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Public Health Laboratory Director


The mission of the Louisiana Department of Health is to protect and promote health and to ensure access to medical, preventive, and rehabilitative services for all residents of the State of Louisiana.


Learn more about the Louisiana Department of Health


The goal of the Office of Public Health Laboratory is to protect the health and safety of the citizens and visitors to the State of Louisiana by providing accurate and timely laboratory data to state officials, public health programs, and citizens of the state. The Laboratory Director is crucial to meeting this goal by providing executive direction over all administrative and scientific functions of a statewide public health laboratory system and serves as a laboratory science advisor to higher-level officials within the Louisiana Office of Public Health and the Louisiana Department of Health.

Requirements

Three years of the required experience for the following minimum qualification must have been at the supervisory level or above:

A doctorate degree in a biological, environmental, or chemical science plus five years of experience in a biological laboratory, chemical laboratory or environmental laboratory.

SPECIAL SECURITY REQUIREMENTS:
Applicants must be able to pass a criminal background check and/or security clearance, including but not limited to those required for the Federal Select Agent Program and the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners license requirements.

CLINICAL TESTING POSITIONS:
For positions which involve processing and analysis of human specimens and/or the generation or interpretation of laboratory results that may be used in the diagnosis or treatment of a disease or condition in humans, the incumbent must have a current license to practice as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist Generalist (CLS-G) or a Clinical Laboratory Scientist Specialist (CLS-S) issued by the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners (LSBME).

A temporary license to practice as a CLS-G or a CLS-S issued by the LSBME shall fulfill this requirement only for the limited time granted by the LSBME. The incumbent is required to satisfy the requirements for a CLS-G or CLS-S permanent license prior to the expiration of the temporary license.

Qualifications

The official job specifications for this role, as defined by the State Civil Service, can be found here.Job Duties:
  • Provides executive direction of a statewide public health laboratory system
  • Oversees scientific and technical aspects of the laboratory system
  • Ensures absolute adherence to federal regulations mandated by CMS (CLIA standards), the FDA, EPA, USDA, and CDC
  • Provides direction of personnel functions within the laboratory; recommends hiring, termination, promotion, and reallocation or personnel within the laboratory system
  • Reviews and sets budget priorities to optimize public health infrastructure and diagnostic capabilities
  • Consults with Louisiana Office of Public Health and Louisiana Department of Health executives, medical directors, program managers, regional administrators, medical professionals regarding public health laboratory issues and services; interacts with other state agencies, local officials, and the general public

Position-Specific Details:

Location: Office of Public Health / Center for Environmental Health / East Baton Rouge Parish

Appointment Type: This position may be filled as a Probationary  or a Promotional appointment

Cost Center: 3262107400

Position Number(s): 63906


How To Apply:

No Civil Service test score is required in order to be considered for this vacancy.


To apply for this vacancy, click on the “Apply” link above and complete an electronic application, which can be used for this vacancy as well as future job opportunities. Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Further status message information is located under the Information section of the Current Job Opportunities page. 


* Information to support your eligibility for the position must be included in the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).  Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completed education and experience sections. Applications may be rejected if incomplete.


For information on how to check your application status and understand status updates, please click HERE.


Contact Information:

Paul Tran

Paul.Tran3@la.gov

LA Department of Health (LDH)

Division of Human Resources

PO Box 4818

Baton Rouge, LA 70821

225-342-6477


This organization participates in E-Verify, and for more information on E-Verify, please contact DHS at 1-888-464-4218. 


LDH supports Louisiana’s commitment to being a State as a Model Employer (SAME) by promoting the recruitment, hiring, and retention of individuals with disabilities. 


Information on the Louisiana Works, Louisiana Rehabilitation Services, is available here.


LDH is an equal opportunity employer and seeks to recruit a highly productive and diverse workforce, and will provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and prospective employees. Employment decisions shall be based strictly on merit and without regard to religious or political beliefs, sex, race, or any other non-merit factor.

Date Posted
06/12/2026
Job Reference
OPH/PTT/222257
Organization
LDH-Office of Public Health
Location
Baton Rouge, LA
Category
Executive
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