Shasta County: Public Health Laboratory Director

Shasta County PHL

Job Title: Public Health Laboratory Director

Department: Health & Human Services Agency - Public Health

Application Deadline: 11/20/2025

ORAL EXAM IS TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 2025

ABOUT THE POSITION

Under general direction of the HHSA Public Health Branch Director, the Public Health Laboratory Director plans, organizes, directs and carries out the activities of the Public Health Laboratory, a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) accredited laboratory performing high complexity testing in compliance with the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA '88); and related duties as assigned.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

The Public Health Laboratory Director is distinguished from the Public Health Microbiologist class series as the position is responsible for the overall operation of the laboratory, including oversight and supervision of assigned staff by planning, organizing, directing and delegating work duties; performs and interprets the most difficult and least well-defined laboratory tests; may develop, evaluate, implement and improves existing laboratory procedures; ensures prompt and accurate laboratory reporting; maintains all appropriate certifications to be current at all times (e.g., CLIA, Public Health Lab, ELAP); assures compliance with applicable regulations; prepares and administers performance evaluations; assists in preparation of and monitoring of budgets and contracts.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Plans, develops, implements, and oversees public health laboratory programs, services, and activities;

• Reviews, recommends, and implements policy and procedural changes;

• Analyzes statistical and fiscal data and operational problems to develop operating procedures for laboratory programs and functions; ensures that testing systems developed and used for each of the tests performed in the laboratory provide quality laboratory services for all aspects of test performance, which includes the pre-analytic, analytic, and post-analytic phases of testing;

• Ensures that the physical plant and environmental conditions of the laboratory are appropriate for the testing performed; provides a safe environment in which employees are protected from physical, chemical, and biological hazards; ensures that test methodologies selected have the capability of providing the quality of results required for patient care; ensures that verification procedures used are adequate to determine the accuracy, precision, and other pertinent performance characteristics of the method;

• Ensures that laboratory personnel are performing the test methods as required for accurate and reliable results; ensures that the laboratory is enrolled in approved proficiency testing programs for the testing performed, that the proficiency testing samples are tested as required, that the results are returned within the time frames established by the proficiency testing program, and that all proficiency testing reports are reviewed by the appropriate staff to evaluate the laboratory's performance and to identify any problems that require corrective action; ensures an approved corrective action plan is promptly developed and followed when any proficiency testing result is found to be unacceptable or unsatisfactory, or when a deficiency is noted by the staff of the California Department of Health Services, with notification of such plan to the Public Health Branch Director;

• Ensures that the quality control and quality assurance programs are established and maintained to assure the quality of laboratory services provided and to identify failures in quality as they occur; ensures the establishment and maintenance of acceptable levels of analytical performance for each test system;

• Ensures that all necessary remedial actions are taken and documented whenever significant deviations from the laboratory's established performance characteristics are identified and that patient test results are reported only when the system is functioning properly; ensures that reports of test results include pertinent information required for interpretation;

• Ensures that consultation is available to the laboratory's clients on matters relating to the quality of the test results reported and their interpretation concerning specific patient conditions;

• Consults with and acts as a reference for physicians, clinical laboratories, other divisions of the Public Health Branch, other Health and Human Services Branches, and other County departments; interprets Federal, State, local and internal rules and regulations; supervises, motivates and assists subordinate staff in resolving complex and/or technical problems;

• Performs laboratory analysis of drinking water and other specimens; identifies potential funding sources and prepares proposals for contracts, and grants;

• Oversees selection of laboratory services and recommends laboratory fees in consultation with the Public Health Branch Director;

• Administers laboratory contracts and laboratory budgets; oversees inventory control and preventive maintenance;

• Provides leadership in actively promoting the Branch's mission and aligning the Public Health Laboratory's activities with the mission and direction of the Health and Human Services Agency and Public Health Branch; works to integrate the Public Health Laboratory's activities with those of all other divisions of the Public Health Branch;

• Assists the Branch in seeking and maintaining Public Health Accreditation; assists the Branch in seeking to increase access to public health services to hard-to-reach populations, and in increasing the cultural competency level of the Branch as an organization;

• May serve on or chair Public Health Branch or Health and Human Services ad hoc committees or team meetings and/or represent the Branch before community groups and governmental agencies as designated by the Public Health Branch Director; and performs other duties as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

It is the responsibility of applicants to identify in their application materials how they meet the minimum qualifications listed below.

Doctoral degree from an accredited university in a chemical, physical, biological or clinical laboratory science. Two years of laboratory training, or experience, or both; and two years of laboratory experience directing or supervising high complexity testing. Possession of certification by the American Board of Medical Microbiology, American Board of Clinical Chemistry, American Board of Immunology, American Board of Bioanalysis, or other National accrediting board approved by the Federal Division of Health and Human Services Agency.

OR

Held a position as a Laboratory Director or could have qualified as a "Laboratory Director" under regulations at 42 CFR 493.1415, published March 14, 1990 at 55 FR 9538 on or before February 28, 1992.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must be certified as a Public Health Microbiologist by the California Laboratory Field Services.

• Possession of an appropriate California driver's license.

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Public Health Laboratory Director