A-TEK has an exciting opportunity with the Georgia State Department of Public Health Laboratory. The State Public Health Laboratory Director is a critical leadership role responsible for overseeing the operations and strategic direction of the Georgia State Public Health Laboratory. This position plays a pivotal role in safeguarding public health by providing scientific expertise, laboratory services, and guidance on disease surveillance, prevention, and emergency response. The Director will lead a team of laboratory professionals, ensuring the highest standards of testing accuracy, regulatory compliance, and innovation in public health diagnostics. This position requires a collaborative, results-driven leader committed to public safety and advancing the state’s public health goals. Please note that due to the nature of this role, US Citizenship is required for consideration.
Directs the day-to-day functions of the Georgia Department of Public Health Laboratory headquartered in Decatur and a regional laboratory in Waycross.
Plans, organizes, and oversees implementation of the work of a large state public health laboratory, including microbiology, newborn screening, and emergency preparedness-related activities.
Provides direct supervision and management to scientific and operations managers.
Ensures a robust quality management system.
Ensures that activities within the Georgia Department of Public Health Laboratory are operating according to program policies, government regulations, organizational goals, and evidence-based best practices and maintains the Laboratory’s accreditation.
Serves as technical consultant for all laboratory services in the Georgia Department of Public Health Laboratory, including overseeing the evaluation and adoption of new test procedures.
Ensures the Georgia Department of Public Health Laboratory provides relevant and accurate scientific data for newborn screening and disease surveillance, prevention, control, and response.
Provides scientific leadership and direction for the adoption and implementation of administrative and technical changes with a particular focus on advanced molecular detection and enhancing laboratory bioinformatics capabilities.
Expands and maintains relationships with key state and local partners so that the resources of the Laboratory are effectively applied to public health issues.
Directs the strategic planning of program goals and objectives, performance measures, and evaluation of laboratory services. Establishes program priorities and activities based on needs assessments, key indicators, and stakeholders’ input.
Works in collaboration with state and local public health staff and the Georgia Department of Public Health leadership in developing and implementing integrated program operations and strategies that optimize how laboratory science is utilized for public health activities, including surveillance, outbreak investigation and control, newborn screening, and emergency preparedness.
Builds collaborations with public/private sector entities to establish partnerships in the service of improving public health.
Oversees the planning, preparation, and administration of the Georgia Department of Public Health Laboratory budget and federal grant applications.
Oversees the fiscal accountability process for general revenue funds and federal categorical grant funds. Ensures all grant deliverables are met and that all federal reporting is submitted by the federal due dates.
Seeks out additional opportunities for federal and non-federal funding to enhance and broaden programmatic activities.
Oversees safety, security, and maintenance of the laboratory facilities.
Develops strategies for retention and succession planning that develop and expand the competencies of the Georgia Department of Public Health Laboratory staff and attracts people with skills needed in a modern public health laboratory.
Supervises program directors for newborn screening, microbiology, emergency preparedness, and laboratory operations.
Oversees, in collaboration with the Lab section directors, the establishment and implementation of performance measures for all laboratory staff (50+ individuals). Interprets and enforces personnel policies and procedures. Oversees hiring and /or termination decisions in consultation with Human Resources.
Travels as required in performance of duties including travel between both laboratory locations (Decatur and Waycross).
Attends and participates in professional and scientific workshops, seminars and meetings, and gives lectures and presentations as directed.
Other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
Doctorate degree in a related filed from an accredited college or university AND Four years of management/supervisory experience in health care services/clinical laboratory
Education & Licensure Requirements:
Must possess an earned doctoral degree in biology, microbiology, chemistry or related fields; and must either be certified or eligible for certification, by an accepted certifying agency. Must submit international evaluation if degree was granted by a foreign educational institution.
Required to meet State of Georgia licensure and Federal (CLIA'88) certification requirements for a Clinical Laboratory Director.
Must possess certification as a High Complexity Laboratory Director (HCLD) or pass an approved certifying examination within eighteen (18) months of hire date as a condition of employment.
U.S. citizenship is required, and the candidate must pass Select Agent (SA) security clearance: ( ).
Experience Requirements:
At least six (6) years of laboratory work experience in a CLIA 88 certified or accredited clinical or public health laboratory, four years of which must have been in a supervisory capacity.
Must have extensive knowledge of laboratory regulations and quality standards.
Must have extensive knowledge of quality management systems, including quality assurance practices and method verification and validation processes.
Must have working knowledge of laboratory equipment, instrumentation, and terminology of subject areas.
Must have knowledge of the hazards of working with potentially hazardous materials and the appropriate safety precautions to avoid adverse health effects.
Must have working knowledge of epidemiology and public health.
Must be capable of understanding and accurately following complex oral and written instructions and of reading technical materials.
Must be able to express oneself clearly, concisely, and professionally in verbal and written communication using Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint).
Must have excellent management and leadership skills