Overview
Position Overview
The Illinois Department of Public Health is seeking a highly motivated individual to perform the duties of the Senior Public Service Administrator over the Clinical Diagnostic and Environmental testing units in the Chicago Laboratory. This position plans, develops, organizes, and controls the clinical and environmental testing programs. Ensures testing within the section maintains compliance with laboratory statutes and regulations. Serves as technical supervisor for high complexity testing, selects appropriate test methodologies, verifies performance of test procedures, establishes appropriate proficiency testing programs, and oversees all quality assurance aspects of the lab. Participates in grant writing, identifying, and tracking progress of grant milestones, and reporting of milestones to Federal and State funding agencies, creates and monitors laboratory budgets, and serves as working supervisor.
Job Responsibilities
1. Plans, develops, organizes, and controls the clinical and environment testing units of the Chicago Laboratory.
- Ensures compliance with federal and accrediting regulatory guidelines
- Research new test methods for development and implementation within assigned areas and the Division of Laboratories
- Conducts analysis of samples for new test implementation
- Participates in grant writing, identifying and tracking progress of grant milestones, and reporting of milestones to Federal and State funding agencies
2. Serves as full-line supervisor:
- Assigns and reviews work
- Provides guidance and training to assigned staff
- Counsels staff regarding work performance
- Reassigns staff to meet day-to-day operating needs
- Establishes annual goals and objectives
- Approves time off
- Adjusts first level grievances
- Effectively recommends and imposes discipline up to and including discharge
- Prepares, delivers, and signs performance evaluations
- Determines and recommends staffing needs
3. Serves as technical supervisor for high complexity testing involving molecular diagnostic methods.
• Collaborates with State, local public health program directors, and the Laboratory Division Chief to provide appropriate and cost-effective testing methods
• Identifies adequate funding and staffing for testing methods
• Selects appropriate test methodologies
• Makes recommendations for improvements
• Verifies performance of test procedures, establishes appropriate HHS approved proficiency testing programs
• Establishes and monitors relevant Quality Assurance/Quality Control programs
• Evaluates the competency of all testing personnel and assures that testing competency is maintained through appropriate in-service training and education
4. Conducts applied research; documents findings, evaluates new procedures, recommends implementation of new procedures into the laboratory test menu.
5. Develops testing protocols and reporting systems.
- Trains technical personnel in evaluation and conducting new procedures
- Coordinates cross-training of technical staff
6. Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.
About Illinois Department Public Health
In Illinois, if you have eaten at a restaurant ... required hospital or nursing home care ... vacationed at a campground or swam at a public beach or pool ... drank a glass of milk ... got married or divorced ... had a baby, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has touched your life in some important way.
Assuring the quality of our food, setting the standards for hospital and nursing home care, checking the safety of recreation areas, overseeing the inspection of milk producing farms and processing plants, maintaining the state's vital records and screening newborns for genetic diseases are just some of the duties of IDPH.
In fact, IDPH has 200 different programs that benefit each state resident and visitor, although its daily activities of maintaining the public's health are rarely noticed unless a breakdown in the system occurs. With the assistance of local public health agencies, these essential programs and services make up Illinois' public health system, a system that forms a frontline defense against disease through preventive measures and education. Public health has provided the foundation for remarkable gains in saving lives and reducing suffering. Today, life expectancy is 80 years for women and 74 years for men compared with fewer than 50 years at the at the beginning of the 20th century.
In the past, IDPH directed state efforts to control smallpox, cholera and typhoid, virtually eliminated polio, reduced dental decay through fluoridation of community water supplies, and corrected sanitary conditions that threatened water and food supplies.
Today, IDPH has programs to deal with persistent problems that require continued vigilance – infectious diseases, such as AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and meningococcal disease; foodborne and communicable diseases, such as E. coli 0157: H7, monkeypox, salmonella and West Nile virus; vaccine preventable diseases; lead poisoning; lack of health care in rural areas; health disparities among racial groups, breast, cervical and prostate cancer; Alzheimer's disease; and other health threats -- sexually transmitted diseases, tobacco use, violence, and other conditions associated with high-risk behaviors. In addition, IDPH has been charged with handling the state's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the threat of bioterrorism.
IDPH, which is one of the state's oldest agencies, was first organized in 1877 with a staff of three and a two-year budget of $5,000. IDPH, now has an annual budget of $2.9 billion in state and federal funds, headquarters in Springfield and Chicago, seven regional offices located around the state, three laboratories, and 1,200 employees.
IDPH is organized into 12 offices, each of which addresses a distinct area of public health. Each office operates and supports numerous ongoing programs and is prepared to respond to extraordinary situations as they arise.
