SALARY $6,171.35 - $6,857.05 Monthly

LOCATION Laramie, WY

JOB TYPE Permanent Full-time

JOB NUMBER 2024-01965

DEPARTMENT Game & Fish Commission

DIVISION Wildlife

OPENING DATE 09/09/2024

CLOSING DATE Continuous

FLSA Exempt

JOB CLASSIFICATION

HSSL10

Description and Functions 

Open Until Filled

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: 

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s, nationally known, Wildlife Health Laboratory, is seeking a Senior Laboratory Scientist. This position is an integral part of a fast-paced seven-member diagnostic laboratory and provides wildlife disease diagnostic resources, surveillance, and research assistance to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and other state and federal agencies. This position helps manage statewide disease surveillance for brucellosis, chronic wasting disease (CWD), bighorn sheep respiratory disease and performs diagnostics for a range of terrestrial wildlife disease. This position is responsible for sampling processing, and testing using laboratory procedures and equipment and reporting results to sportspersons and agency personnel.

This position is part of the Veterinary Services branch and is permanent and fully benefitted (health insurance, paid vacation, sick leave, and retirement); located in Laramie, WY.

Laramie is a town of 30,000 in the heart of the Rocky Mountain West. Located in a high mountain valley near the Colorado border, Laramie offers both outstanding recreational opportunities and close proximity to Colorado's Front Range, a bustling group of metropolitan cities including Denver, Boulder, and Fort Collins. This beautiful mountain landscape offers outdoor enjoyment in all seasons, with over 300 days of sunshine annually. For more information about the region, please visit http://visitlaramie.org/ 

Human Resource Contact: Alice Saldana / alice.saldana2@wyo.gov 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:  The listed functions are illustrative only and are not intended to describe every function which may be performed in the job level.

• Coordinates and conducts annual statewide surveillance for various wildlife diseases, including processing and testing biological specimens, including blood, tissues, and fluids.
• Microbiological culture of tissues and fluids for the isolation and identification of various respiratory pathogens and zoonotic pathogens such as Brucella abortus.
• Statewide chronic wasting disease surveillance, including tissue collection, data entry, sample processing, testing, reporting, and data management. Must maintain annual Federal CWD testing (ELISA) certification.
• Statewide brucellosis (B. abortus) surveillance, including data entry, sample processing, testing, reporting, and data management. Must maintain annual federal certification for Brucella abortus serological tests (FPA).
• Develop, maintain, and adhere to standard operating procedures, quality control, nonconformance documentation, and corrective action reports on diagnostic assays and laboratory equipment to meet ISO 17025 and NAHLN requirements.
• Submission of laboratory casework using databases, spreadsheets, and LIMS programs.
• Dissemination of laboratory results by communicating with sportspersons, agency personnel, and numerous state and federal agencies.
• Design and manage wildlife disease databases, spreadsheets, tables, statistical programs, and reports.
• Analyze reports, scientific publications, and articles to develop and validate new PCR, microbiological, and serological laboratory assays.
• Participate in sample collection under field conditions.
• Retrieval of big and trophy game carcasses and other wildlife species from various locations using a four-wheel-drive pickup and electric winch.
• Collection of specimens for diagnostic testing from carcasses or live animals under field conditions in adverse weather conditions and steep terrain.

Qualifications

PREFERENCES/**AGENCY REQUIREMENTS: 

Preference may be given to individuals with a bachelor’s or master’s degree in biology, microbiology, molecular biology or a related field and at least two years’ veterinary or human diagnostic laboratory experience with specimens/testing, as well as client communication.

**Agency requires a valid driver's license.

KNOWLEDGE: 

• Knowledge of veterinary laboratory diagnostic techniques, interpretation, evaluation, and confirmation of laboratory results, as well as excellent troubleshooting skills.
• Outstanding laboratory organizational skills in sample tracking through testing, reporting, and storage.
• Ability to be flexible in a schedule to perform tasks in the laboratory and field to meet deadlines and complete casework in a timely manner.
• Ability to initiate daily tasks and work independently with excellent attention to detail. Ability to adhere to rigid laboratory standard operating procedures and quality controls, as well as a working knowledge of QA/QC requirements of ISO-17025 / NAHLN / AAVLD
• Computer skills in Microsoft Office Suite, proficient with word processing, databases, and spreadsheets; knowledge of statistical analysis and report generation.
• Knowledge of ArcGIS and other topographic software programs.
• Knowledge of proper laboratory safety precautions and procedures when handling zoonotic pathogens under BSL-2 conditions.
• Working knowledge and developed skills in DNA extraction, PCR assays, troubleshooting, optimization, and protocol development.
• Knowledge of large animal handling and specimen collection techniques. Basic knowledge of necropsy techniques and sample collection.
• Well-developed skills in interpersonal relations, oral and written communications, work prioritization, teamwork, and decision making.
• Ability to professionally interact with the public, University of Wyoming faculty and staff, Departmental personnel, and representatives of various state and federal agencies.
• Willing to travel and work independently with little or no supervision.
• Ability to work outside, often for long periods in adverse weather conditions.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
 Education:Bachelor's Degree (typically in Science) Experience:1-2 years of progressive work experience (typically in a medical or environmental laboratory) with acquired knowledge at the level of a Laboratory Scientist II OR Education & Experience Substitution:4-6 years of progressive work experience (typically in a medical or environmental laboratory) with acquired knowledge at the level of a Laboratory Scientist II Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:None
Necessary Special Requirements

PHYSICAL WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Ability to lift fifty (50) pounds or more without assistance.
• Ability to wear and work while wearing a respirator (PAPR, N95).  Ability to work outside in various weather conditions and terrain.
• Ability to operate a four-wheel-drive vehicle in various weather and road conditions

NOTES:

• FLSA:  Exempt
• 95% of this position involves laboratory diagnostics and data management within a veterinary laboratory; 5% of duties occur outside the laboratory.
• Successful applicants for employment must pass a background check prior to appointment.
• CDL is not required for this position. Travel is required.

Supplemental Information

040-Game & Fish Commission - Wildlife Division

Click here to view the State of Wyoming Classification and Pay Structure.

URL: http://agency.governmentjobs.com/wyoming/default.cfm

The State of Wyoming is an Equal Opportunity Employer and actively supports the ADA and reasonably accommodates qualified applicants with disabilities.
 

Class Specifications are subject to change, please refer to the A & I HRD Website to ensure that you have the most recent version.