Accessioning Manager

You don’t just manage workflow. You command the front door of public health. As the Accessioning Manager at the Colorado State Public Health Laboratory, you lead the high-stakes intake engine that processes more than 350,000 samples a year—everything from blood and water to environmental and outbreak specimens. This is where precision meets urgency. Where chain-of-custody, compliance, and calm decision-making protect millions of people. If you thrive on operational intensity, regulatory rigor, and leading teams that perform under pressure, this role was built for you.

You will oversee two integrated teams operating six days a week, twelve hours a day—driving performance, shaping culture, and setting the standards for safety, quality, and customer service. You’ll design workflows that hold up under surge conditions. You’ll modernize systems, refine SOPs, manage budgets, and make decisive calls when timing, compliance, and public trust are on the line. When emergencies hit—outbreaks, chemical threats, COOP activation—you are the steady authority ensuring the laboratory never misses a beat.

This is a critical-status, on-site leadership role for someone who wants their work to matter every single day. You’ll shape strategy, mentor high-performing professionals, and influence how Colorado’s public health laboratory evolves in a rapidly changing world. If you’re equal parts operational mastermind, compliance hawk, culture builder, and cool head in a crisis—step forward. Colorado is counting on you.

The Work Unit:

• Oversees two integrated teams that comprise the laboratory accessioning program: a core accessioning team supporting ongoing laboratory programs and a sample receiving team responsible for intake of all specimens submitted to the laboratory.
• Establishes and manages staffing schedules; monitors workflow and throughput; assigns workloads; and ensures staff are trained and qualified to meet operational, quality, and regulatory requirements.
• Ensures the quality, accuracy, and volume of work meet established standards, performance expectations, and program objectives.
• Serves as the primary escalation point for customer concerns at the sample receiving window, ensuring timely investigation, resolution, and communication.

• Design and determine unit work processes, including identifying, mapping, and implementing standardized procedures to ensure efficient and consistent operations.
• Develop, revise, and implement SOPs in response to changing workflows, regulatory requirements, and continuous process improvement efforts.
• Oversee scheduled review and updating of program SOPs to maintain regulatory compliance and incorporate operational improvements.
• Ensure the accessioning unit’s compliance with all regulatory requirements by establishing and maintaining appropriate pre-analytical processes, controls, and documentation.

• Engage with consultants to modernize the accessioning function, and standardize among laboratory units, including digital transformation and process improvement of workflows, providing leadership and expertise.
• Serve as the primary liaison between the accessioning unit, laboratory leadership, and external partners to ensure alignment, clear communication, and timely issue resolution.
• Advise laboratory leadership on accessioning improvements and modernization needs, and lead the unit through operational, technological, and workflow changes associated with laboratory modernization initiatives.
• Coordinate with operational staff, laboratory leadership, and external partners to analyze and streamline accessioning processes, improving efficiency, accuracy, and turnaround times.

• Supervises the receipt, accessioning, and data entry of approximately 350,000 laboratory samples annually, including environmental samples (air, soil, water), human specimens (blood, urine, feces, cultures), and animal carcasses.
• Oversees the unpacking, sorting, and inspection of incoming samples and test request documentation to identify discrepancies, damage, contamination risks, or safety concerns.

Residency Requirement:

Class Code & Classification Description:

Nine (9) years of relevant experience* in experience in high-volume laboratory operations, specifically in specimen processing, accessioning, and team leadership or an occupation related to the work assigned to this position.

A combination of related education in Data Management, Public Health, Science, Medical Laboratory Science, or a related field and/or relevant experience* in a high-volume laboratory operations, specifically in specimen processing, accessioning, and team leadership or an occupation related to the work assigned to this position or occupation related to the work assigned equal to nine (9) years.

• Excellent customer service skills
• Experience in a team lead or supervisory role
• Experience with data management and data workflows
• Ability to maintain confidentiality
• Knowledge of safety practices in handling a variety of materials and/or laboratory specimens
• Superior oral and written communication skills
• Experience working in a laboratory
• Excellent attention to detail
• Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to work in a structured environment to include assigned break/lunch times
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Experience with LIMS or LIS  software systems (Horizon, Specimen Gate, or others)

Appeal Rights: 

An applicant who has been removed from an employment list or removed from consideration during the selection process may request a review by the State Personnel Director.

As an applicant directly affected by the results of the selection or comparative analysis process, you may file a written appeal with the State Personnel Director.

Review of the completed, signed and submitted appeal will be timely on the basis of written material submitted by you, using the official appeal form signed by you or your representative. This form must be completed and delivered to the State Personnel Board by email at dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the Department’s action.

Supplemental Information

A complete application packet must include:

1. A completed State of Colorado application.
2. If using education to qualify, a copy of your college/university transcripts. Transcripts must be attached to your colorado.gov/jobs application.
3. If you are a veteran, a copy of your DD214 attached to your colorado.gov/jobs application.

The Selection Process:

1. All applications that are received by the closing of this announcement will be reviewed against the Minimum Qualifications in this announcement. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications proceed to the next step.
2. Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted based on merit and fitness through a comparative analysis process.

• Part of, or all of, the comparative analysis for this position may be a structured application review, which involves a review of the information you submit in your application materials by Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) against the preferred qualifications.

1. A top group, up to six candidates, will be invited to schedule an interview with the hiring manager.

E-Verify: CDPHE uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.

ADAAA Accommodations:

The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Coordinator, Daniel Mckenna at daniel.mckenna@state.co.us or call 303-692-6319.
 
Toll Free Applicant Technical Support: If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (e.g. uploading or attaching documents to your online application) call NEOGOV technical support at 855-524-5627 Mon-Fri between 6 am and 6 pm (Pacific Time).  Helpful hints: if you are having difficulty uploading or attaching documents to your application first- ensure your documents are PDF or Microsoft Word files, and second, close the document before you attempt to upload (attach) it.