PUBLIC HEALTH LABORATORY DIRECTOR

MS526 $107,536 - $193,898
Creation Date: 10/22/1999
Change Date: 08/03/2026

FUNCTION OF WORK:
To provide executive direction over all functions of the statewide Public Health Laboratory System and serve as chief scientific advisor to the State Health Officer, Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health, and the Assistant Secretary of the Office of Public Health.

LEVEL OF WORK:
Executive

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:
Administrative direction from the Deputy Assistant Secretary or other top- level executive official.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED:
Broad over Public Health Laboratory Assistant Directors; executive direction over Public Health Laboratory Scientists and para-professional laboratory personnel.

JOB DISTINCTIONS:
Differs from other related executive classes by the overall responsibility for planning and directing all Public Health Laboratory programs and personnel.

Differs from Public Health Laboratory Assistant Director by the presence of executive responsibility and authority for overall laboratory planning and direction.

CORE COMPETENCIES:
CORE COMPETENCIES HAVE NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED BY STATE CIVIL SERVICE FOR THIS JOB TITLE. MORE INFORMATION ON THE SCS COMPETENCY MODEL CAN BE FOUND HERE.

EXAMPLES OF WORK:
EXAMPLES BELOW ARE A BRIEF SAMPLE OF COMMON DUTIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS JOB TITLE. NOT ALL POSSIBLE TASKS ARE INCLUDED.

Consults with and advises the Assistant Secretary of the Office of Public Health, State Health Officers, and other local, state, and federal agency personnel on scientific and administrative matters.

Plans, organizes, directs, and coordinates a statewide Public Health Laboratory System.

Consults with and advises regional medical directors, division directors, regional administrators, program managers, members of the medical profession, and the general public to ensure the fulfillment of the mission of the Division of Laboratories.

Reviews and sets budget priorities for the statewide Public Health Laboratory System.

Provides executive direction in the preparation of reports and maintenance of laboratory records.

Approves and selects personnel for promotions or employment and serves as appointing authority for personnel actions for the statewide Public Health Laboratory System.

Assures the adherence to all federal, state and local guidelines and mandates regarding safety.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
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.