Promotion examination open to all qualified employees of the New York State Department of Health.

Laboratory Specialist 2 (Biology)/(Chemistry)

*Due to the size of the candidate population for this test date, you may be assigned to either Saturday, June 10, 2017 or Sunday, June 11, 2017 to take your test. Your admission notice will tell you where and when you are scheduled to appear. You cannot request a day in advance or change your scheduled day.

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Minimum Qualifications

On or before June 10, 2017, you must be a qualified employee of the New York State Department of Health and have had three months of permanent competitive or 55-b/55-c service as follows:

Either A. as a Laboratory Specialist 1, Laboratory Specialist Trainee 1, or Laboratory Specialist Trainee 2;

Or B. as a Clinical Laboratory Consultant, Environmental Laboratory Consultant, Mass Spectrometry Analyst 2, Senior Bacteriologist, Senior Bacteriologist (Virology), or Senior Chemist (Air Pollution).

Only the title(s) listed is qualifying for this examination(s).

Additional Requirements: Depending on assignment, appointees may, at the time of appointment and continuously thereafter, be required to meet all applicable state and local requirements for qualification.

If you were permanently appointed to a qualifying title on or before March 10, 2017, and have served continuously in this title since that date, you are eligible to file for this examination.

Qualifying Experience for Appointment from the Eligible List

After one year of service at the full performance level, Laboratory Specialist 1, successful candidates will be qualified for appointment from the eligible list. Laboratory Specialist Trainees 1 and 2 will be eligible for appointment after one year of service at the full performance level of Laboratory Specialist 1. After one year of service in a “B” qualifying title, successful candidates will be eligible for appointment from the eligible list.

Eligibles who meet the “B” qualifications, and who are subsequently appointed to an “A” title, may request to have their name added to the “A” list, once they have completed the one year(s) of service at the full performance level, Laboratory Specialist 1. This request should be submitted in writing to the NYS Department of Civil Service, Albany, NY 12239; Attention: S1DAG2.

Order of Certification

The order of certification of this eligible list will be:

1. "A" eligibles
2. "All" eligibles

IMPORTANT: Unless waived, you must pay the non-refundable processing fee. For information on fee waivers, visit https://www.cs.ny.gov/examannouncements/types/oc/appinfo.cfm##Fee. It is important that you verify that you entered the correct examination number and title on your online or paper application prior to submitting. If you apply online, you should immediately review your email confirmation notice to verify that you applied for the correct examination. If you do not receive a confirmation number after submitting your online application, your application was NOT received by the Department of Civil Service. No late applications will be accepted after the filing deadline has passed.

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Duties

The Laboratory Specialist 2 (Biology), under general direction and in the area of expertise in which the position is assigned, may plan and oversee the work of the laboratory and/or plans and conducts experiments to advance research. The Laboratory Specialist 2 (Biology) may direct one or more of the following laboratory activities: the analysis of environmental and clinical specimens for the purpose of isolation and identification of infectious agents; the development of diagnostic tests and assays; the analysis of proficiency samples for establishing and/or maintaining certification of the laboratory by various regulatory entities; the analysis of samples prepared for use in proficiency testing programs; the production of diagnostic reagents and biologic products; the performance of image production and analysis; the performance of genetic analyses for diagnostic and epidemiologic efforts; the development and/or implementation of new technologies and techniques that will address newly identified needs and/or requirements to keep the laboratory’s capabilities current; may prepare reports, publications, or standard operators procedures (SOP) etc.; consult with outside agencies; and may supervise subordinate staff.

The Laboratory Specialist 2 (Chemistry), under general direction and in the area of expertise in which the position is assigned, may plan and oversee the work of the laboratory and/or plans and conducts experiments to advance research. The Laboratory Specialist 2 (Chemistry) may direct one or more of the following activities: the analysis of environmental samples and/or clinical specimens for the purpose of identifying and quantifying levels of chemical constituents; the analysis of samples prepared for use in proficiency testing programs to validate the chemicals present, both qualitatively and quantitatively; the analysis of proficiency samples for establishing and/or maintaining certification of the laboratory by various regulatory entities; the preparation for sampling materials and reagents used in the collection and analysis of both environmental samples and clinical specimens; the development and/or implementation of new technologies and techniques that will address newly identified needs and/or requirements to keep the laboratory’s capabilities current; may consult with outside agencies; and may supervise subordinate staff.

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Subject of Examination

There will be a written test which you must pass in order to be considered for appointment. The written test is designed to test for knowledge, skills, and/or abilities in such areas as:

1. Preparing written material - These questions test for the ability to present information clearly and accurately, and to organize paragraphs logically and comprehensibly. For some questions, you will be given information in two or three sentences followed by four restatements of the information. You must then choose the best version. For other questions, you will be given paragraphs with their sentences out of order. You must then choose, from four suggestions, the best order for the sentences.
2. Analyzing and interpreting written technical material - These questions will require you to read passages which deal with technical laboratory issues and procedures not necessarily specific to your field, and then will ask you to base your answers on a comprehension of the passages presented. In some cases, you may be further required to incorporate basic background knowledge in order to answer correctly.
3. Supervision - These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices employed in planning, organizing, and controlling the activities of a work unit toward predetermined objectives. The concepts covered, usually in a situational question format, include such topics as assigning and reviewing work; evaluating performance; maintaining work standards; motivating and developing subordinates; implementing procedural change; increasing efficiency; and dealing with problems of absenteeism, morale, and discipline.
4. Collection, analysis and interpretation of data - These questions test for knowledge of the methods and techniques used to gather, evaluate, organize, and interpret various types of technical data, and the fundamental concepts and computations involved in basic statistical analysis.

If you pass, your seniority credit(s), if any, will be included in the computation of your final score. Rank on the eligible list will be determined after adding any wartime Veterans' credits to your final passing score.

Credit for Seniority

Seniority is credited at the rate of one credit for each five-year period (or fraction thereof), excluding the first year of service.

Important: The Department of Civil Service and other state agencies may communicate with you through email correspondence. This may include the notification of your examination results and canvassing you for interest in appointment. It will be important for you to keep your email address, phone number and mailing address current by logging into https://www.cs.ny.gov/home/myaccount.

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How To Apply

If you do not receive a number after submitting your online application, your application was NOT processed.

Additional Information

New York State is an Equal Opportunity Employer

It is the policy of the State of New York to provide for and promote equal opportunity employment, compensation, and other terms and conditions of employment without discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, disability, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, veteran or military service member status, marital status, domestic violence victim status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, or arrest and/or criminal conviction record unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification or other exception.

Religious Accommodation

Most written tests are held on Saturdays. If you cannot take the test on the announced test date, due to a conflict with a religious observance or practice, check the box under “Religious Accommodation.” We will make arrangements for you to take the test on a different date (usually the following day).

Reasonable Accommodations in Testing

It is the policy of the Department of Civil Service, in accordance with the New York State Human Rights Law and the Americans with Disabilities Act, to provide qualified persons with disabilities equal employment opportunity and equal opportunity to participate in and receive the benefits, services, programs, and activities of the Department. It is the policy of the Department to provide such persons reasonable accommodations and reasonable modifications as are necessary to provide equal opportunity. Persons with disabilities who require an accommodation to participate in an examination must note this on their application. Further information is available from the Test Administration Unit of the Department of Civil Service. In the Albany area, call 518-457-2487. Outside of the Albany area, call toll free at 1-877-697-5627. For TDD services, call NY Relay at 711 (requires a fee) or 1-800-662-1220.

Admission to Examination

Notice to appear for the test may be conditional as review of applications may not be made until after the test. If you have not received your notice to appear for the written test three days before the date of the test, call 518-474 6470 in the Albany area or toll free at 1-877-697-5627.

Multiple Examinations Scheduled for the Same Day

If you have applied to take a written test announced by either one or several local jurisdictions (county, town, city) scheduled to be held on the same test date as this written test, you must notify each of the local jurisdictions no later than two weeks before the test date to make arrangements for taking all tests at one test site. All tests will be held at the state examination center. For your convenience, contact information for all local civil service agencies is available on our website at: http://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/local.cfm

Eligibility for Examination

To be considered a qualified employee eligible to compete in this examination, you must be employed in, or on leave from, the specified department or agency on a permanent or contingent permanent basis in the competitive class, or in the non-competitive class or labor class if specifically noted on this announcement (or be on an appropriate preferred list), and have the specified time in the specified title or salary grade. You may not compete in a test for a title if you are permanently employed in that title (unless you are still on probation) or in a higher direct line of promotion.

Cell Phones or Electronic/Communication Devices at the Test Site

Do not bring cell phones, beepers, headphones, or any electronic or other communication devices to the test site. The use of such devices at the test site in the test room, hallways, restrooms, building, grounds, or other areas could result in your disqualification.

S1/TC3 DAG-dah
Issued: 3/24/2017

This announcement is subject to amendment or cancellation without notice. Do not copy it, or post it to any other site, but link to it instead.

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