Director, State Public Health Laboratories

Overview

As the Director of State Public Health Laboratories, you will provide executive, scientific, and operational leadership for Washington’s multi-disciplinary Public Health Laboratories (PHL). You will oversee more than 250 employees and laboratory programs spanning public health microbiology, environmental laboratory sciences, newborn screening, quality assurance, safety, operations, and central services. You will set strategic direction, lead senior laboratory leaders, and ensure the PHL has the workforce, systems, resources, and scientific capabilities needed to deliver reliable laboratory services.

This role is accountable for the overall administration and performance of the PHL, including laboratory quality and accreditation, regulatory compliance, workforce and organizational development, financial stewardship, laboratory modernization, emergency preparedness, and implementation of new testing methods and technologies. You will oversee a biennial operating budget of approximately $66 million and help guide significant investments in laboratory infrastructure, equipment, information systems, and scientific capabilities.

As Washington’s senior public health laboratory leader, you will also serve as a scientific advisor and represent the PHL with Tribal Nations, local health jurisdictions, health care and laboratory partners, and state and federal agencies. Your leadership helps ensure Washington has a strong, coordinated laboratory system capable of detecting disease, supporting newborn screening and environmental health programs, informing outbreak investigations, and responding to biological, chemical, and other public health emergencies.