Public Health Scientist Senior

The Arizona Department of Agriculture (AZDA) is seeking an experienced and highly motivated individual to join our team as a Senior Public Health Scientist, Seed Analyst for the State Agricultural Laboratory. The State Agricultural Laboratory supports the Department’s mission of protecting the public’s health and safety by providing laboratory and scientific services to the regulatory divisions as well as to other state, federal and tribal agencies.

The individual selected to fill this position is responsible for evaluating seed samples to determine germination, purity, and compliance with state and federal regulations. Day-to-day tasks include performing germination and purity tests, conducting visual and microscopic examinations, and recording detailed analytical data in laboratory information systems. The role involves preparing samples, operating and maintaining laboratory equipment, following standardized testing protocols, and supporting investigations related to seed labeling and marketing claims. This position requires consistent adherence to safety procedures, quality assurance standards, and accurate record keeping supporting AZDA’s regulatory laboratory. This position also has secondary duties for the analysis of foods for the presence of pathogens, other contaminants and quality parameters and be capable of achieving certification from the Food and Drug Administration for such testing as required.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
• Devise research methodologies and strategies to solve specific, complex scientific analysis problems
• Perform development and validation of methods to achieve regulatory analysis of unique analyte/matrix combinations
• Write detailed reports of completed laboratory analyses/research, and/or investigates scientific reports, outlining procedures, materials, conditions, and results.
• Present results and other scientific data for peer review
• Work with minimal direction and without technical supervision
• Confer with laboratory program managers, presenting and resolving difficult problems or questions, discussing plans and actions to be taken, and making decisions.
• Perform work of unusual difficulty related to planning, evaluation, policy development, and implementation of a laboratory quality assurance program
• Testify in court as a senior analyst or subject matter expert witness
• Develop internal audit procedures and corrective action policies to measure, improve and report sample analysis quality
• Assure compliance with International (ISO), Federal and State mandated quality assurance criterion.
• Serve as a subject matter and technical resource expert in the scientific principles utilized in the State Agricultural Laboratory; research, develop and implement sampling guidance that meet all federal and state requirements.
• Provide laboratory certification support and management activities for outside agricultural laboratories certified by the State Agricultural Laboratory; maintain necessary knowledge of state and federal requirements for certification, perform document review, scientific data review and laboratory site audits to determine compliance with requirements and recommend certification actions.

Knowledge of:
• Principles and practices of microbiology including bacterial, mycotic and serological specialties and characteristics of pathogenic responses at an advanced level
• Principles and practices of analytical, organic, inorganic and physical chemistry at an advanced level
• Principles and practices of developing, validating and documenting complex scientific testing methods
• Biological, botany, plant or agricultural science principles at an advanced level
• Seed science and crop production
• Handling and testing of animal, plant, food, feed, agricultural chemical, soil, air, water, and seed specimens
• Principles, practices and Federal/State standards of regulatory (forensic) testing
• Capabilities, usage, maintenance and repair of highly specialized scientific equipment at an advanced level
• Practices and procedures of handling, working with and decontamination of infectious, highly toxic and hazardous materials
• Procedures of maintaining chain of custody for regulatory enforcement samples
• Principles of mathematics and statistics
• Utilization of business and scientific computer systems
• Principles, practices, and policies governing leadership, work management, and quality assurance
• Practices and procedures of laboratory safety

Skills in:
• Applying technical chemistry methodology to laboratory testing and analysis
• Applying microbiological techniques to isolate, identify and enumerate micro-organisms
• Applying seed science testing methodologies
• Operating specialized laboratory equipment
• Oral and written communication and presentation skills
• Interpersonal relationships
• Data analysis
• Attention to detail
• Fine motor skills

Ability to:
• Develop, test and validate new and/or improved testing methodologies
• Perform complex chemistry and biology laboratory analysis
• Generate, interpret, report and present scientific data
• Form effective team relationships
• Communicate effectively verbally and in writing
• Apply the principles and practices of leadership and work management
• Determine the validity of results and ensure compliance with quality assurance criteria
• Effectively manage multiple, sometimes disparate assignments
• Review data with an extraordinary eye for detail
• Work independently
• Use independent judgment and discretion

Bachelor’s Degree or higher in science or related scientific field such as Chemistry, Microbiology, Biology or other physical or natural science currently utilized with the Department of Agriculture State Laboratory employees.

Currently certified by the American Association of Official Seed Analysts (AOSA) or the Society of Commercial Seed Technologists (SCST) for testing seeds for germination and purity, or the ability to become certified within 24 months after hire.

This ideal candidate for this position will have:

5 plus years of experience in Chemistry, Microbiology, Biology or other physical or natural science in a regulatory laboratory setting.

Certification by the FDA for the Analysis of Dairy Products
Certification by the FDA as a Laboratory Evaluation Officer
USDA approval for the testing of meat and poultry products
ISO accreditation for FDA/FSMA testing of food and feed stuffs

• In-state travel is required. Driver’s License Requirements. Any employee operating a motor vehicle on State business must possess and retain a current, valid class-appropriate driver’s license, complete all required training, and successfully pass all necessary driver’s license record checks. The license must be current, unexpired, and neither revoked nor suspended. Employees who drive on state business are subject to driver’s license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records, and must complete all required driver training. An employee who operates a personally owned vehicle on state business shall maintain the statutorily required liability insurance (see Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) R2-10-207.11).
• Successfully pass background and reference checks; employment is contingent upon completion of the above-mentioned process and the agency’s ability to reasonably accommodate any restrictions.
• All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

The State of Arizona offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:
• Sick leave
• Vacation with 10 paid holidays per year
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program)
• Health and dental insurance
• Retirement plan
• Life insurance and long-term disability insurance
• Optional employee benefits include short-term disability insurance, deferred compensation plans, and supplemental life insurance

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here.

For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page.

State employees are required to participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS), the State sponsored retirement contribution plan and the Long-Term Disability (LTD) program after a 27-week waiting period. The ASRS defined benefit plan provides for life-long income upon retirement. You will also have the option to participate in a voluntary deferred compensation program to take advantage of tax-deferred retirement investments.

On, or shortly after, your first day of work you will be provided with additional information about the available insurance plans, enrollment instructions, submission deadlines and effective dates.

For questions about this career opportunity, please contact us at (602) 542-6532 or azdahumanresources@azda.gov.

The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by contacting (602) 542-6532 or azdahumanresources@azda.gov. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodation.