Overview
As the Lead Shellfish Biotoxin Chemist, you will lead laboratory testing that helps protect people from exposure to harmful toxins and contaminants in shellfish harvested from Washington waters. This role serves as the technical lead for the Biotoxin Laboratory within the Public Health Laboratories, overseeing the analysis of shellfish samples, maintaining laboratory quality systems, and ensuring compliance with state and federal regulatory requirements.
You will coordinate daily laboratory operations, provide technical leadership to chemists and laboratory technicians, and perform complex chemical analyses using advanced instrumentation, including HPLC, HPLC-MS/MS, and ICP-MS. You will also oversee quality assurance activities, troubleshoot analytical and operational challenges, validate laboratory methods, review and approve analytical results, and maintain laboratory procedures and documentation.
The work performed in this role directly supports Washington’s shellfish safety monitoring system. Laboratory results are used by public health and regulatory partners to make decisions that prevent the harvest and distribution of toxic shellfish, helping protect consumers in Washington and wherever Washington-grown shellfish products are distributed.
About Washington Department of Health
At DOH, we safeguard public health in an ever-evolving world. Through collaboration with local health jurisdictions and state, federal, and private partners, our programs, and services impact every Washingtonian and visitor daily. We're driven by Equity, Innovation, and Engagement, as outlined in our Transformational Plan for the future of Washington health.
