Laboratory Director

Job Description

Laboratory Director

Do you have an eye for innovation and quality improvement? Are you a good communicator and enjoy building strong relationships of trust?

Are you ready to take the next steps in your laboratory / public health management career? If yes, then the Utah Department of Health & Human Services' (DHHS) Utah Public Health Laboratory (UPHL) wants you as our next Laboratory Director !

In this role, you will provide administrative and scientific oversight of the Unified State Laboratories for Public Health.

The laboratories include : Infectious Disease, Next-Generation Sequencing and Bioinformatics, Chemistry / Environmental Services, Forensic Toxicology, Newborn Screening, Laboratory Improvement, and Management Services.

UPHL is CLIA certified and performs high-complexity testing as a public service to Utah and the intermountain west. With your strong, strategic vision and leadership, you will empower UPHL to reach new levels of success by identifying innovative solutions to the state's most pressing public health concerns, introducing operational improvements, and championing UPHL's growth as a public health institution.

PLEASE NOTE :

• Moving reimbursement expenses (up to $10,000) and / or a signing bonus may be offered.
• Travel is required for this position.
• To qualify for this position, you must meet the requirements for laboratory directors of high complexity testing laboratories as defined by Code of Federal Regulations 493.1443 .
• Compliance with DHHS Immunization policy is required. Please click HERE for the most current policy information.
• Continued employment may be contingent upon the successful completion of a fingerprinting background check. Please click HERE for the most current policy information.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES :

As the Laboratory Director, you will :

• Manage and provide vision and leadership to guide the strategic direction of UPHL.
• Develop, direct, and / or evaluate the functions and operations of UPHL.
• Supervise subordinate personnel including hiring, determining workload and delegating assignments, training, monitoring and evaluating performance, and initiating corrective or disciplinary actions.
• Develop strong internal and external partnerships.
• Represent UPHL in interactions with a wide-range of agencies, including Utah’s DHHS, county, state, and federal partners.
• Support the management and leadership development of the lab’s Chief Scientists, including supporting personnel management and policy implementation.
• Cultivate a positive culture that supports teamwork and the well-being of staff.
• Develop and coordinate plans and policies within available resources to meet the mission and strategic objectives of the organization.
• Set goals, establish priorities, manage resources, develop concepts and approaches, review projects progress and results.
• Monitor budget, including revenues, expenditures and budget projection, etc.
• Seek grants to help the lab innovate, make improvements, and improve or expand capacities.
• Serve as a liaison from UPHL to the DHHS leadership and other operations units as needed, and work with DHHS leadership to address funding needs with the Governor’s Office and Social Services Appropriations committee.
• Review and / or evaluate reports, documents, laws, rules, and regulations, and implement changes.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal and / or state laws, regulations, agency rules, standards and guidelines, etc.
• Provide laboratory consultation in specialized areas of knowledge.
• Consult with Chief Scientists and program leads on analysis and test items, interpretation of results and implementation of changes as necessary.
• Provide direction to laboratory sections on innovations and improvements to processes and systems to improve quality and efficiency of services.
• Maintain a comprehensive quality assurance and improvement program and utilize the continuous quality improvement process to assess and enhance standards of quality within the laboratory’s operations.
• Work closely with the Safety Officer and Operations Director to ensure efficient operations of the laboratory’s infrastructure.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS :

To qualify for the position of Laboratory Director , as defined by Code of Federal Regulations 493.1443 , applicants must meet at least one of the following :

• Be a doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathy licensed to practice medicine or osteopathy in the State of Utah; and be certified in anatomic or clinical pathology, or both, by the American Board of Pathology or the American Osteopathic Board of Pathology or possess qualifications that are equivalent to those required for such certification; OR
• Be a doctor of medicine, a doctor of osteopathy or doctor of podiatric medicine licensed to practice medicine, osteopathy or podiatry in the State of Utah;

and have at least 1 year of laboratory training during medical residency OR have at least 2 years of experience directing or supervising high complexity testing; OR

• Hold an earned doctoral degree in a chemical, physical, biological, or clinical laboratory science from an accredited institution and be certified and continue to be certified by a board approved by HHS; OR
• Hold an earned doctoral degree in a chemical, physical, biological, or clinical laboratory science from an accredited institution and before February 24, 2003, must have served or be serving as a director of a laboratory performing high complexity testing and must have at least 2 years of laboratory training or experience, or both;

and 2 years of laboratory experience directing or supervising high complexity testing

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE :

• Meets the qualifications to be a laboratory director of a high complexity testing laboratory as defined by Code of Federal Regulations 493.1443 .
• Has experience directing and / or managing a complex, multifaceted organization
• 5+ years of proven management / supervisory experience, including managing a large complex laboratory.
• Has partnership development skills.
• Has strong oral and written communication skills.
• Has experience applying for and managing grants.
• Has experience with quality improvement efforts in a lab setting.

WHY YOU SHOULD JOIN OUR TEAM :

This is an opportunity to make a difference. The Utah Public Health Laboratory (UPHL) manages laboratory testing through the entire state of Utah.

UPHL strives to serve its customers and stakeholders with accurate data as quickly as possible. Along with the satisfaction of being a part of an integral department, you will receive great health and retirement benefits.

Some of these benefits can be reviewed below.

BENEFITS :

Health Insurance - Public Employee Health Program (PEHP) :

• 3 medical plan options. Choose a Traditional or High Deductible Health Plan. There is an Opt-Out Cash Benefit option for those that have other medical insurance coverage.
• 5 dental plan options, with an Opt-Out Cash Benefit option for those that have other dental insurance coverage.
• 4 vision plan options under EyeMed or OptiCare

Retirement - Utah Retirement Systems (URS) :

• Employees who have any service credit with an employer covered by the Utah Retirement Systems prior to 7 / 1 / 2011 are in the Tier I Public Employees System.
• Employees hired on or after 7 / 1 / 2011 and who have never been in the URS retirement system have two options for retirement in the Tier II System.

Tier 2 Hybrid Retirement System. Employer contributes an amount equal to 10% of your salary between both plans (pension and 401(k))Tier 2 Defined Contribution Plan.

Employer contributes an amount equal to 10% of your salary to a 401(k) plan only.

Employer contributions to your 401(k) are vested after four years.

Paid Time Off :

Once started in your position as the Laboratory Director, while in the appointed position, you will accrue an additional 3 hours of leave per pay period, for a total of 7 hours of annual leave earned each pay period.

Sick leave is accrued at 4 hours per pay period each (7 hours annual, 4 hours sick).

We have 12 paid holidays.

Supplemental Information

• Compliance with DHHS Immunization policy is required. Please click HERE for the most current policy information.
• Continued employment may be contingent upon the successful completion of a fingerprinting background check. Please click HERE for the most current policy information.
• Current CLIA Lab Director requirements per CFR 493.1443.
• Current license to practice medicine in the State of Utah, or a doctoral (Ph.D.) degree in a chemical, microbiological, clinical, or environmental science.
• Risks which require the use of special safety precautions and / or equipment, e.g., working around operating machines, working with contagious diseases or hazardous chemicals, etc.
• Typically, the employee may sit comfortably to perform the work; however there may be some walking, standing, bending, carrying light items, driving an automobile, etc.

Special physical demands are not required to perform the work.