• Job Description

  Req#: 787789
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  The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is seeking an experienced Clinical or Public Health Laboratory Scientist to serve as Director of the Division of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) and Mycobacteriology, Massachusetts State Public Health Laboratory (SPHL), Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences (BIDLS).

  The selected candidate will direct laboratory-specific functions, including identification and support for the implementation of testing methods and practices to optimize public health response to infections of public health importance, selection of testing platforms, verification / validation of new assays or specimen collection methods, changes to the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), and performing data analyses to support prevention and control programs within the Department of Public Health. The Director will work to identify and prevent infections including, but not limited to, the following infectious agents: gonococcal, chlamydial and treponemal organisms, human immunodeficiency viruses, hepatitis viruses, and mycobacteria. The Division Director for STI and Mycobacteria will collaborate with other SPHL divisions, including the Quality Assurance Division to ensure the services provided meet the regulatory requirements for Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA). They will provide guidance, consultation, and oversight to Technical and General Supervisors and other laboratory staff to aid in timely, quality testing to ensure the public’s health. Additional duties include managing fiscal streams that include state appropriations, third-party billing, and federal grant funding as well as ensuring laboratory safety compliance. This position will collaborate with other BIDLS divisions / offices to facilitate programmatic activities to prevent and control the spread of STIs and TB.

  Learn more about what it’s like to work at the Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences.

  Duties and Responsibilities (these are a general summary and not all-inclusive):

  • Provide direction and leadership for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) and Tuberculosis (TB) Laboratories within the MA State Public Health Laboratory.
  • Work with BIDLS staff across divisions, health and human service providers, clinical laboratories, and state and local federal agencies to assure public health laboratory diagnostic services are timely, accurate, and responsive to public health needs and priorities.
  • Provide technical expertise and consultation to SPHL staff for the detection of viral and bacterial pathogens, including guidance on the interpretation of test results for disease identification, investigation, and control, as well as policy development.
  • Manage and motivate the laboratory staff to ensure accurate and timely testing of specimens as well as identify opportunities for training. Ensures staff comply with all security, safety, training, and competency protocols. Establishes priorities for staff work.
  • Develop and implement new testing methodologies, evaluate laboratory technologies, and identify optimal testing methods, practices, and algorithms to advance public health goals and objectives.
  • Design and implement studies that address current scientific and programmatic questions related to laboratory testing methods and strategies.
  • Perform cost analyses of current testing practices and currently available alternative tests to inform decisions regarding testing practices and algorithms.
  • Contribute, as needed, to all aspects of laboratory operations, as assigned by the Director or Associate Director of the MA State Public Health Laboratory (MA SPHL). This includes a range of activities such as collaboration with Informatics to develop and manage new laboratory information systems and new remote reporting systems, making recommendations regarding the allocation of staffing and financial resources to best meet current laboratory needs and priorities, and collaborating with the laboratory director, BIDLS divisions/offices, and fiscal staff to define funding sources and establish spending plans.
  • Ensure compliance with federal regulatory standards including those of the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA) and College of American Pathologists (CAP) in collaboration with the Quality Assurance Division.
  • Ensure that practices follow the laboratory’s Quality Assurance plan.
  • Facilitate the processes of third-party and second-party billing in order to increase revenue.
  • Collaborate with MA SPHL laboratory division directors, BIDLS’ divisions/offices, and external partners as needed to apply for and meet the requirements of various funding streams associated with the related BIDLS programs. Collaborate with internal and external partners to implement grant-funded activities, attend meetings/conferences as needed according to the requirements of the funding organizations, and monitor grant-associated funds and expenses.
  • Collaborate with other state public health laboratories and the Association of Public Health Laboratories to share infectious disease diagnostics expertise.

  Preferred Qualifications:

  • Professional and managerial experience in Microbiology, Mycobacteriology, Virology, and Immunology.
  • Scientific knowledge of the principles and practices of virology / immunology, and microbiology as they apply to diagnostic laboratory testing in a clinical or public health setting.
  • Experience in diagnostic testing in Mycobacteriology and/or Immunology/Serology.
  • Knowledge and experience with instrumentation, study design, method development, and data analysis.
  • Experience with CLIA, CAP, and/or ISO regulations for laboratory quality assurance and quality control for high-complexity testing.
  • Ability to meet CLIA requirements for Technical Supervisor of a high complexity testing laboratory in the discipline/subdisciplines of immunology or mycobacteriology and be able to establish the quality standards of the laboratory through selecting and monitoring the laboratory’s methods/instruments, ensuring the quality of testing, identifying non-conformities, and evaluating and documenting the competency of the personnel.
  • Comprehension of public health infectious disease surveillance, control, and prevention activities.
  • Professional experience managing a complex budget with multiple streams of funding.
  • Awareness of leading complex initiatives or projects to advance practice or enhance effectiveness and efficiency.
  • Experience and demonstrated success in leading interdisciplinary teams.
  • Talent to exercise sound judgment while communicating rationale clearly and concisely.
  • Experience with the principles and practices of personnel management and supervision including planning and assigning work, delegating tasks, hiring, performance review, mentoring, performance improvement, determining the need for disciplinary action and either recommending or initiating disciplinary action.
  • Potential to anticipate and analyze difficult situations and take corrective action to prevent problems from occurring.
  • Skill to effectively write scientific proposals, funding proposals, and manuscripts.

  Special Requirements:

  As part of the pre-hire process, you will be required to submit transcript(s) for review for the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) verification process. If selected as the preferred candidate, you will be required to submit an official transcript from each accredited academic institution to verify the above.

  Please note that we will be unable to move forward with your application for this position if you do not meet CLIA qualifications.

  About the Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences (BIDLS):

  The DPH Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences (BIDLS), predominantly located in Jamaica Plain, provides public health response to infectious disease. These services include programmatic and epidemiologic response, as well as laboratory testing through the State Public Health Laboratory (SPHL).

  Infectious disease response services address concerns of the general public as well as those disproportionately affected by infectious disease through a variety of risk factors. BIDLS administers ongoing disease reporting for over 90 reportable diseases in the state. Disease reporting review and follow-up with clinical providers and local boards of health is a central function of the bureau. Surveillance activity is complemented by an extensive contracted service system. These services are funded through state and federal resources and include prevention education, community outreach screening for infectious disease, immunization services, health service navigation, medical case management, insurance enrollment, housing assistance, and referral and linkage to infectious disease treatment.

  The SPHL provides scientific expertise and capacity to identify infectious agents, chemical agents, and other toxins that cause human disease. The SPHL is an active partner in joint activities with other bureaus/agencies such as environmental health, food and drug, agriculture, disease prevention and health promotion programs, and public safety. The SPHL is a reference laboratory of the national Laboratory Response Network (LRN) and is a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Select Agent laboratory. SPHL staff work closely with laboratory and disease prevention programs at the CDC, and partners with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

  About the Department of Public Health:

  The mission of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is to prevent illness, injury, and premature death, to assure access to high quality public health and health care services, and to promote wellness and health equity for all people in the Commonwealth. We envision a Commonwealth in which all people enjoy optimal health. Massachusetts ranks among the healthiest of states according to comparative analyses, but we face numerous challenges, including chronic and infectious disease, substance abuse, violence, preventable hospitalizations, and health disparities.
  
  DPH coordinates programs and policies to address specific diseases and conditions and offer services to address the needs of vulnerable populations. We also develop, implement, promote, and enforce regulations and policies to assure that the conditions under which people live are most conducive to health and enable people to make healthy choices for themselves and their families. We license health professionals, healthcare facilities and a variety of businesses that impact public health. We operate the state laboratory and four public health hospitals. We monitor health status and manage vital records including births, marriages and deaths. We educate people about public health issues and work closely with local boards of health and community partners to identify and solve public health problems. More information can be found at: Department of Public Health | Mass.gov

  Pre-Hire Process:

  A tax & background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Human Resources Division prior to the candidate being hired.
  

  Education, licensure, and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines.

  Education and license/certification information provided by the selected candidate(s) is subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law and may be published on the Commonwealth’s website.

  If you require assistance with the application/interview process and would like to request an ADA accommodation, please click on the link and complete the ADA Reasonable Accommodation Request Form.

  For questions regarding this requisition, please contact the Executive Office of Health and Human Services Human Resources at 1-800-510-4122 Ext. #4

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  First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.

  MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS:

  Applicants must have at least (A) six (6) years of full-time or, equivalent part-time, professional, administrative, supervisory, or managerial experience in a particular specialty (i.e. scientific, professional, or technical) and must possess current license and/or registration requirements established for the performance of the position, of which (B) at least two (2) years must have been in a project management, supervisory or managerial capacity or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and substitutions below.

  Substitutions:

  I. A certificate in a relevant or related field may be substituted for one (1) year of the required (A) experience.

  II. A Bachelor’s degree in a related field may be substituted for two (2) years of the required (A) experience.

  III. A Graduate degree or higher in a related field may be substituted for three (3) years of the required (A) experience.

  IV. A Doctorate degree in a related field may be substituted for four (4) years of the required (A) experience.

  Comprehensive Benefits

  When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

  Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!

  COVID Vaccine: As a condition of employment, depending on job assignment and location, employees may be required to have received COVID-19 vaccination and/or other vaccinations, or to have been approved for a vaccination exemption prior to their start date. Details related to compliance with this requirement will be provided to applicants selected for employment.

  An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

  The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.

• About the company

  Official website of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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