Description
This position is responsible for directing Wisconsin's public and environmental health laboratory, one of the nation's premier public health laboratories. The Director, who reports to the Dean of the UW School of Medicine and Public Health, serves as the executive officer of the Laboratory and provides strategic and visionary leadership in analytical services, research, teaching and outreach, as well as policy issues impacting public and environmental health in Wisconsin. The Director provides counsel to the secretaries of the Department of Health Services, the Department of Natural Resources, and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection on policy issues in which the Laboratory has expertise. The Director oversees an annual budget of over 65 million dollars and a staff of approximately 350. The Laboratory is housed in four buildings across Madison - one on the UW-Madison campus, a larger facility located on Madison's far east side, limited lab space for environmental and soil testing on Madison's near west side, and rented office space in a State of Wisconsin office building. The Laboratory specializes in programs involving communicable and chronic disease, environmental health, cytology, cytogenetics and molecular genetics, newborn screening, proficiency testing, forensic toxicology, industrial hygiene/occupational health, laboratory surveillance, and preparedness for and analytical support in response to outbreaks and epidemics, and biological and chemical emergencies.
Established at the University of Wisconsin in 1903, the WSLH is a leading public sector institution within the public and environmental health community of Wisconsin with a 120+-year tradition as an academic center of innovative research, teaching and laboratory science. The WSLH has oversight by a Governor-appointed Board consisting of representatives from the University, state and local governmental agencies, private-sector laboratories, occupational health, medical examiners/coroners and the public. The Director is an ex-officio Board member. The WSLH has a statutory charter and has a dedicated line item in the state budget. It is attached to the UW-Madison for collaborative and administrative purposes.
The Laboratory furnishes complete laboratory services and other Program functions to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and local health departments. The WSLH is a full service reference laboratory. As part of the UW-Madison, it provides outstanding research and training opportunities in all aspects of public and environmental health. The Laboratory also works closely with the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics in Madison and UW-Madison academic departments. The impact of the WSLH extends well beyond Wisconsin via federal grants and contracts, principally with the CDC and others. The Laboratory also serves national and international customers in the public and private sectors.
The Director is highly visible within the public health, environmental, laboratory and university communities at the state and national level. The Director's position is currently supported by a leadership team consisting of an Associate Director for Clinical Laboratory Services, an Associate Director for Non-Clinical Testing, administrative office heads and nine technical directors.
Requirements
Five or more years in a senior administrative or leadership position with strong management skills as well as strong leadership in academic, pathology, environmental or public health areas. Candidates must have academic credentials for a faculty appointment on either the tenure or non-tenure track at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in an appropriate academic department, e.g., Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Microbiology, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Population Health Sciences, Molecular Biology or Biochemistry.
Demonstrated leadership in laboratory management, public or environmental health administrations; a commitment to Laboratory excellence; the ability to provide state and national leadership on issues of public and environmental health, emergency preparedness and laboratory practice; the capacity to relate effectively to the WSLH Board, university faculty and staff, state agency personnel, other clinical and public health laboratories, and constituencies such as the general public, media, and legislators; a commitment to public service and outreach activities; and the ability to identify and incorporate innovative concepts and methods into strategic decision making in order to effectively translate vision, mission and strategic plans into an integrated program.
