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Deputy Director of Quality & Safety

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Deputy Director of Quality & Safety

Salary

$110,232.00 - $162,828.00 Annually

Location

Denver Metro, CO

Job Type

Full Time

Job Number

FAA00401-05/20/25

Department

Department of Public Health & Environment

Division

Division of Disease Control and Public Health Response

Opening Date

05/20/2025

Closing Date

6/3/2025 11:59 PM Mountain

FLSA

Determined by Position

Type of Announcement

This position is open only to Colorado state residents.

Primary Physical Work Address

8100 Lowry Blvd, Denver, CO 80230

FLSA Status

Exempt; position is not eligible for overtime compensation.

Department Contact Information

[email protected]

How To Apply

Please submit an online application for this position at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/colorado. Reach out to the Department Contact to apply using a paper application, including any supplemental questions. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received by the appropriate Human Resources office before the closing date and time listed.

+ Description

+ Benefits

+ Questions

Department Information

This position is ONLY open to current Colorado state residents.

This position is an onsite position.

The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical conditions related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

Although the full salary range for this position is provided, appointments are typically made at or near the range minimum.

TheColorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE)serves Coloradans by providing high-quality, and cost-effective public health and environmental protection services that promote healthy people in healthy places. Staff members focus on evidence-based best practices in the public health and environmental fields and play a critical role in educating people in Colorado so they can make informed choices. In addition to maintaining and enhancing our core programs, the Department continues to identify and respond to emerging issues affecting Colorado's public and environmental health.

Be BOLD.....Make a REAL difference . . . and join us in serving our communities advancing Colorado's health and protecting the places we live, work, learn, and play, to create a healthy and sustainable Colorado where current and future generations thrive.

Our mission … is to advance Colorado's health and protect the places we live, work, learn, and play.

Our vision … is to create a healthy and sustainable Colorado where current and future generations thrive.

In addition to free parking, access to RTD bus lines, Cherry Creek bike path and flexible working arrangements, click the link below to review additional benefits and perks!!! https://cdphe.colorado.gov/careers

Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information, go to: https://studentloans.gov/myDirectLoan/pslfFlow.action#!/pslf/launch

The referral list generated by this position announcement may be used to fill multiple position vacancies and may be extended.

Description of Job

TheDivision of Disease Control and Public Health Response (DCPHR) is the department’s lead surveillance, planning and response arm for public events including communicable disease outbreaks and epidemics, pandemics, bioterrorism, and other public health and mass casualty events and disasters. The division includes theOffice of Emergency Preparedness and Response; State Public Health Laboratory;Health Equity Branch, Communicable Disease Branch; Immunization Branch; Public Health Informatics, Reporting,andRefugee Branch; and Operations Branch. The Division exists to ensure that the Department has the ability to effectively prepare for, monitor, detect, diagnose, investigate, and nimbly respond to all types of conditions, events and disasters that impact the public’s health.

The Work Unit:

The Quality, Safety, and Training unit exists to ensure that the Colorado State Public Health Laboratory (CSPHL) operates with safety and quality as core tenets. Training is an essential component of keeping the CSPHL safe and operating with the highest levels of quality. The safety team includes the security officer, biosafety officer, chemical officer, the Laboratory Response Network bioterrorism testing and oversees the BioWatch lab contractor team. The Quality team oversees the Quality Management System to ensure the CSPHL remains in compliance with all laboratory regulations and accreditation standards, and ensures the overall quality of all testing across all lab programs.

What you will be doing:

This leadership position oversees quality assurance and quality improvement within the overall Quality Management System (QMS) of the Colorado State Public Health Laboratory including the development, review, implementation, and communication of all laboratory quality assurance processes. The position provides guidance and consultation concerning quality processes for clinical, environmental, food and other consumer product testing. This position also ensures compliance with local, state, and federal regulatory standards such as the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA), the NELAC Institute (TNI), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). This position ensures that the laboratory’s organizational structure is committed to achieving and maintaining quality, works closely with the Laboratory Director to assure a culture of quality, safety and ethics, and analyzes quality measures to evaluate the costs of maintaining quality.

Quality Management System Oversight

+ Ensure the CDPHE Public Health Laboratory has a fully functioning Quality Management System that follows laboratory QA standards and protocols and regularly assesses and tests the system, evaluating and reporting needs.

+ Ensure compliance with laboratory accreditation, regulatory standards and information management policies by providing leadership and guidance to staff to ensure that quality policies, processes and procedures are established, current and adhered to by all laboratory staff.

+ Oversee internal audit processes, external assessments, proficiency testing programs; document control systems; competency assessment; training and other quality processes.

+ Identify training needs, as well as design and implement training programs specific to the quality system.

+ Recommend best practices to maintain and improve project outcomes or laboratory functions; facilitate laboratory improvement activities.

Supervision

+ Plan, prioritize, and assign workload, and analyze and monitor workflow and progress to ensure the quality and quantity of work meets standards, deadlines for deliverables, and program goals and objectives.

+ Establish work schedules, review and approve work time and absences using the automated system.

+ Identify training and developmental needs, and provide training to develop skills.

+ Provide feedback and coaching; write, review, and sign performance plans; evaluate and sign performance evaluations.

Process Improvement & Change Management

+ Extensive knowledge of quality management systems

+ Implements ongoing quality improvement initiatives to align laboratory practices with quality management principles and laboratory regulatory guidelines,

+ Develop system efficiencies and ensure quality of laboratory testing results.

+ Ensures professionalism in communication and prepares professional written reports and oral presentations.

Training Oversight

+ Provides vision and guidance for training modalities to assure staff are appropriately trained and following the QMS.

+ Ensures that trainings apply adult learning principles.

+ Collaborates with national and international scientific communities to create new knowledge on subject matters.

+ Plans and directs the administrative and operational activities of Education, Training and Outreach for the CSPHL in order to reach defined goals. Advises and makes recommendations on program goals based on internal and external trends.

Quality & Safety

+ Serves as subject matter expert in quality assurance and safety.

+ Provides guidance to staff to ensure that quality & safety policies, processes, and procedures are established, current, and followed by all laboratory staff.

+ Advises the Lab director on current best practices and policies regarding laboratory quality assurance and safety.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Residency Requirement:

This posting is only open to residents of the State of Colorado at the time of submitting your application.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Experience Only:

Ten (10) years of relevant experience* in a laboratory setting performing biological, microbiological, biochemical or molecular science testing with an emphasis on directing or designing quality assurance (QA) protocols, safety procedures.

OR

Education and Experience:

A combination of related e ducation** biological and/or physical science (e.g., microbiology, molecular biology, chemistry or genetics and/or relevant experience* in a laboratory setting performing biological, microbiological, biochemical or molecular science testing with an emphasis on directing or designing quality assurance (QA) protocols and safety procedures equal to ten (10) years.

*This experience must be substantiated within the Work Experience section of your application. "See Resume" will not be accepted. In addition, part-time work will be prorated.

**A copy of your transcripts must be submitted at the time of application. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. Late transcripts will not be accepted.

Preferred Qualifications and Essential Competencies:

Relevant years of State service contribute to a candidate's position-related knowledge, skill, ability, behavior or other posted competency should be considered as a preferred qualification and given weight under the process.

+ An advanced degree (MS, DrPH, PhD) in a biological and/or physical science (e.g., microbiology, molecular biology, chemistry, public health or genetics) or Master of Health Admin (MHA)

+ Ability to collaborate and achieve consensus across work units and programs

+ Experience with quality improvement process like Six Sigma, Lean, Kaizen or similar

+ Ability to implement change management process

+ Excellent project management skills

+ Effective written and oral communication skills

+ Knowledge of generally accepted laboratory QA/QC procedures and processes as they apply to diagnostic and/or environmental testing

+ In-depth knowledge of laboratory regulatory requirements (e.g., CLIA, EPA, FDA, ISO)

+ In-depth knowledge of biosafety recommendations and experience working at BSL-3

+ In-depth knowledge of chemical safety recommendations

+ Excellent management and supervisory skills

+ Ability to strategize, organize and plan, including assessing training needs and creating and updating training plans

+ Ability to effectively communicate both orally and in writing with a wide range of customers

+ Knowledge of and use of desktop computer hardware and software

+ Excellent critical thinking and problem solving skills

+ Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills

+ Ability to interpret regulations and statutes

+ Ability to interpret and analyze data

+ Keen attention to detail

+ Ability to self-motivate

+ Ability to work well independently as well as in/with a team

Conditions of Employment:

+ Pursuant to CDPHE policy, a criminal history background check is required for all positions at CDPHE

+ Must be available in the event of an emergency, (e.g., bio-terrorist attack, chemical attack, disease outbreak or all hazards) and be required to report to work immediately at the regular or alternate location. During this time, travel restrictions may be in place.

+ Must be available in the event of the activation of the Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) and be required to report to work immediately at the regular or alternate location. During this time, travel restrictions may be in place.

+ Traveling to conferences to collaborate with other State Labs about three times a year

+ On-site position

Appeal Rights:

An applicant who has been removed from an employment list or removed from consideration during the selection process may request a review by the State Personnel Director.

As an applicant directly affected by the results of the selection or comparative analysis process, you may file a written appeal with the State Personnel Director.

Review of the completed, signed and submitted appeal will be timely on the basis of written material submitted by you, using the official appeal form signed by you or your representative. This form must be completed and delivered to the State Personnel Board by email at [email protected] within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the Department’s action.

For further information on the Board Rules, you can refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at spb.colorado.gov/board-rules .

Supplemental Information

Supplemental Information

A complete application packet must include:

+ A completed State of Colorado application.

+ If using education to qualify, a copy of your college/university transcripts. Transcripts must be attached to your colorado.gov/jobs application.

+ If you are a veteran, a copy of your DD214 attached to your colorado.gov/jobs application.

The Selection Process:

+ All applications that are received by the closing of this announcement will be reviewed against the Minimum Qualifications in this announcement. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications proceed to the next step.

+ Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted based on merit and fitness through a comparative analysis process.

+ Part of, or all of, the comparative analysis for this position may be a structured application review, which involves a review of the information you submit in your application materials by Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) against the preferred qualifications.

+ A top group, up to six candidates, will be invited to schedule an interview with the hiring manager.

E-Verify: CDPHE uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify (http://www.dhs.gov/e-verify) , including your rights and responsibilities.

You must be legally eligible to work in the United States to be appointed to this position. CDPHE does not sponsor non-residents of the United States.

ADAAA Accommodations:

The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Coordinator, Daniel Mckenna at [email protected] or call 303-692-6319.

Toll Free Applicant Technical Support: If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (e.g. uploading or attaching documents to your online application) call NEOGOV technical support at 855-524-5627 Mon-Fri between 6 am and 6 pm (Pacific Time). Helpful hints: if you are having difficulty uploading or attaching documents to your application first- ensure your documents are PDF or Microsoft Word files, and second, close the document before you attempt to upload (attach) it.

The State of Colorado offers permanent employees a variety of benefits including medical, dental, life and disability insurance, as well as a comprehensive leave program. Please click the following link for detailed information: www.colorado.gov/pacific/dhr/benefits

Please note that each agency's contact information is different; therefore, we encourage all applicants to view the full, official job announcement which includes contact information and class title. Select the job you wish to view, then click on the "Print" icon.

01

The Colorado Constitution requires that applicants for State of Colorado positions be Colorado residents at the time the application is submitted. Are you a current resident of the State of Colorado who can provide proof of Colorado residency?

+ Yes

+ No

02

All positions at the Department require that potential employees undergo a thorough background check. As a condition of employment, you are required to submit to pre-employment screening if offered the position. Are you willing to meet this requirement?

+ Yes

+ No

03

CDPHE-In order to substantiate the educational requirements and/or education substitution, you MUST supply a legible copy of your college transcripts before the application deadline to the Human Resources office. Transcripts can be attached to your CO Jobs application. Applications without transcripts will NOT be considered. Did you submit transcripts?

+ Yes

+ No

04

Please discuss an example of a workplace QA or safety problem you solved in your work experience. Please include how you initially identified the problem, what you did to develop a solution, how you implemented the solution, how effective your new solution was once you put it in place, and whether you revisited it again to improve your process.

05

Please describe your most complex training related to this position that you designed, the support materials you developed, and the method you used to deliver the training. Who was the audience and how many people did you train in this situation?

06

Please describe, in detail, how your previous experience aligns with the preferred qualifications of this position and your knowledge of CLIA, EPA and/or ISO regulations governing regulated laboratory testing.

Required Question

Employer

State of Colorado

Address

See the full announcement by clicking

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Location varies by announcement, Colorado, --

Website

https://careers.colorado.gov/

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