnostic techniques

These questions test for knowledge of bacteriology and mycology with emphasis on those areas involved in the detection of food, milk and water contamination. The questions cover such areas as the culture, staining, and examination of microorganisms; and the basic biochemical, immunological and molecular biological principles underlying tests to isolate and identify microorganisms.

Basic laboratory equipment and glassware

These questions test for knowledge of common laboratory glassware and equipment and their uses.
 

General laboratory principles and practices

These questions test for knowledge of such areas as care and handling of toxic/dangerous materials; simple first aid and safety procedures; the metric system; simple laboratory calculations; care and use of laboratory glassware and equipment; and common laboratory procedures.

NOTICE TO CANDIDATES: Unless otherwise noted, candidates are permitted to use quiet, hand held, solar or battery powered calculators. Devices with typewriter keyboards, "Spell Checkers", “Personal Digital Assistants", "Address Books", "Language Translators", "Dictionaries", or any similar devices are prohibited. You may not bring books or other reference materials.

**IMPORTANT APPLICATION FEE - READ CAREFULLY**

A $20.00 filing fee is required for this exam. The required fee must accompany your application. Send or bring check or money order made payable to Erie County Personnel Department and write the examination number(s) on your check or money order. Do not send or bring cash, as the County cannot be responsible for cash payment. As no refund will be made, you are urged to compare your qualifications carefully with the requirements for admission and file only for those examinations for which you are clearly qualified.