Quality Assurance Officer - CL441 & CL477

The Virginia Department of General Services (DGS) is seeking two qualified candidates to serve as Quality Assurance Officers in the Quality Assurance & Safety Group for the Commonwealth's Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services (DCLS), which is one of the largest and most diverse consolidated state laboratories in the nation. With an annual budget of over 30 million dollars and over 250 state employees, DCLS performs approximately 9 million tests annually. Results from these tests are used confidently by local, state, and federal public health, agriculture, food regulatory, environmental protection, and law enforcement officials serving to protect our citizens, food supply environment and commerce. DCLS is a member of several public health networks and emergency response groups; the Consolidated Laboratory also directs Commonwealth’s environmental laboratory accreditation program.

The Quality Assurance team ensures excellence at DCLS through a continuous cycle of monitoring, evaluation, and improvement. We establish and implement systematic processes that consistently assess and enhance the quality of services provided, supporting the highest standards across the organization.

The Quality Assurance Officer works across teams to implement a consistent, proactive approach for monitoring, assessing, and improving service quality throughout DCLS.

 Job duties include, but are not limited to:

• Maintain a Quality Management System (QMS) for compliance with CLIA, ISO17025:2017 and 2016 TNI regulations.
• Review and revise QMS Manual and quality SOPs.
• Use internal audit findings and recommendations to provide annual trend analysis report.  
• Review method verification/validation proposals.
• Provide guidance to managers and staff on quality processes, regulatory requirements, and best practices.
• Lead internal audits and prepare reports.
• Prepare laboratory groups for external audits and inspections.
• Provide training and support to staff on quality assurance topics and regulatory requirements.

Minimum Requirements:

• Laboratory knowledge and expertise with chemistry, microbiology and/or molecular biology, and quality assurance methods, principles and practices.
• A detailed understanding of quality assurance concepts.
• Experience in improving and maintaining a laboratory quality management system.
• Experience interpreting laboratory quality assurance (QA) data and forecasting future needs.
• Experience writing, editing, and/or revising Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), job aids and policies.
• Experience of computer applications, LIMS and document management systems.
• Demonstrated ability working as an effective lead worker.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work successfully in a team environment.
• Demonstrated experience providing customer support.  
• Ability to plan, organize, and schedule work.

This position is in Richmond, Virginia and must report on-site.

DGS offers excellent health benefits at affordable pricing, pre-tax spending accounts, paid life insurance, paid Short- and Long-Term Disability benefits, paid holidays, vacation, and other leave benefits, wellness programs, and a state retirement plan with options for tax-deferred retirement savings including employer matching. Additionally, supplemental bus passes, ride share, or parking are available, and DGS is a qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. 

Sponsorship will not be provided for this position now or in the future. Confirmation of eligibility to work will be required at time of hire.

The selected candidate must also pass a fingerprint-based criminal background check.

Additional Considerations:

• Knowledge of TNI, ISO17025, and CLIA regulations.
• Experience providing training on quality topics.
• Experience working or supporting quality assurance in a TNI or another accredited laboratory.
• Experience performing internal audits on analytical test methods(chemistry, microbiology, molecular biology, and/or genomic sequencing) to assess compliance with TNI, ISO17025, and CLIA or other regulations and quality systems.
• Experience reviewing and interpreting corrective actions and performing root cause analysis