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Laboratory Technician Lead, Support Services (Lab Tech 3) DOH8784



Laboratory Technician Lead, Support Services 


Public Health Laboratories, Shoreline, WA | Onsite/In Person | PERMANENT APPOINTMENT


THE OPPORTUNITY:

Washington State’s Public Health Laboratories play a critical behind-the-scenes role in protecting communities statewide. This position is a hands-on Lead role within Operations Support Services, the team that keeps the labs running safely, smoothly, and on time. As a Lab Technician Lead you will provide daily, on-site leadership to staff who prepare media, manage supplies, decontaminate waste, and ensure specimens and materials move where they need to go. If you like being the calm, steady presence that keeps complex operations moving, this role matters more than most people realize.


Key Responsibilities:

  • Provide frontline leadership and daily coordination for Support Services staff across media prep, glassware, dish room, stockroom, mailroom, and kit preparation
  • Train and support staff, including onboarding, annual competencies, and cross-training
  • Monitor workflows, prioritize tasks, and ensure critical lab support functions meet safety, quality, and turnaround expectations
  • Prepare microbiological media and reagents using approved protocols and quality controls
  • Maintain and update procedures, logs, and documentation tied to safety, quality, and equipment maintenance
  • Serve as the go-to lead when the supervisor is unavailable, coordinating staffing, resolving issues, and escalating concerns as needed
  • Support quality assurance, data entry, and use of lab systems that track inventory, supplies, and media production
  • Step in where needed to keep operations moving, including emergency response or backup coverage for specimen receiving


Why You’ll Love This Role

  • Your work directly supports disease detection, environmental testing, and public health response across Washington State
  • You lead by doing, not from a distance, staying connected to the work and the people doing it
  • Every day is different, with a mix of leadership, technical work, and problem solving
  • You are trusted to make decisions, spot issues early, and keep the lab running safely and efficiently


The Ideal candidate

You are steady under pressure, detail-driven, and comfortable juggling multiple moving parts. You enjoy training others, setting clear expectations, and jumping in alongside your team when needed. You notice when something is off, speak up early, and help fix it before it becomes a bigger problem. You value safety, accuracy, and teamwork, and you take pride in keeping complex operations organized, compliant, and reliable. You do not need a spotlight, but you like knowing the system works because you helped make it work.


REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

We value all relevant experience (paid or unpaid) and encourage applicants from all backgrounds. You must meet at least ONE of the options provided and any additional criteria listed. Experience may have been gained through paid or unpaid activities. While “Preferred Experience” is not required, these skills or experiences can help you stand out as a candidate.


Option 1: Associate’s degree or higher in biology, microbiology, chemistry, environmental science, laboratory science, or a closely related field AND one (1) or more years of experience working in a laboratory environment supporting laboratory operations, media preparation, specimen handling, or laboratory logistics


Option 2: One (1) of more years of training in medical technology or education in college with courses in laboratory sciences AND two (2) or more years of experience working in a laboratory environment supporting laboratory operations, media preparation, specimen handling, or laboratory logistics


Option 3: Three (3) or more years of experience working in a laboratory environment supporting laboratory operations, media preparation, specimen handling, or laboratory logistics


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

  • Experience in laboratory operations or laboratory support functions within a regulated or SOP driven environment
  • Knowledge of general laboratory safety principles, quality control practices, and documentation requirements
  • Proficient in using standard office productivity software such as Microsoft Office or Microsoft 365, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and similar tools for documentation, tracking, and communication
  • Experience using computerized systems to enter, review, and track operational or laboratory related data
  • Skill in reading, interpreting, and following technical instructions, written procedures, and standard operating protocols
  • Experience in training, leading, or mentoring others on technical tasks, processes, or equipment
  • Ability to maintain accurate records related to work activities, quality checks, training, or equipment usage


Preferred/Desired Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Experience:

  • Experience working in a public health, clinical, environmental, or microbiology laboratory
  • Experience preparing laboratory media, reagents, or chemical solutions following approved protocols
  • Experience operating or supporting laboratory equipment such as autoclaves, balances, pH meters, refrigerators, freezers, or dishwashers
  • Experience with laboratory QA QC programs, corrective actions, or preventative maintenance documentation
  • Experience training staff across multiple functional areas or rotating operational stations
  • Experience with laboratory information systems, inventory systems, or supply tracking tools such as LIMS or asset management systems
  • Experience with specimen receiving chain of custody processes, shipping, or regulated materials handling
  • Experience supporting high volume operations, surge work, or emergency response activities


ABOUT US: 

The Public Health Laboratories – Where Science Protects Communities

At the Public Health Laboratories, every test matters. From hunting emerging pathogens to ensuring every newborn in the state gets life-saving screenings, your work will drive disease detection, outbreak response, and protect Washington’s most vulnerable. We’re the state’s reference lab, tracking rare threats like rabies, hantavirus, and West Nile virus, analyzing outbreaks, and safeguarding food and water safety. Here, science meets service in a collaborative, equity-driven team committed to real-world impact and public health at scale.


We are the Washington State Department of Health (DOH)

We're nearly 2,000 professionals across Washington working together to protect and improve community health. Guided by our values of Equity, Innovation, and Engagement, we address health disparities, respond to emerging challenges, and strengthen systems that support resilience. At DOH, we help reduce barriers, collaborate with diverse communities, and champion equitable health outcomes. We’re passionate people who are driven to make a difference in public health. To learn more about the DOH please visit our website and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and our blog.


Benefits and Lifestyle

We prioritize your work-life balance with one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation, designed to support your lifestyle. At DOH, you’ll find flexibility, growth, and stability. Learn more about why we’re a great place to work by visiting Work@Health.


Conditions of Employment:

The following terms and conditions of employment must be met with or without reasonable accommodation:

 

Work Setting, including hazards:

  • This position's work must be completed at the Public Health Laboratories located in Shoreline, WA. 
  • The position requires maneuvering and lifting packages and/or materials up to 55 pounds.
  • The laboratory environment is noisy, can be stressful, and is fast paced.
  • The position requires may require working in an open office setting.
  • The position requires working with infectious biological material from humans or animals, in containers received by couriers and transferred to programs for processing.
  • The position requires working with various laboratory chemicals including but not limited to commercial grade cleaning supplies, bleach, opticide, alcohol, etc.
  • The position requires working in a laboratory with various laboratory chemicals that can cause illness, skin irritation, or breathing problems. 
  • Exposure to hot, cold, steamy, or odor producing environments may occur.
  • This position requires compliance with established safety protocols and risk assessments at the public health laboratories.

Schedule (i.e., hours and days):

  • This position has a work schedule of 40 hours per week. DOH business hours are Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., when working in Media Preparation this position requires an onsite presence Monday to Friday from 7:00am – 4:00pm. 
  • The position has a 4-hour AM shift on Saturday, rotating among all staff every 1-2 months, depending on staffing level.

Travel Requirements:

  • Regular travel is required to pick up and deliver laboratory mail to the post office, fuel state vehicles and perform other miscellaneous errands. Located in Shoreline, Washington and nearby locations.
  • When driving for state business, the employee must be able to legally operate a state or privately-owned vehicle.

Tools and Equipment:

  • Duties require the use of personal protective equipment such as but not limited to gloves, lab coats, and safety glasses.
  • Duties require the use of standard laboratory and office equipment, including laboratory instrumentation and platforms, incubators, refrigerators and freezers, autoclaves, drying ovens, industrial dishwashers, biological safety cabinets, fume hoods, pipettes, balances and scales, pH meters, media dispensers, mixers, microwaves, hot plates, Bunsen burners, computers and related peripherals, label printers, mailing and copying equipment, pallet jacks, hand trucks, step ladders and stools, and appropriate personal protective equipment, along with standard office furniture and workstations.

Customer Interactions:

  • The position regularly requires engaging with internal and external customers in a variety of settings including in-person, email, phone, and chat communication.

Other:

  • Representation: This position is covered by a bargaining unit for which the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) is the exclusive representative.
  • Special Requirement: Must have a valid driver’s license as required to operate a state vehicle to pick up and deliver laboratory mail to the post office, fuel the state car, and perform miscellaneous errands.

APPLICATION INFORMATION:


We’re committed to a fair and equitable hiring process. Only materials submitted through the official application will be considered. Emailed resumes or documents won’t be accepted or shared with the hiring manager.


Click “Apply” to complete your application. Attach your resume, cover letter, and DD-214 (if applicable). List at least three professional references directly in your Applicant Profile including a supervisor, a peer, and someone you’ve supervised or led (if applicable).


DO NOT INCLUDE private details like your SSN or birth year, personal photos, transcripts, certifications, diplomas, projects, portfolios, or letters of recommendation with your application.


Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

We regard diversity as the foundation of our strength, recognizing that differing insights and abilities enable us to reflect the unique needs of the communities we serve.  

DOH is an equal-opportunity employer. We prohibit discrimination based on race/ethnicity/color, creed, sex, pregnancy, age, religion, national origin, marital status, the presence or perception of a disability, veteran’s status, military status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender expression, or gender identity.


Veterans Preference

Applicants wishing to claim Veterans Preference must attach a copy of their DD-214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22, or signed verification of service letter from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to their application. Please remove or cover any personally identifiable data such as social security numbers and birth year.


Questions and Accommodations

If you have questions, need assistance with the application process, require an accommodation, or would like to request this posting in an alternative format, please contact Shawnelle Goalder at employment@doh.wa.gov and reference the assigned “DOHXXXX” recruitment number.


Technical Support

Reach out to NEOGOV directly at 1-855-524-5627 for technical support and login issues.


Qualifications

This recruitment may be used to fill positions of the same job classification across the agency. Once all the position(s) from the recruitment are filled, the candidate pool may be used to fill additional open positions for the next sixty (60) days.

Only applicants who follow the directions and complete the Application Process in-full will have their responses reviewed for consideration.

Experience and education selected, listed, or detailed in the Supplemental Questions must be verifiable on the submitted applicant profile.

This position is located in King County. A 5% salary increase is included in the advertised pay.

Date Posted
01/26/2026
Job Reference
DOH8784
Organization
Dept. of Health, Public Health Laboratories (PHL)
Location
King County - Shoreline, WA
Category
Laboratory
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