Description

Newborn Screening Program Director - Must apply through our website: Newborn Screening Program Director

This is a full-time onsite position located at our Public Health Laboratories located in Shoreline, WA.

The Opportunity:

As the Newborn Screening Program Director, you will lead Washington’s statewide newborn screening system, overseeing the laboratory, follow-up, epidemiology, operational, and clinical coordination work that helps identify life-threatening and disabling conditions in infants before symptoms appear. This role directs a large and highly specialized public health program responsible for screening every newborn in Washington, as well as infants born in Hawaii and Idaho through interstate partnerships.

You will manage a complex regional program that includes clinical laboratory operations, public health follow-up systems, policy development, budget oversight, quality assurance, and partnerships with healthcare providers, hospitals, specialty clinics, and national organizations. The work requires balancing scientific, operational, regulatory, and strategic priorities while ensuring the program remains reliable, responsive, and aligned with evolving public health and laboratory standards.

In this role, success depends not only on technical and operational expertise, but also on the ability to lead people with authenticity, communicate transparently, foster accountability, and proactively navigate complex challenges. We are seeking a leader who builds trust, develops strong teams, values diverse perspectives, and creates a culture where respect, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement thrive.

This position plays a central role in protecting infants from preventable death and lifelong disability by ensuring newborn screening services are timely, accurate, equitable, and clinically effective. The work directly informs public health policy, supports statewide healthcare systems, and helps families access critical diagnostic and treatment services as early as possible.

Key Responsibilities Include:

Lead and manage Washington’s regional newborn screening program, including laboratory operations, follow-up services, epidemiology, operations, and clinical coordination activities. 
Direct a multidisciplinary program of approximately 46 staff and supervisors while fostering a workplace culture grounded in accountability, collaboration, equity, and continuous improvement. 
Build strong, trusting relationships across teams by promoting open communication, active listening, transparency, respect, and shared problem solving in a complex public health environment. 
Coach, mentor, and support staff and supervisors in developing leadership capacity, strengthening professional growth, and building high performing teams that value diverse perspectives and experiences. 
Establish program policies, operational standards, and strategic priorities that ensure timely, accurate, and reliable newborn screening services across Washington, Hawaii, and Idaho. 
Promote a culture of quality and continuous improvement while overseeing laboratory quality assurance, accreditation compliance, testing methodologies, and implementation of new screening technologies and operational improvements. 
Guide statewide follow-up and case management systems to ensure infants with abnormal screening results receive timely diagnostic evaluation and clinical care. 
Develop and manage multimillion dollar program budgets, contracts, grants, and resource planning activities that support long term program sustainability and service delivery. 
Communicate clearly and effectively with staff, healthcare partners, executive leadership, policymakers, and community stakeholders to support collaboration, transparency, and informed decision making. 
Partner with healthcare providers, specialty care clinics, state agencies, national organizations, and the Washington State Board of Health to strengthen newborn screening systems and inform policy decisions. 
Lead strategic planning and policy development related to adding new conditions to the newborn screening panel, including rulemaking support, stakeholder engagement, operational readiness, and public health implementation planning. 
Advance equitable and culturally responsive public health practices by ensuring services, partnerships, and systems effectively support diverse communities and populations across Washington and partner states.

Why You’ll Love This Role:

Lead one of the state’s most critical public health laboratory and clinical coordination programs with broad operational and strategic responsibility.
Work at the intersection of laboratory science, public health policy, healthcare systems, and program leadership in a highly collaborative environment.
Help shape systems and services that support early detection and intervention for infants and families across Washington and partner states.
Influence the future of newborn screening through policy development, innovation, quality improvement, and strategic public health leadership.
Mentor and support a highly skilled team committed to improving health outcomes for newborns and families.

What You Bring:

You are a people-centered and emotionally intelligent leader who can demonstrate a genuine commitment to the growth, well-being and success of individuals and teams. You build inclusive environments where diverse perspectives, backgrounds and experiences are valued, and you foster strong partnerships grounded in respect, collaboration, and shared purpose.

You communicate clearly, consistently, and transparently across all levels of an organization. You know how to tailor communication for different audiences, encourage open dialogue, and build alignment through clarity and active listening. You are approachable, thoughtful, and comfortable navigating difficult conversations with professionalism and authenticity.

You lead with integrity and accountability, holding yourself and others responsible for commitments, outcomes, and ethical decision-making. You build trust through reliable actions, fairness, and consistency, and you address challenges directly while maintaining positive working relationships.

You bring experience leading complex public health, healthcare, laboratory, or regulated operational programs and can balance strategic planning with day-to-day operational leadership. You are skilled at analyzing complex information, making sound decisions, managing competing priorities, and leading teams through change and continuous improvement.

You understand the importance of equitable and accessible public health services and are motivated by meaningful work that improves health outcomes for children, families, and communities across Washington and partner states.

Must apply through our website: Newborn Screening Program Director

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications 

There are multiple pathways to qualify for this position. You must meet one of the options provided and any additional criteria listed. Experience may have been gained through paid or unpaid activities. Please ensure any relevant experience defined below is outlined in your cover letter, resume, and/or applicant profile. 

Option 1 – Non-degree Pathway

At least 10 years of experience in public health, clinical, biological, or chemical laboratory settings. Experience should include supervising staff and either program or operations management.

Option 2 – Education Pathway

A Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health, laboratory science, healthcare administration, epidemiology, biomedical science, or a closely related field, AND at least 8 years of experience in public health, clinical, biological, or chemical laboratory settings. Experience should include supervising staff and either program or operations management.

And the following experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities:

Two (2) or more years of experience supervising staff in a public health program or laboratory setting
Experience leading and managing complex public health, clinical, or laboratory programs
Experience working in regulated environments with quality, compliance, or accreditation requirements (e.g., CLIA, CAP, CDC, ISO)
Experience developing or implementing policies, procedures, or program standards
Experience managing budgets, contracts, or grant-funded programs
Experience working with external partners such as healthcare providers, government agencies, or community organizations
Experience working in or supporting laboratory-based or diagnostic programs
Knowledge of clinical laboratory operations, testing methodologies, and quality assurance practices
Knowledge of epidemiological principles and statistical methods used in public health
Experience interpreting and applying federal and state laws, regulations, and public health standards

Preferred Qualifications

While these aren’t required, having them can help you stand out as a candidate.

Experience leading or managing a newborn screening program or a public health laboratory program, including supervisory or senior-level management responsibilities
Knowledge of CLIA regulations and laboratory quality systems
Experience working with clinical laboratory systems, testing protocols, or laboratory accreditation standards 
Experience with state or federal rulemaking, including working with governing bodies or advisory committees 
Knowledge of congenital or metabolic disorders and related clinical follow-up systems 
Experience working in a multi-state or regional program environment 
Experience collaborating with national public health organizations or federal health agencies 
Experience with data systems, epidemiology, or population health analytics
Knowledge of and ability to meet CLIA personnel requirements relevant to the role, including laboratory oversight and regulatory compliance.