Assistant Director, Sequencing and Bioinformatics

Assistant Director, Sequencing and Bioinformatics 

Job Description:

The Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) Division of Laboratory Services (DLS) provides clinical and environmental laboratory testing services through two public health laboratories located in Nashville and Knoxville. The Nashville Central Laboratory is a dedicated facility with over 180 full time employees and state-of-the-art equipment. This position includes oversight of all sequencing and bioinformatics activities at the Nashville facility. These sections utilize a variety of molecular techniques and bioinformatics tools to aid in outbreak investigations, surveillance programs, and research projects.  The TN laboratory participates in multiple national surveillance networks and is the Southeast Regional Laboratory for the Antimicrobial Resistance Laboratory Network (ARLN).  This position is part of the Laboratory senior leadership team and assists with planning as well as strategic and programmatic goals and milestones.  Additionally, this position provides laboratory staff with technical direction, operational and administrative management, and professional development necessary to effectively meet certification, accreditation, and organizational objectives.

Responsibilities:

·         Oversees and manages the technical, operational, and administrative aspects of the sequencing, bioinformatics sections.

·         Ensures sequencing and bioinformatics sections implement and maintain quality assurance practices and standards of compliance with local, state, and federal regulations (e.g., CLIA) and other applicable certifying and accrediting organizations (e.g., CAP).

·         Oversees verification and validation studies for sequencing assays and bioinformatics pipelines to support public health work, surveillance programs, and outbreak investigations.

·         Develops, implements, and monitors policies, procedures, and performance/quality indicators that meet regulatory requirements and support organizational goals and objectives.

·         Maintains current knowledge of sequencing and bioinformatics as it relates to clinical and public health microbiology laboratory specialties to oversee the technical and programmatic laboratory services.

·         Ensures sufficiently qualified technical and support staff are fully trained and competent in providing the quality of laboratory testing and customer service.

·         Provides effective and efficient administrative direction, including budget management, contracts and procurement, grant writing, and strategic planning, to ensure current and future laboratory services and programs are properly funded and supported.

·         Supports effective collaborative working relationships with other public health laboratory sections and with public health partners, including the Communicable and Environmental Diseases and Emergency Preparedness Division (CEDEP) at the Tennessee Department of Health.

·         Supports educational direction and professional development opportunities to the TN DLS staff and to students, fellows, and other professionals during their rotations.

·         Evaluates the quality and appropriateness of laboratory services rendered and ensures laboratory and testing data are generated in a reliable and accurate manner.

·         Evaluates laboratory staff performance and proficiency to ensure their work is consistent laboratory and organizational requirements.

·         Works in collaboration with the Clinical Division Director, Laboratory Director, and senior leadership in the operation and administration of the TN DLS, including the support, maintenance, and enhancement of laboratory testing services.