Newborn Screening Program Director

Overview

As the Newborn Screening Program Director, you will lead Washington’s statewide newborn screening system, overseeing the laboratory, follow-up, epidemiology, operational, and clinical coordination work that helps identify life-threatening and disabling conditions in infants before symptoms appear. This role directs a large and highly specialized public health program responsible for screening every newborn in Washington, as well as infants born in Hawaii and Idaho through interstate partnerships.

 

You will manage a complex regional program that includes clinical laboratory operations, public health follow-up systems, policy development, budget oversight, quality assurance, and partnerships with healthcare providers, hospitals, specialty clinics, and national organizations. The work requires balancing scientific, operational, regulatory, and strategic priorities while ensuring the program remains reliable, responsive, and aligned with evolving public health and laboratory standards.

 

In this role, success depends not only on technical and operational expertise, but also on the ability to lead people with authenticity, communicate transparently, foster accountability, and proactively navigate complex challenges. We are seeking a leader who builds trust, develops strong teams, values diverse perspectives, and creates a culture where respect, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement thrive.

 

This position plays a central role in protecting infants from preventable death and lifelong disability by ensuring newborn screening services are timely, accurate, equitable, and clinically effective. The work directly informs public health policy, supports statewide healthcare systems, and helps families access critical diagnostic and treatment services as early as possible.