NBS Specimen Logistics Team Lead

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Employee Benefits:

DSHS offers insurance coverage and other benefits available through the State of Texas Group Benefits Plan administered by the Employee Retirement System of Texas (ERS). To learn more about all the benefits available to you as a DSHS employee and other DSHS opportunities for early career pathways, visit the DSHS Careers Page.

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Functional Title: NBS Specimen Logistics Team Lead 
Job Title: Publ Hlth and Prevent Spcl III 
Agency: Dept of State Health Services 
Department: Quality Assurance 
Posting Number: 21349 
Closing Date: 10/14/2026 
Posting Audience: Internal and External 
Occupational Category: Life, Physical, and Social Science 
Salary Range: $3,793.41 - $4,857.33 
Pay Frequency: Monthly
Salary Group: TEXAS-B-18 
Shift: Regular Weekend Day 
Additional Shift:  
Telework: Not Eligible for Telework 
Travel: Up to 10% 
Regular/Temporary: Regular 
Full Time/Part Time: Full time 
FLSA Exempt/Non-Exempt: Nonexempt 
Facility Location:  
Job Location City: AUSTIN 
Job Location Address: 1100 W 49TH ST (DBGL) 
Other Locations:  
MOS Codes: 230X,43EX,43HX,4B0X1,4E0X1,60C,68S,68Z,HM,HS,MED,NAP11,SEI12 
 
 
 

Brief Job Description:

Performs highly complex (senior-level) public health work under the limited supervision of the Newborn Screening (NBS) Specimen Logistics Group Manager, with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgement. Serves as Team Leader for NBS Specimen Logistics. Oversees, coordinates, directs, and manages NBS Specimen Logistics resources and activities. Leads and prioritizes the workload of the NBS Specimen Logistics team with a focus on customer service and the continuous improvement of specimen quality and handling. Ensures compliance to pre-analytical testing criteria and specifications in adherence to regulatory requirements. Serves as an authority, technical resource, and primary contact for specimen acceptability, specimen decision and destruction processes, and residual specimen releases, and provides assistance to program staff, the general public, stakeholders, and public health facilities staff. Conduct and coordinates the training of laboratory employees on routine procedures, non-routine/trouble shooting, and other required QA/QC procedures. Provides input for personnel management activities. Collects, organizes, and prepares materials for records management and coordinates quality assurance activities. Supports the creation of a laboratory-wide safety culture by serving as a liaison to the Safety Office to ensure a healthy and safe workplace. Performs other related work as assigned including COOP activation.

Essential Job Functions (EJFs):

Attends work on a regular and predictable schedule in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned.

EJF 1. (30%) Serves as a Team Lead for Specimen Logistics. Oversees activities in the NBS Storage Warehouse located in the HHSC Warehouse facility. Serves as a back-up for the Courier Coordinator. Directs activities of NBS Specimen Logistics Team including but not limited to: prioritizing and assigning workloads and duties and ensuring that each task is completed on time. Maintains technical proficiency in all specimen processing procedures and assists with bench duties as needed. Coordinates coverage of bench duties daily. Serves as a positive role model by fostering teamwork and leading by example. Serves as a subject matter expert and resource for NBS Specimen Logistics workflow and customer service issues. Consults with Group Manager and/or Branch Manager concerning logistical and technical problems and makes recommendations.

EJF 2. (25%) Quality Management: Assists with developing and maintaining standard operating procedures (SOPs) following document control procedures and policies. Ensures accuracy of procedures performed by the NBS Specimen Logistics team through regular reviews of Quality Assurance (QA) monitoring parameters. Ensures staff adhere to established policies and procedures by conducting random/unplanned periodic audits or competencies and reviewing daily work, as needed. Identifies discrepancies, implements and documents corrective actions and outcomes. Assists with the preparation for regulatory audits. May assist with Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) system including verification of system requirements, testing and validation, and production phases.

EJF 3. (15%) Personnel Management: Trains or coordinates training for NBS Specimen Logistics staff on bench duties. Coaches and mentors staff as needed. Provides manager with feedback concerning employee performance as well as staffing requirements. Recommends appropriate training and education for staff and job description updates for area positions. Coordinates and participates in interview and selection process, recommending best applicant for positions. Monitors, documents and forwards information about NBS Specimen Logistics Team staff performance to supervisor. Provides input on acceptability of NBS Specimen Logistics Team staff leave requests.

EJF 4. (10%) Records Management: Coordinates with QA, Laboratory Records Subject Matter Experts (SME), and Agency Records Staff to appropriately store or archive NBS Specimen Logistics worksheets and documentation according to records retention policies. Maintains accurate archiving records.

EJF 5. (15%) Customer Service: Provides customer service to internal and external customers ensuring their needs are met. Advises customers regarding information of routine and non-routine specimen submission. Coordinates with testing laboratory staff to improve the efficiency of procedures/protocol. Facilitates communication between technical and non-technical areas and communicates information to staff as necessary.

EJF 6. (5%) Other duties as assigned may include actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or COOP activation.  Such participation may include an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs):

Knowledge of:

• Local, state, and federal laws related to public health.
• Social, economic, and public health issues.
• Microbiological and chemical principles, techniques, and medical terminology.
• Laboratory safety including sample-handling techniques.

Skill in:

• Problem solving and critical thinking.
• Collection and handling of protected health data and other confidential records.
• The use of a computer and applicable software.
• Creating, maintaining, and using electronic reports and spreadsheets.
• Use of business grammar, proofreading, and editing.
• Effective customer service techniques.
• Educational techniques and procedures.

Ability to:

• Interpret, understand, and adhere to applicable public health laws and rules including handling and storage of confidential records and protected health information.
• Maintain several projects simultaneously.
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Follow written and verbal instructions.
• Assign and/or supervise the work of others.
• Interact effectively with staff and work in harmony with other team members.
• Follow standard operating procedures and protocols accurately.
• Keep accurate, detailed records in files and databases.
• Handle specimens and samples quickly, accurately, and safely.
• Complete tasks without close supervision and use considerable discretion and mature judgement in interactions with public and interpretation of protected health data.
• Understand/interpret laboratory results and public health law and regulations.
• Lift, push, pull and carry packages/boxes/coolers up to 50 pounds repeatedly throughout the day; for all packages over 50 pounds, assistance is required.
• Climb stairs and use ladders/step-ladders.
• Train others.

Registrations, Licensure Requirements or Certifications:

N/A

Initial Screening Criteria:

1. Experience working in a clinical, research, or environmental laboratory.
2. Experience working with internal customers within an organization and external customers outside an organization.
3. Experience in training, mentoring, or coaching staff or peers.
4. Associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree in microbiological, chemical, physical, biological, or clinical laboratory science or medical technology from an accredited institution. 3 years’ experience in applicable public health programs such as laboratory or newborn screening may be substituted.
5. Experience serving in a team leader, lead worker, or other supervisory position, preferred.
6. Experience with Quality Assurance, developing and maintaining standard operating procedures (SOPs), preferred.

Additional Information:

Work Schedule: MUST be able to work holidays and weekends; all employees must work Weekends, as assigned. MUST be able to work hours other than 8am – 5pm.

Immunizations: Compliance with DSHS Laboratory Exposure Control Plan required. Vaccine requirements are consistent with current Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations and other national guidelines for employee groups based upon job duties and tasks.

Risks: High Hepatitis risk.

Coursework: Include a list of all Microbiology and Chemistry semester hour courses/credit hours with application.

Environmental or Hazard Demands of Essential Job functions:

• Working:
  • Lifting/Pushing/Carrying/Pulling; Climbing stairs/step-ladders; Indoors; Sitting; Walking; Hearing; Vision
• Exposure to:
  • Human blood, bodily fluids, tissue or wastes

Active Duty, Military, Reservists, Guardsmen, and Veterans:

Military occupation(s) that relate to the initial selection criteria and registration or licensure requirements for this position may include, but not limited to those listed in this posting. All active-duty military, reservists, guardsmen, and veterans are encouraged to apply if qualified for this position. For more information see the Texas State Auditor’s Military Crosswalk at https://hr.sao.texas.gov/CompensationSystem/JobDescriptions/.

ADA Accommodations:

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), DSHS will provide reasonable accommodation during the hiring process for individuals with a qualifying disability. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the interview process, please notify the person who contacts you to schedule the interview. If you need assistance completing the on-line application, contact the HHS Employee Service Center at 1-888-894-4747 or via email at HHSServiceCenter.Applications@ngahrhosting.com.

Salary Information, Pre-employment Checks, and Work Eligibility:

• The salary offered will follow DSHS starting salary guidelines. Any employment offer is contingent upon available budgeted funds.
• Depending on the program area and position requirements, applicants selected for hire may be required to pass background and other due diligence checks.
• DSHS uses E-Verify. You must bring your I-9 documentation with you on your first day of work.  Download the I-9 form