Public Health Laboratory Scientist

Agency

Dept of Health and Human Services

Division

Public Health

Job Classification Title

Publ Hlth Scientist (S)

Position Number

65041691

Grade

NC20

About Us

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is one of the largest, most complex agencies in the state, and has approximately 17,000 employees. It is responsible for ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of all North Carolinians, providing human service needs for special populations including individuals who are deaf, blind, developmentally disabled, and mentally ill, and helping poor North Carolinians achieve economic independence.

Description of Work

The Public Health Laboratory Scientist position provides full-time, on-site project management and advanced laboratory scientific expertise in support of the NCSLPH Infectious Disease Branch’s clinical and reference operations. It leads the development, optimization, verification, validation, and implementation of new and updated laboratory methods for detecting and characterizing a wide range of pathogens.

This role ensures high-quality, compliant diagnostic activities by coordinating with quality assurance, safety, biosafety, and other laboratory support teams. The position supervises a small team and collaborates with leadership to streamline onboarding of new assays, instrumentation, and workflows. It also supports surge testing during heightened public health response needs.


Key Duties Include:
- Lead development, optimization, verification, validation, and implementation of new and updated infectious disease testing methods.

- Manage method-development projects to ensure timely onboarding of assays, workflows, and instrumentation across the laboratory.

- Supervise 2–3 laboratory staff and provide technical direction and support during method development and implementation activities.

- Prepare and review validation and verification plans and reports to meet regulatory and quality standards.

- Integrate new instrument platforms and scalable workflows to improve efficiency of existing diagnostic methods.

- Coordinate with quality assurance, safety, and biosafety teams to ensure compliance with CLIA and laboratory quality management practices.

- Interpret analytical results, assess quality control measures, and support accurate clinical result reporting.

- Compile scientific data, prepare technical reports, and communicate findings to laboratory leadership and program partners.

- Provide technical training to laboratory staff on new methods, workflows, and instrumentation.

- Participate in surge testing operations during periods of increased public health demand.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences

Salary Range: $70,478.00 - $123,336.00

Recruitment Range: $70,478.00 - $ 90,580.00

Candidates now meet the minimum qualifications of a position if they meet the minimum education and experience listed on the vacancy announcement. 
 
The Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)/ Management Preferences are not required. Applicants who possess the following skills are preferred: 

• Expert-level experience executing method development workflows, including assay optimization, verification, validation, and implementation using advanced infectious disease diagnostic techniques.

• Demonstrated proficiency applying laboratory quality assurance practices, including CLIA‑aligned quality control review, root‑cause analysis, and documentation of corrective actions within high‑complexity testing environments.

• Advanced skill interpreting analytical results across molecular, microbiological, virological, and immunological methods, including evaluation of quality control metrics and integration of findings into clinical reporting workflows.

• Proven experience managing laboratory project timelines, coordinating multi‑team implementation activities, and reducing onboarding times for new assays, platforms, and instrumentation through structured project management practices.

• Strong competency training laboratory personnel on new diagnostic methods and workflows, including delivery of technical instruction, performance monitoring, and documentation of process adherence.

The Posting Will Close At 11:59 P.M. The Night Before The End Date

The Position Is Time-Limited, Concluding On July 31, 2029

This Position Is 100% Federally Funded

About the NC Division of Public Health (DPH):
The NC Division of Public Health works to promote and contribute to the highest possible level of health for the people of North Carolina. Our entire statewide system of public health has dedicated professionals who carry out our mission every day through a wide range of essential and activities touching the lives of everyone in our state.

About the North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health (NCSLPH): 

The State Laboratory of Public Health (SLPH), we provide medical and environmental laboratory services such as testing, consultation, and training, to public and private health provider organizations responsible for the promotion, protection, and assurance of the health of North Carolina citizens. SLPH serves the entire state as a reference laboratory for difficult, unusual, or otherwise unavailable laboratory procedures and assist in the development, evaluation, and standardization of medical and environmental laboratory testing procedures. We provide training and consultation to improve and assure quality services in other laboratories and certify milk and water laboratories and milk analysts. We test for Acanthamoeba to Zika and everything in between!

Visit our website at http://slph.ncpublichealth.com to learn more.

 

Campus Amenities and Benefits at the State Laboratory of Public Health:

• 220,000 square feet state-of-the-art facility

• Plentiful Free Parking

• Easy access to highways (70, 40 and 440), NC Museum of Art, Umstead State Park, healthcare providers, and shopping centers

• Proximity to globally and nationally ranked universities (NC State, UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke)

• Fitness area with exercise equipment, classes, and wellness activities

• Weekly Food Trucks

• Car Cleaning and Detailing Services On-site bimonthly

• Annual Flu Shot Clinic for Employees and Families

• Monthly and quarterly career development classes, including opportunities for traveling

• Library of academic journals and materials on-site

• Employee Engagement and Staff Development Activities

• NCSLPH Employee Recognition Programs

• State Health Plan and State of NC Employee Benefits

Compensation and Benefits: 

The State of North Carolina offers excellent comprehensive benefits. Employees can participate in health insurance options, standard and supplemental retirement plans, and the NCFlex program (numerous high-quality, low-cost benefits on a pre-tax basis). Employees also receive paid vacation, sick, and community service leave. In addition, paid parental leave is available to eligible employees. Visit the website for State Benefits.

Supplemental Contact Information: 

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is an Equal Opportunity Employer that embraces an Employment First philosophy, which consists of complying with all federal laws, state laws, and Executive Orders.  We are committed to reviewing requests for reasonable accommodation at any time during the hiring process or while on the job.  For more information about DHHS:  https://www.ncdhhs.gov/. 

DHHS uses the Merit-Based Recruitment and Selection Plan to fill positions subject to the State Human Resources Act with the most qualified individuals.  Hiring salary will be based on relevant qualifications, internal equity, and budgetary considerations pertinent to the advertised position. 

In accordance with the Governor’s Executive Order 303, our agency supports second-chance employment for individuals who were previously incarcerated or justice-involved.  We invite all potential applicants to apply for positions for which they may be qualified. 

               

Application Process 

Be sure to complete the application in its entirety.   Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing this application. 

• Information should be provided in the appropriate areas, to include the following: Education, including high school and all degrees obtained, Work Experience, and Certificates & Licenses. It is critical to our screening and salary determination process that applications contain comprehensive candidate information. 

• Answers to Supplemental Questions are not a substitute for providing all relevant information within the body of your application. To receive credit for the supplemental questions, you must provide supporting information within the "Work Experience" section of the application to support your answers. 

• If multiple applications are submitted to an individual posting, only the most recent application received prior to the closing date will be accepted.  Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM on the closing date. 

• Applicants may be subject to a criminal background check. All candidates selected for positions considered "Positions of Trust" will be subject to a criminal background check. 

• Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to provide information regarding the status of your application over the phone. To check the status of your application, please log in to your account.  Upon the closing date, applications are "Under Review" and will be screened by Human Resources for qualified applicants. The hiring process may take several weeks. 

• Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.  Transcripts and degree evaluations may be uploaded with your application. The State of North Carolina/Office of State Human Resources uses the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) as a referral resource for applicants who need to have their credentials certified as equivalent. 

• For a list of organizations that perform this specialized service, please visit the NACES membership website at https://www.naces.org/members. 

Degree/College Credit Verification 

Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions. Transcripts, degree evaluations, and cover letters may be uploaded with your application. 

Veterans’ and National Guard Preference 

• Applicants seeking Veteran's Preference must attach a DD-214 Member-4 Form (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to their applications. 

• Applicants seeking National Guard Preference must attach an NGB 23A (RPAS), along with the state application, if they are a current member of the NC National Guard in good standing.  

• Applicants who are former members of either the NC Army National Guard or the NC Air National Guard, with honorable discharge and six years of creditable service, must attach a copy of the DD 256 or NGB 22, along with the state application. 

ADA Accommodations 

Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), DHHS is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, DHHS will ensure that people with disabilities, or known limitations covered by the PWFA, are provided with reasonable accommodation.  If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact the person indicated below. 

CONTACT INFORMATION  

If there are any questions about this posting, please contact Talent Acquisition at talentacquisition@dhhs.nc.gov. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing this application. 

Minimum Education and Experience

Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.” If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide for details.

Bachelor’s degree from an appropriately accredited institution and three years of experience in public or private employment service-related work including experience in a lead, coaching, or mentoring capacity including one year in a supervisory or lead capacity

OR

Associate degree and five years of experience in public or private employment service-related work including experience in a lead, coaching, or mentoring capacity including one year in a supervisory or lead capacity

OR

An equivalent combination of education and experience.

EEO Statement

The State of North Carolina is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and dedicated to providing employees with a work environment free from all forms of unlawful employment discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. The state provides reasonable accommodation to employees and applicants with disabilities; known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; and for religious beliefs, observances, and practices.

Recruiter:

Tresha Walker

Email:

talentacquisition@dhhs.nc.gov