Description

Environmental Laboratory Division Director

The Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) Division of Laboratory Services (DLS) provides clinical and environmental laboratory testing services through two public health laboratories located in Nashville and Knoxville. The main public health laboratory is a dedicated facility with over 180 full time employees and state-of-the-art equipment located in east Nashville. This position will report to the Laboratory Director and oversee the Environmental and Newborn Screening Laboratories at the Nashville facility. The Environmental Laboratory includes the technical areas of General Chemistry, Metals Chemistry, Radiochemistry, Aquatic Biology, and Chemical Terrorism. The Newborn Screening Laboratory tests ~85,000 babies for >70 genetic and metabolic disorders every year. This position is part of the Tennessee Public Health Laboratory leadership team and assists with planning, policy and budget formulation, legislative issues, strategic and programmatic goals and milestones.  This position provides laboratory staff with scientific direction, operational and administrative management, and professional development necessary for the environmental and newborn screening laboratories to effectively meet certification, accreditation, and regulatory obligations and organizational objectives.

Responsibilities:

• Oversees and manages the technical, operational, and administrative aspects of the Newborn Screening, Chemistry (Inorganics and Metals), Aquatic Biology, Chemical Terrorism, Radiochemistry Laboratories.
• Monitors current and proposed state legislation and regularly communicates to the Laboratory Director any changes that impact the Environmental and Newborn Screening Laboratories.
• Ensures Environmental and Newborn screening laboratories implement and maintain standards of compliance with local, state, and federal regulations (e.g., CLIA, EPA, etc.) and other applicable certifying and accrediting organizations (e.g., CAP, A2LA).
• Develops, implements, and monitors policies, procedures, and performance/quality indicators that meet regulatory requirements and support organizational goals and objectives.
• Defines, implements and monitors standards of performance in quality control and quality assurance and directs the laboratories in conforming to guiding principles of the quality management system.
• Ensures sufficiently qualified technical and support staff are fully trained and competent in providing the highest quality of laboratory testing and customer service.
• Provides effective and efficient administrative direction, including budget management, resource allocation, and strategic planning, to ensure current and future laboratory services and programs are properly funded and supported.
• Establishes and maintains effective collaborative working relationships with the Tennessee Departments and Divisions and external partners.
• Provides educational direction and professional development opportunities to the TN DLS staff and to students, interns, and fellows during their rotation through the Environmental and Newborn Laboratories.
• Evaluates the quality and appropriateness of laboratory services rendered and ensures laboratory and testing data are generated in a reliable and accurate manner.
• Evaluates laboratory staff performance and proficiency to ensure their work is consistent laboratory and organizational requirements.
• Works in collaboration with the Laboratory Director and senior leadership in the operation and administration of the TN DLS, including the support, maintenance, and enhancement of laboratory testing services.

Requirements

Required Education/Experience:

• Must hold a master’s degree in chemistry, biology, biochemistry, environmental sciences, or an acceptable related field from an accredited college or university with at least two year of laboratory training and/or experience in high complexity clinical testing.
• Must have a minimum three (3) years of professional, full-time experience in environmental sciences, chemistry, and/or newborn screening. *
• Must have a minimum two (2) years of professional, full-time, or progressive experience in laboratory supervision and laboratory management.
• Must qualify as a Technical Supervisor and General Supervisor with documented training and experience.
• Must have or be eligible for a TN supervisors license.

Desirable Education/Experience:

• A doctorate degree in chemistry, biology biochemistry, environmental sciences, or an acceptable related field from an accredited college or university.
• Experience managing a multi-disciplinary team of professionals with various levels of experience and technical expertise.
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills with the ability to effectively communicate information to executive management and agency leadership.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to set priorities, manage multiple projects, and meet deadlines with challenging time constraints.
• Experience in laboratory regulations (e.g., CLIA), accreditation (e.g., CAP and A2LA), and certification (e.g., EPA, ISO17025, ISO9001).

To apply, interested applicants should send their CV and cover letter to Dr. Kara Levinson (kara.levinson@tn.gov)