Laboratory Assistant (NY Helps) - FT - Evening Shift

HOURLY RANGE: $24.25 - $30.92

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS:  The work involves performing routine laboratory and medical tests and assisting technicians in more complicated procedures.  The work is performed under the direct supervision of a higher ranking technical employee in a clinical or public health laboratory, health-care setting, or water or wastewater plant laboratory.  Does related work as required.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES:

Assists in the conducting of tests, examinations, or analyses of various media in a laboratory, medical setting or water or wastewater plant laboratory;

Receives instructions and performs routine laboratory tests in different fields;

Sets up and/or adjusts laboratory equipment such as colorimeters, centrifuges, etc.;

Prepares various types of media, re-agents, or test solutions for use by technicians;

Collects specimens from patients;

Collects samples and assists technicians in water or wastewater plant or in the field;

Keeps equipment and instruments in clean condition and good working order;

Operates an EKG machine or related equipment;

Assists in education and orientation of new employees;

Uses County vehicle to deliver and pick-up samples and/or reports.

FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS: Working knowledge of modern laboratory techniques, terminology and equipment used in a laboratory or health-care facility; working knowledge of chemistry and biology; ability to perform routine technical laboratory work with a high degree of accuracy; ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions; ability to exercise safety precautions in handling specimens and equipment; ability to utilize a variety of electronic software applications; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a diverse constituency; good judgment; initiative; industry; dependability; good eyesight; capable of performing the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Possession of an Associate's degree* in Chemistry, Biology or related technical field; or completion of a minimum of 60 semester credit hours* with a minimum of 24 semester credit hours in Chemistry, Biology or closely related scientific field; or:
• Graduation from high school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma and two (2) years of technical laboratory or technical medical experience; or:
• An equivalent combination of training and experience as defined by the limits of (A) and (B).

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT FOR COUNTY (NON-ECMCC) EMPLOYEES ONLY: Possession of New York State driver’s license at time of appointment and maintenance throughout duration of appointment.

NOTE*: Your degree must have been awarded by a college or university accredited by a regional, national, or specialized agency recognized as an accrediting agency by the U.S. Department of Education/U.S. Secretary of Education.  If your degree was awarded by an educational institution outside the United States and its territories, you must provide independent verification of equivalency.  A list of acceptable companies who provide this service can be found on the Internet at http://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/degrees.cfm. You must pay the required evaluation fee.

NOTE 2: Verifiable part-time and/or volunteer experience will be pro-rated toward meeting full-time experience requirements.