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…