Overview
What You Will Do:
By joining our team, you’ll contribute to a statewide effort to prevent and control disease outbreaks, ensuring a healthier future for all Washingtonians.
Join a mission-driven team dedicated to protecting the health of Washington communities. As the Lead Microbiologist for the Enteric Bacteriology Laboratory, you’ll play a critical role in identifying and responding to outbreaks of foodborne illnesses like Salmonella, E. coli, and Shigella. You’ll oversee day-to-day lab operations, guide and train laboratory staff, ensure the quality and accuracy of testing, and collaborate with public health partners across the state. Your leadership will directly support timely, accurate data that helps protect thousands of people from infectious diseases.
Key Responsibilities:
Training & Competency Oversight
Conduct initial and ongoing training for lab staff across all relevant testing methods.
Perform and document competency assessments at required intervals.
Deliver remedial training as needed to maintain performance standards.
Ensure all training documentation meets compliance requirements.
Quality Control & Results Review
Review daily, weekly, and batch quality control data.
Validate and release test results to submitting stakeholders.
Investigate and resolve quality control issues through root cause analysis.
Provide responsive customer service to internal and external partners.
Technical Expertise & Support
Serve as a subject matter expert to lab staff and stakeholders.
Oversee proper equipment maintenance, calibration, and troubleshooting.
Support epidemiologists with laboratory data reporting and tracking.
Bench Testing & Surge Capacity
Maintain personal proficiency in bench testing methods.
Provide bench-level testing support during staff shortages or high-demand periods.
New Methods Validation
Work with lab leadership to implement new testing methodologies.
Develop and execute validation plans per established guidelines.
Document validation studies thoroughly and assist with protocol development.
Laboratory Safety Compliance
Adhere to all safety protocols and practices.
Report safety incidents and participate in creating a safe lab environment.
Other Duties
Enter and maintain laboratory data in various systems (e.g., StarLIMS, LabVantage).
Support cross-training and surge events in other laboratory sections.
Interact with agencies such as FDA, state epidemiologists, and local health jurisdictions.
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.
