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.
PreferredQualifications:
-
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.
Employee Benefits
We offer a solid benefits package that supports you and your family’s health, financial security, and work-life balance. You’ll have access to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, life and long-term disability insurance, flexible spending and health savings accounts, and retirement plans that help you plan for tomorrow while you’re living today. Paid holidays, vacation and sick leave help you recharge, and additional programs like dependent care assistance and professional development opportunities add value beyond basic coverage. Join us and enjoy benefits designed to care for you as much as you care about public health. Learn more about DOH benefits and see how we support your life at work and beyond by visiting Work@Health.
The Public Health Laboratories – Where Science Protects Communities
At the Public Health Laboratories, every test matters. From hunting emerging pathogens to ensuring every newborn in the state gets life-saving screenings, your work will drive disease detection, outbreak response, and protect Washington’s most vulnerable. We’re the state’s reference lab, tracking rare threats like rabies, hantavirus, and West Nile virus, analyzing outbreaks, and safeguarding food and water safety. Here, science meets service in a collaborative, equity-driven team committed to real-world impact and public health at scale.
About the Washington State Department of Health
We're nearly 2,000 professionals across Washington working together to protect and improve community health. Guided by our values of Equity, Innovation, and Engagement, we address health disparities, respond to emerging challenges, and strengthen systems that support resilience.
At DOH, we help reduce barriers, collaborate with diverse communities, and champion equitable health outcomes. We're passionate people who are driven to make a difference in public health (Download PDF reader). Our work depends on people who take action to learn and grow and who take action to meet the needs of others every day, in service of a healthier Washington. Explore more about the Department of Health, our programs, and our impact by visiting our website.
Working Conditions:
The following describes the working conditions of this position, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Work Setting:
-
Work is performed on-site at the Washington State Public Health Laboratory in Shoreline, Washington.
-
Work is performed in a Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) laboratory and requires the use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). The position involves handling infectious biological materials from human, animal, and plant sources; blood and other biological specimens; pathogenic organisms; and laboratory chemicals in accordance with established safety protocols.
-
As a condition of employment, the employee may be required to receive vaccinations recommended or required for work with specific infectious agents in accordance with laboratory safety policies.
-
This position requires standing in one location for up to two (2) straight hours as well as the use of restrictive PPE such as a lab coat, eye protection and gloves.
Schedule:
-
The DOH Enterics, Food and Parasitology Labs typically operate Monday through Friday and are closed on holidays.
-
The employee is expected to maintain a flexible work schedule to support disease outbreak response, staffing coverage, and other critical laboratory or public health needs, including occasional work outside of normal business days and hours (including weekends and holidays).
-
This position has a work schedule of 40 hours per week; however, the position may be expected to work longer hours to complete projects or assignment, and/or meeting business demands and deadlines, and/or during the annual legislative session. An alternative or flexible work schedule may be considered at the employee's request, subject to supervisory approval.
Travel Requirements:
-
Infrequent travel is required to attend conferences, outreach, and trainings up to 4 times per year.
-
When driving for state business, the employee must be able to legally operate a state or privately-owned vehicle; OR provide alternate transportation while on state business.
Tools & Equipment:
-
Duties require use of incubators, refrigerators, freezers, centrifuges, biosafety cabinet, fume hoods, fluorescent readers, pipettes, conventional and real-time PCR platforms, and other typical lab equipment, personal protective equipment, computers, copiers, printers, and fax machines.
-
Duties also require the use of standard office furniture and equipment (such as a desk, filing cabinet, computer, printer, telephone, fax machine, copy machine).
Customer Interactions:
-
The position will interact with clinical laboratories, specimen submitters, county health officials, state epidemiology staff, state program staff and national disease experts.
Other:
-
This position does not have union representations and is not covered by a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
-
The DOH campus is a smoke-free, drug-free, alcohol-free, scent-neutral environment.
-
This position may be required to conduct and/or participate in public health emergency preparedness and response activities.
APPLICATION DIRECTIONS:
We’re committed to a fair and equitable hiring process. Only materials submitted through the official application will be considered. Emailed resumes or documents won’t be accepted or shared with the hiring manager.
Click “Apply” to complete your application. Attach your resume, cover letter, and DD-214 (if applicable). List at least three professional references, directly in your Applicant Profile or as a separate attachment, including a supervisor, a peer, and someone you’ve supervised or led (if applicable).
DO NOT INCLUDE private details like your SSN or birth year, personal photos, transcripts, certifications, diplomas, projects, portfolios, or letters of recommendation.
Veterans Preference: Applicants wishing to claim Veterans Preference must attach a copy of their DD-214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22, or a signed verification of service letter from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to their application. Please remove or cover any personally identifiable data such as social security numbers and birth year
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: We regard diversity as the foundation of our strength, recognizing that differing insights and abilities enable us to reflect the unique needs of the communities we serve.
DOH is an equal-opportunity employer. We prohibit discrimination based on race/ethnicity/color, creed, sex, pregnancy, age, religion, national origin, marital status, the presence or perception of a disability, veteran’s status, military status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender expression, or gender identity.
Questions and Accommodations: If you have questions, need assistance with the application process, require an accommodation, or would like to request this posting in an alternative format, please contact Shawnelle Goalder, Talent Acquisition Consultant/Recruiterat
[email protected] and
reference DOH8962 in the subject.
Technical Support: Reach out to NEOGOV directly at 1-855-524-5627 for technical support and login issues.
SUBSCRIBE to DOH Job Alerts
