Microbiology Laboratory Supervisor Enterics, Food & Parasitology (Micro 4) DOH8962

Microbiology Laboratory Supervisor Enterics, Food & Parasitology

This is a full-time onsite position located at our Public Health Laboratories located in Shoreline, WA.

The Opportunity:

As the Microbiology Laboratory Supervisor Enterics, Food & Parasitology, you will lead the day-to-day operations and staff of three specialized laboratory areas within the Washington State Public Health Laboratory's Microbiology Office. You will supervise a team of microbiologists responsible for testing that identifies and characterizes pathogens associated with enteric illness, foodborne disease, and parasitic infections.

You will oversee laboratory quality, safety, staff training and competency, testing performance, and regulatory compliance. You will provide technical direction for high-complexity microbiology testing, evaluate and implement new or improved testing methods, and ensure laboratory procedures and quality systems meet CLIA, CAP, and applicable ISO standards. You will also manage operational needs such as equipment, budgets, grants, contracts, and laboratory capacity.

This work is an important part of Washington's disease surveillance and outbreak response system. The laboratory results and technical expertise provided by your teams help epidemiologists, local health jurisdictions, clinical laboratories, and other public health partners identify disease threats, investigate outbreaks, and take action to protect communities across the state.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Lead daily operations of the Enterics, Food, and Parasitology laboratories, including workload planning, staffing, turnaround times, and laboratory performance.
• Supervise and develop laboratory staff through training, coaching, performance management, work assignment, and recruitment.
• Provide technical oversight for high-complexity microbiology testing, including pathogen identification, subtyping, toxin determination, and bacteriological testing of food and shellfish samples.
• Ensure laboratory quality and regulatory compliance by overseeing quality control, proficiency testing, competency assessments, corrective actions, safety practices, documentation, and accreditation requirements.
• Evaluate and implement new and improved laboratory methods, including directing validation and verification activities and developing associated procedures and training materials.
• Manage laboratory resources and business operations, including equipment purchases, spending plans, contracts, grant proposals, reporting requirements, and project deliverables.
• Collaborate with epidemiologists, clinical laboratories, local health jurisdictions, state programs, national partners, and laboratory leadership to coordinate testing services and respond to emerging public health needs.
• Provide laboratory leadership during outbreaks and public health emergencies, adjusting staffing and testing operations to meet changing response needs.

Why You'll Love This Role:

• You'll combine hands-on microbiology expertise with people leadership, laboratory operations, quality management, and continuous improvement.
• You'll have the opportunity to strengthen laboratory services by developing staff and introducing methods and processes that improve testing quality and efficiency.
• Your teams' testing directly contributes to identifying foodborne and enteric disease and providing the laboratory evidence needed for surveillance and outbreak investigations.
• You'll work alongside laboratory, epidemiology, and public health partners whose combined efforts inform actions to prevent and control disease in Washington communities.

What You Bring:

You are an experienced laboratory professional who can move comfortably between technical microbiology, laboratory operations, and people leadership. You understand the importance of quality systems and regulatory requirements, while also looking for practical ways to improve methods, workflows, and laboratory services. You provide clear technical direction, develop staff through coaching and mentorship, and approach performance and operational decisions thoughtfully and consistently. You work effectively across disciplines, value different perspectives and experiences, and understand that reliable laboratory science depends on strong partnerships, cultural humility, and a commitment to serving Washington's diverse communities.

Minimum Qualifications:

There are multiple pathways to qualify for this position. You must meet one of the options provided and any additional criteria listed. Experience may have been gained through paid or unpaid activities. Please ensure any relevant experience defined below is outlined in your cover letter, resume, and/or applicant profile.

You must meet the personnel qualifications for a Technical Supervisor of high-complexity testing in the applicable microbiology specialty or subspecialty in accordance with 42 CFR 493.1449.

Option 1

• Bachelor's degree in chemical, biological, clinical, or medical laboratory science, medical technology, or another qualifying laboratory science as recognized by CLIA; and
• Four years of laboratory training or experience in high-complexity microbiology testing, including at least six months in the applicable microbiology subspecialty.

Option 2

• Master's degree in chemical, biological, clinical, or medical laboratory science, medical technology, or another qualifying laboratory science as recognized by CLIA; and
• Two years of laboratory training or experience in high-complexity microbiology testing, including at least six months in the applicable microbiology subspecialty.

Option 3

• Doctoral degree in chemical, biological, clinical, or medical laboratory science, medical technology, or another qualifying laboratory science as recognized by CLIA; or
• an MD, DO, or DPM licensed to practice in the applicable state; and
• One year of laboratory training or experience in high-complexity microbiology testing, including at least six months in the applicable microbiology subspecialty.

Additional Required Knowledge, Skills, and Experience:

• Two or more years of experience performing high-complexity microbiology testing in a clinical, public health, or reference laboratory.
• Experience performing and troubleshooting high-complexity microbiology testing, including developing, validating, verifying, or implementing methods for pathogen detection and identification.
• Experience providing technical or operational leadership in a high-complexity laboratory, such as coordinating laboratory operations, leading projects, serving as a technical resource, or guiding the work of others.
• Experience training, mentoring, coaching, or developing laboratory personnel, students, or trainees.
• Experience ensuring compliance with CLIA regulations, CAP accreditation standards, laboratory quality management principles, and laboratory safety requirements.
• Experience developing, reviewing, or maintaining laboratory standard operating procedures and related quality documentation.
• Experience monitoring laboratory quality systems, including quality control, proficiency testing, corrective actions, or competency assessment.
• Experience collaborating with laboratory, epidemiology, clinical, public health, or other multidisciplinary partners.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint to prepare reports, analyze data, and develop presentations.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Recent experience (within the last five years) performing high-complexity microbiology testing in a clinical, public health, or reference laboratory.
• Recent experience (within the last five years) developing, validating, verifying, or implementing laboratory methods.
• Two or more years of experience performing culture-based microbiology testing.
• Experience writing or contributing to grant proposals for laboratory or public health programs.
• Experience managing laboratory or public health projects, including planning, implementation, and monitoring deliverables.
• Experience implementing or maintaining CAP accreditation, ISO 15189, or other laboratory quality management systems.