ADMINISTRATIVE FACULTY JOB DESCRIPTION
APPROVED POSITION INFORMATION
(to be completed by HR)
Effective: June 1, 2015
Title
Range
JCC
6
67688
Director, Nevada State Public Health Laboratory System
Essential Function: Light Work
Description: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently,
and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. Light work requires walking or standing
to a significant degree and pushing and/or pulling.
1. Summary Statement: State the major function(s) of the position, the role in the
university, and the supervisor’s title.* (This section is used for advertisement of the
position.)
The Director, Nevada State Public Health Laboratory System (NV SPHLS) is responsible for the
technical and scientific direction, compliance and administration of the NV SPHLS with the
core/reference facility located at the University of Nevada, Reno in the Division of Health
Sciences. The Director integrates the public health laboratory into the state’s infrastructure,
continuously promotes the public health laboratory and develops strategies to expand expertise,
capacity and technologies to benefit Nevadans and enhance epidemiological activities in
Nevada. The Director acts as a consultant to the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral
Health and to designated State Advisory Committees.
* Attach an organizational chart with positions, ranges, and names for the division.
2. List the major responsibilities, including percentage of time devoted to each. Provide
enough detail to enable a person outside the department to understand the job
(percentage first with heading and then bulleted information). If line of progression,
define for each range as above.
35% - System Administration and Management
 Develop, direct and administer the planning, organizing, funding, staffing, research and
control for the NV SPHLS in coordination with State and State Laboratory Administration to
provide quality public health laboratory diagnostic, screening, monitoring, emergency and
research services to the people of the State of Nevada
 Strategic planning and leadership
 Supervise employees
20% - Laboratory Director
 Laboratory Director for all medical laboratories of the public health laboratory system (Core
and Branch Labs) as well as other Nevada public health laboratories as designated
throughout Nevada
 Maintain overall responsibility for compliance
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Director, Nevada State Public Health Laboratory System
20% - Laboratory Coordination
 Coordinate and integrate the NV SPHLS activities with other agencies, private industry,
groups or individuals to maximize public health laboratory utilization, efficiency, cooperation
and understanding in mutual endeavors
 Promote the NV SPHLS and the public health infrastructure in Nevada
10% - Laboratory Liaison
 Maintain a professional public image and represent and interpret NV SPHLS activities and
policies to educate and inform professionals and lay personnel in official and non-official
agencies, organizations, institutions and general public about costs, planning and technical
scientific information
 Act as a consultant to State Advisory committees and function as a consultant to the
Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health
10% - Governmental Interaction
 Interact with federal agencies, e.g. American Public Health Association (APHA), CDC,
Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL), Environmental Protection Agency, Food
and Drug Administration, etc. as well as other states and organizations in establishing
national/state goals, priorities and programs that impact on state public health laboratories
 Attend national meetings including APHL lab director’s meeting, BioWatch meetings and
other public health national meetings relating to Nevada’s public health laboratory services
5% - Student Teaching
 Teach Medical and Community Health Sciences graduate and undergraduate students as it
relates to public health activities/programs
3. Describe the types of decisions the position(s) makes independently as part of the core
responsibilities. Provide examples. If a line of progression, describe the decisions made
at the highest level.
The Director has a professional, public image in the community, state and national level as a
result of the position. The incumbent is involved in developing and managing the NV SPHLS
throughout the State assuring public health testing activities are performed in an efficient,
effective manner. The Director will interact with various high ranking health officials and
legislators throughout Nevada assuring compliant and accommodating public health laboratory
services are available and funded appropriately to service state, county and private facilities
statewide.
4. Describe the types of problems, issues, action, communications this position typically
takes to the supervisor for resolution and/or consultation. Provide examples. If a line of
progression, describe the supervisory consultation at the highest level.
The Director functions in a highly independent fashion and is expected to execute daily
management of the laboratory system and strategic objectives independently. In doing so, the
incumbent keeps executive management apprised of results relating to long-range initiatives
and strategic plans.
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Director, Nevada State Public Health Laboratory System
5. Select the applicable competencies required to successfully perform the job. The
selected competencies will be evaluated within the Administrative Faculty evaluation as
Competencies for Success.
Competency
Required
Adaptability
☒
Analytical Thinking
☒
Communication
☒
Diversity and Inclusion
☒
Financial Responsibilities
☒
Human Resource Responsibilities
☒
Leadership
☒
Program/Project/Functional Knowledge
☒
Resource Responsibilities
☒
Serving Constituents
☒
Teamwork
☒
Other (specify)
☐
6. Minimum requirements of the position. Minimum requirements should be consistent
with the Job Evaluation Model. If Line of Progression, minimum requirements must be
defined for each range.
Position must qualify as a Laboratory Director as described in 42 CFR 493.1443(b)(3)(i)
Education
Experience
Doctoral Degree in chemical,
Three years of managerial experience
physical biological, or clinical
laboratory sciences
Relevant Experience: working knowledge of microbiology, environmental
science, foodborne illness and public health.
Certification and Licensure:
 One of the following Health and Human Services Board Certifications is required:
o
ABB – American Board of Bioanalysis
o
ABB public health microbiology certification
o
ABCC – American Board of Clinical Chemistry
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Director, Nevada State Public Health Laboratory System

o
ABCC 24-month Commission on Accreditation in Clinical Chemistry (COMACC)
accredited program
o
ABFT – American Board of Forensic Toxicology
o
ABHI – American Board of Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics
o
ABMG – American Board of Medical Genetics
o
ABMLI – American Board of Medical Laboratory Immunology
o
ABMM – American Board of Medical Microbiology
o NRCC – National Registry of Certified Chemists
State of Nevada driver’s license
Schedule or Travel Requirements:
 Occasional travel
 Variable work schedule
 Must respond to work in the event of an emergency
Optional Addendum: Describe the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successful
performance of this job (in bullet format).
Knowledge of:
 Public Health issues, laboratory medicine, administrative processes and the academic
community.
 Detailed familiarity with Federal, state and local laws, regulations and guidelines
regarding laboratory medicine, environmental protection and food safety protocols.
 Knowledge, skills and abilities, including laboratory procedures, techniques and
equipment used in laboratory testing and analysis.
 Quality Assurance/Quality Control requirements, test validation and documentation
protocols.
Skills:
 Interpersonal skills that promote effective communication across a diverse set of
personalities/stakeholders.
 Supervisory skills, including an ability to teach and mentor staff and to achieve both
results and client satisfaction
Ability to:
 Translate federal, state and other regulatory/accrediting principles into effective
Standards of Operating Practice.
 Build and promote effective teamwork and consensus among the various State Public
Health Laboratory components and stakeholders to promote the highest possible
standards of laboratory analysis and use to promote and protect public health in Nevada.
 Organize and manage effectively so that reports, decisions, program implementations,
etc. are done in a timely and expeditious manner.
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