Laboratory Microbiologist

ONLY PERMANENT EMPLOYEES IN THE TITLE AND THOSE THAT ARE REACHABLE ON THE LABORATORY MICROBIOLOGIST CIVIL SERVICE LIST ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY.

Division/Program Summary: The New York City (NYC) Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) is a public health leader serving over 8.4 million New York City residents from diverse ethnic, cultural, and economic backgrounds. The NYC Public Health Laboratory (PHL) is one of the largest local public health laboratories in the United States offering a dynamic and innovative work environment where employees contribute to the health and safety of NYC residents by providing clinical and environmental laboratory testing services. With more than 100 years of leadership in public health, a team of over 200 scientific and support staff are committed to its mission to safeguard the health of all NYC residents by providing quality laboratory testing services that support the priorities of the NYC DOHMH and its community partners to prevent and respond to clinical and environmental public health concerns.

Position Summary: The DOHMH PHL seeks a qualified candidate to serve as a Laboratory Microbiologist. This position will play an integral role in laboratory testing and responding to public health threats, including but not limited to COVID-19, vaccine preventable diseases, HIV, Legionella as well as respiratory, foodborne, and waterborne disease outbreaks. This is an excellent opportunity to join our multidisciplinary team, and collaborate with local, state, federal, and academic partners.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Perform high and moderate complexity laboratory testing and procedures on clinical and environmental specimens submitted to the PHL.
• Use manual and automated methods and specialized instrumentation within the BSL-2 laboratory and high containment laboratory (BSL-3).
• Use the Laboratory Information System to perform data entry, queries, and test results entry.
• Maintain laboratory inventory supplies and equipment using the PHL inventory system or alternative system when implemented.
• Participate in cross training program within PHL to assist with routine and surge events.
• Required to participate in urgent tests during off-hours as needed.
• Retrieve and assist in shipping specimens and samples to the CDC and other partners for additional testing and projects.
• Maintain a program of quality control, participate in a program of quality assurance, and take corrective action when needed.

Why you should work for us:

• Benefits: City employees are entitled to unmatched benefits such as: o a premium-free health insurance plan that saves employees over $10K annually, per a 2024 assessment.

o additional health, fitness, and financial benefits may be available based on the position’s associated union/benefit fund.

o a public sector defined benefit pension plan with steady monthly payments in retirement. o a tax-deferred savings program and o a robust Worksite Wellness Program that offers resources and opportunities to keep you healthy while serving New Yorkers.

• Work From Home Policy: Depending on your position, you may be able to work up to two days during the week from home.
• Job Security - you could enjoy more job security compared to private sector employment and be able to contribute to making NYC a healthy place to live and work.

Established in 1805, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC Health Department) is the oldest and largest health department in the U.S., dedicated to protecting and improving the health of NYC. Our mission is to safeguard the health of every resident and cultivate a city where everyone, regardless of age, background, or location, can achieve their optimal health. We provide a wide array of programs and services focused on food and nutrition, anti-tobacco support, chronic disease prevention, HIV/AIDS treatment, family and child health, environmental health, mental health, and social justice initiatives. As the primary population health strategist and policy authority for NYC, with a rich history of public health initiatives and scientific advancements, from addressing the 1822 yellow fever outbreak to the COVID-19 pandemic, we serve as a global leader in public health innovation and expertise.

Come join us and help to continue our efforts in making a difference in the lives of all New Yorkers! Commitment to Equity: The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.

The NYC Health Department is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation to all individuals. To request reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, contact Sye-Eun Ahn, Director of the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity, at sahn1@health.nyc.gov or 347-396-6549.

Minimum Qualifications

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, accredited by regional, national, professional, or specialized agencies recognized as accrediting bodies by the U.S. Secretary of Education and by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) with a major in the biological, chemical, or physical sciences or medical technology, and one year of experience as a microbiologist performing at the technician or higher level in a clinical or environmental laboratory setting; or
• An associate degree in medical technology, or sixty college credits from an accredited college or university, accredited by regional, national, professional, or specialized agencies recognized as accrediting bodies by the U.S. Secretary of Education and by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) including six credits in mathematics and six credits in either chemistry or biology and three years of experience as described in “1” above; or
• A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent approved by a State’s Department of Education or a recognized accrediting organization plus any combination of college education and experience described in “1" or “2” above to make up the equivalent of five years of education and experience. One year of experience credit will be given for each 30 semester credits of college education which includes at least 3 credits in mathematics and at least 3 credits in either chemistry or biology. However, all candidates must have at least one year of acceptable experience as described in “1” above.

Residency Requirement

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.