SD Public Health Laboratory Director

PLEASE ATTACH THE ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS LISTED AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE

Job ID: 31249

Agency: Health

Location:Pierre, SD

Salary: $119,460.74 - $159,280.99 Annual Salary, depending on qualifications

Pay Grade: O

Closing Date: 05/16/2025

About Us

The South Dakota Department of Health's programs and services help prevent illness and injury, promote healthy places to live, work and play; provide education to help people make good health decisions; prepare for, respond to, and prevent public health threats; and support efforts to enhance quality and accessibility of healthcare. Our services touch the lives of every person in South Dakota. We recognize that employees are our most valuable resource, and we are committed to promoting a culture of excellence in the Department of Health. We trust our employees to be innovative, challenge existing processes, and make the best decisions. We are interested in employing a culturally diverse and skilled workforce that exhibits the values of leadership, accountability, communication, integrity, and teamwork. Public health is a diverse and growing field that offers many career options for people from a variety of educational backgrounds. Imagine yourself as part of a winning team that is making the lives of South Dakotans healthier and safer.

Please visit our website at http://doh.sd.gov/ for further information about the Department of Health and the Public Health Laboratory.

Job Summary

The Public Health Laboratory Director is responsible for overseeing the South Dakota Public Health Laboratory (SDPHL), headquartered in Pierre. The SDPHL plays a critical role in protecting public health through specialized services in clinical microbiology, environmental chemistry, and forensic toxicology, and serves as South Dakota’s designated Laboratory Response Network (LRN) site for biological and chemical threat preparedness.

The SDPHL Includes Three Core Sections

• The Microbiology Section: a CLIA-certified laboratory that provides essential diagnostic and surveillance services to healthcare providers statewide.
• The Environmental Chemistry Section: which operates as the EPA’s primacy laboratory for South Dakota and manages the state’s certified drinking water testing program.
• The Forensic Chemistry Section: accredited under ISO 17025 by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB), which performs toxicology testing (blood and urine), volatiles analysis (including blood alcohol content), and seized drug analysis.
  
  

Leading a team of 36 full-time staff, along with contract professionals and interns, the Laboratory Director sets strategic and operational direction for the lab. This includes ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations, upholding laboratory safety and security standards, and driving a culture of quality, accountability, and innovation. The Director is also responsible for policy development, quality assurance, data review, performance evaluation, and the implementation of continuous improvement practices.

The role serves as a key liaison to state and federal agencies, with responsibility for laboratory preparedness and statewide laboratory system development. A critical priority includes guiding the Department’s investment in the future of public health infrastructure—supporting the construction and transition to a new 60,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art public health laboratory as part of the DOH Workforce Development and Education Center.

The Director collaborates closely with senior leadership across the Department of Health, including the Office of the State Epidemiologist, Public Health Preparedness and Response, and the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. This position reports directly to the Cabinet Secretary of the South Dakota Department of Health.

Licenses And Certifications

• This position requires an advanced degree in laboratory science, microbiology, chemistry, biology, medicine, or public health is desired.
• Preference will be given to candidates meeting Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act (CLIA) requirements as a Laboratory Director for a high complexity laboratory.
  
  

The Ideal Candidate Will Have

• Qualifications that meet CLIA requirements to serve as the laboratory director of a high-complexity testing facility, which typically include a doctoral degree (MD, DO, or PhD) in a relevant scientific discipline and appropriate experience in laboratory oversight.
• Board certification or credentialing through recognized professional bodies such as:
• High Complexity Laboratory Director (HCLD) – American Board of Bioanalysis (ABB);
• Diplomate in Laboratory Management (DLM) – American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP);
• Board Certification from the American Board of Clinical Chemistry (ABCC) or the American Board of Medical Microbiology (ABMM).
• Leadership credentials that reflect a commitment to excellence in public health and operational strategy, such as:
• Certified in Public Health (CPH) – National Board of Public Health Examiners;
• Participation in APHL or other national public health laboratory leadership programs.
• A strong understanding of federal and state laboratory regulatory requirements and the ability to effectively navigate compliance with CLIA, ISO 17025, EPA, and other relevant accreditation standards.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary teams and large-scale infrastructure projects, with additional consideration given to those holding a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent.
  

Knowledge Of

• Advanced principles and practices of clinical microbiology, environmental chemistry, forensic toxicology, and public health science.
• Federal and state regulatory frameworks governing public health laboratories, including CLIA, EPA, CDC, OSHA, ISO 17025, and related accreditation standards.
• Strategic planning, project management, and organizational development within a scientific or public health setting.
• Public health systems, laboratory response networks, and emergency preparedness infrastructure.
• Budget development, fiscal management, and resource allocation in a complex public sector environment.
• Data analytics, laboratory informatics systems (e.g., LIMS), and performance monitoring tools.
• Principles of adult education and workforce development, especially in a laboratory or health sciences context.
  
  

Skill To

• Executive-level leadership and decision-making in a multidisciplinary, high-stakes environment.
• Navigating political, scientific, and operational complexities with diplomacy and professionalism.
• Communicating highly technical concepts to diverse audiences, including government officials, media, stakeholders, and community partners.
• Building coalitions and partnerships across federal agencies, state health departments, universities, and healthcare systems.
• Conflict resolution, change management, and organizational transformation.
• Talent development, including mentoring scientists and managers to achieve leadership and operational excellence.
• Risk analysis and proactive policy development to ensure laboratory safety and sustainability.
  
  

Ability To

• Executive-level leadership and decision-making in a multidisciplinary, high-stakes environment.
• Navigating political, scientific, and operational complexities with diplomacy and professionalism.
• Communicating highly technical concepts to diverse audiences, including government officials, media, stakeholders, and community partners.
• Building coalitions and partnerships across federal agencies, state health departments, universities, and healthcare systems.
• Conflict resolution, change management, and organizational transformation.
• Talent development, including mentoring scientists and managers to achieve leadership and operational excellence.
• Risk analysis and proactive policy development to ensure laboratory safety and sustainability.
  
  

Additional Requirements: To be considered, please attach your Curriculum Vitae.

This position is exempt from the Civil Service Act.

Successful applicant(s) will be required to undergo a background investigation. An arrest/conviction record will not necessarily bar employment.

The State of South Dakota does not sponsor work visas for new or existing employees. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete an Employment Eligibility Verification, Form I-9. The State of South Dakota as an employer will be using E-Verify to complete employment eligibility verification upon hire.

The State of South Dakota offers $0 premium employee health insurance option plus eleven paid holidays, generous vacation and sick leave accrual, dental, vision, and other insurance options, and retirement benefits. You can view our benefits information at https://bhr.sd.gov/job-seekers/work-for-state-government/ . This position is a member of Class A retirement under SDRS.

Must apply online: https://gen-stateofsouthdako-trn.inforcloudsuite.com/hcm/xmlhttp/shorturl.do?key=1J2

You must apply online, emailed resumes or submissions will not be accepted.

South Dakota Bureau of Human Resources

Telephone: 605.773.3148 Email: careers@state.sd.us

http://bhr.sd.gov/workforus

"An Equal Opportunity Employer"