Come join DGS as a Weekend Senior Scientist in our Newborn Screening Group! 

Title: Senior Scientist (Weekend) Newborn Screening – CL504

State Role Title: Scientist II

Hiring Range: $69,000 - $83,000

Pay Band: 5

Agency: Department of General Services

Location: Richmond, VA

Agency Website: www.dgs.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public – G

DGS is seeking a Senior Scientist for our Newborn Screening Laboratory at the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services (DCLS). This position serves as a permanent Weekend Senior Scientist (Tuesday-Saturday schedule). This position will perform and oversee filter paper blood spot analysis for a variety of genetic and metabolic disorders as required by the Code of Virginia.

Virginia’s Newborn Screening Program is a partnership between DCLS and the Virginia Department of Health to screen each baby born in Virginia for certain rare yet serious metabolic and genetic disorders. Babies with these disorders may look healthy at birth but can suffer devastating consequences, even death, if the disorder goes untreated. The Newborn Screening Group works with various platforms including mass spectrometry, electrophoresis, microfluidics, automated immunoassays, and molecular techniques including polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing.

As a member of the Newborn Screening laboratory team, the Senior Scientist will support customer service and quality assurance efforts, review analytical results, write, review and update SOPs, train staff, act as a technical specialist and prioritize, schedule and coordinate testing performed by other staff members, as needed. This position will also participate in product evaluations, method validations, and maintain competency according to the agency accreditation requirements. These duties are performed independently with minimal supervision from the Group Manager.

Job duties include, but are not limited to:

• Serves as a Senior Scientist on the Saturday team.
• Performs assigned testing and approvals for all time-critical disorders.
• Independently provides oversight of all NBS weekend workflow including collection card management, bench testing workflow, troubleshooting, test results release/approval, and critical reporting communication.
• Performs and oversees high complexity testing.
• Schedules and prioritizes workflow for assigned group or work area to ensure turnaround times are met.
• Reviews and approves the work of others and documents approval of data using LIMS.

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

This Weekend Senior Scientist is required to work a permanent Tuesday - Saturday schedule. Dedicated established NBS Weekend Senior Scientists are required to achieve competence and remain competent in multiple time sensitive testing benches to meet weekend testing requirements. 

Weekend Senior Scientists are required to achieve time sensitive testing competencies within 6 months of their effective hire date and begin the weekend schedule for which they were hired.  After competencies have been achieved and the incumbent is placed on the weekend shift, the NBS Weekend Scientist’s salary will be adjusted to reflect the additional competencies they are required to maintain in adherence to their assigned dedicated weekend schedule.

Hours of work for this position are typically 8 hours per day/5 days per week with a set schedule of Tuesday through Saturday. The initial training period will be Monday through Friday.

In addition, some holiday work and on-call coverage are required.

We’ve got great benefits!

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. 

Minimum Requirements

• Meet the requirements for technical supervisor in a high complexity testing laboratory as defined by 42 CFR 493.1449.
• Candidate must demonstrate significant knowledge and experience in clinical laboratory testing.
• Experience with safe laboratory practices.
• Experience with quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) procedures and ability to document and interpret QC data.
• Experience training staff.
• Experience operating and troubleshooting laboratory instrumentation.
• Ability to communicate effectively and work in a team environment.

Ability to work a set schedule of Tuesday through Saturday, with some holiday work as well as on-call coverage.

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

• Experience with high complexity, high volume clinical laboratory testing using automated laboratory equipment.
• Experience with Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS).
• Work-related experience serving as a team leader and experience with prioritizing, scheduling and coordinating laboratory testing of others.
• Work-related experience with mass spectrometry, including LC-MS/MS.
• Work-related experience with immunoassays, molecular biology assays, enzyme activity assays, and/or HPLC.

Special Instructions

The online state application must contain all required information and fully respond to questions to be considered for this job opportunity. Please be sure that all your relevant qualifications and considerations are specifically addressed in your submitted application.

Online applications should be submitted via jobs.virginia.gov.

Fax, e-mail, or mail applications will not be accepted. For assistance or computer access, please visit your local Virginia Employment Office or contact our office jobs@dgs.virginia.gov or 804-786-3910. 

You will be provided with confirmation of receipt when your application has been successfully submitted. Applications will continue to be accepted until a suitable pool of candidates is received, but this position may be closed at any time after March 26, 2026.  Please refer to the “Your Application” page in your account to check the status of your application for this position. Applicants in need of accommodation during the application and/or interview process may contact DGS at 804-786-3910 for assistance.   

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. DGS will record information from each new employee’s Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification) into the Federal E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

This position requires the ability to work a set schedule for Tuesday through Saturday with some holiday work and on-call coverage. 

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

Blood-borne pathogen training will be provided by the employer. To comply with OSHA blood-borne pathogen requirements, DCLS offers the Hepatitis B vaccine.

DCLS employees are designated as essential personnel. This designation requires DCLS employees to report to the workplace or at an assigned remote location during state authorized closings or delays (i.e., weather-related closures/delays, holidays, etc.), unless otherwise instructed by management.

Due to the critical nature of the work performed by the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services (DCLS) and the requirements and responsibilities placed upon DCLS by the Drug Free Workplace Act, Federal Select Agent Program, and DHRM Policy 1.05 Alcohol and other Drugs, it is the policy of DCLS to maintain a workplace that is free from the harmful effects of alcohol or other drugs. The unlawful or unauthorized use of drugs by DCLS employees while at work adversely impacts DCLS’s ability to perform high quality analytical testing services and support for local, state and federal agencies that serve to protect the health, safety and security of the public. As such, DCLS strictly prohibits the manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession or use of alcohol, marijuana, or other drugs, prohibits employees from possessing or using alcohol, marijuana or any controlled substances (including, but not limited to prescription drugs) while in state owned vehicles, in the workplace or on DCLS premises, or when performing official work duties. 

Applicants that indicate they have preferential hiring rights in the form of a yellow form or blue card must submit these to our office prior to the closing of the posting, in accordance with DHRM policy 1.30. Please note that only current and former employees of the Commonwealth of Virginia that will be or have been laid off are eligible for preferential hiring rights.

The Virginia Department of General Services is an equal opportunity employer and a proud Virginia Values Veterans (V3) Certified employer. Individuals from minoritized groups, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and individuals with AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other national service experience are encouraged to apply. 

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.

Contact Information 

Name: DGS Human Resources 

Phone: 804-786-3910 

Email: jobs@dgs.virginia.gov