The successful candidate’s starting pay will fall within the pay ranges listed below. Base salary is localized according to an employee’s work location. Ranges are market-dependent and may be modified in the future.

 

For candidates living in Boston, MA, Denver, CO, New York, NY, Los Angeles, CA, Sacramento, CA, San Diego, CA, and Washington, DC, the pay range is $86,600 - $100,700.

 

For candidates living in the United States, besides Boston, MA, Denver, CO, New York, NY, Los Angeles, CA, Sacramento, CA, San Diego, CA, and Washington, DC, the pay range is $73,400 - $85,350.

PLEASE NOTE: This is a US-based role that requires the employee to reside within the 48 contiguous states.

 

The APHL Senior Specialist, Public Health Preparedness and Response manages and provides programmatic leadership for a wide variety of preparedness and response activities that advance public health laboratory testing, including the Laboratory Response Network (LRN). This includes but is not limited to providing scientific guidance on laboratory supplies, equipment, and testing, developing policy documents and monitoring legislation and regulations, developing contracts, coordinating travel, and scheduling and facilitating calls and meetings. The staff person works in close collaboration with APHL’s Senior Program Manager, Public Health Preparedness and Response and other staff, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Office of Readiness and Response (ORR) and other operating centers, offices and division, and state, local and territorial public health laboratories that have complementary activities in testing, policy and training for preparedness and response to all-hazard threats. The Senior Specialist, Public Health Preparedness and Response serves as the primary liaison to the Association’s Public Health Preparedness and Response Committee and any related subcommittees. The Senior Specialist, Public Health Preparedness and Response will support coordination of emergency responses, technical assistance to state, local, territorial, US Affiliated Pacific Island and international public health laboratories, members and partners to ensure effective laboratory systems to prepare for and respond to all public health threats. This position reports to the Senior Program Manager, Public Health Preparedness and Response.

 

At this time, this position is funded through June 30, 2026 and is dependent upon continued availability of funds.

 

The Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) works to strengthen laboratory systems serving the public’s health in the U.S. and globally. APHL’s member laboratories protect the public’s health by monitoring and detecting infectious and foodborne diseases, environmental contaminants, terrorist agents, genetic disorders in newborns and other diverse health threats.

Administrative:

 

• Manage logistical details for teleconferences/webinars by using scheduling tools to select dates/times, setting-up bridge lines, notifying the participants, and sending out the agendas.
• Manage program conferences, meetings and training projects by:
• Notifying participants of conferences and meetings and providing agendas and other logistical information to participants,
• Researching hotels to ensure they meet APHL needs; this includes initiating and coordinating ratification of contracts with hotels, ordering food/beverages and ensuring onsite facilities and AV meet APHL needs,
• Providing on-site support for conferences and meetings when requested, either at APHL Headquarters or at other venues,
• Assisting in production and distribution of conference handouts, folders, marketing materials, and proceedings,
• Coordinating the travel reimbursement process, including communicating with travelers, tracking payments, and submitting paperwork to supervisor or designee and accounting,
• Summarizing meeting evaluation forms, and
• Providing other project support as needed.
• Develop organizational tools and processes to improve work efficiency.
• Coordinate with other staff to format electronic surveys, collect and validate data, and generate relevant reports regarding preparedness and response.
• Order laboratory supplies on behalf of our members and in coordination with partners. Ensures that proper payment is made, product is delivered on time, and orders are tracked appropriately. 
• Capture meeting/call minutes and summaries and distribute the same to the relevant staff in a timely fashion.
• Schedule and attend staff meetings and provides summary notes when requested.
• Provide logistical support and coordinate travel arrangements for staff, members and others as requested by Supervisor.
• Organize and maintain paper and electronic files to complete work in a systematic and timely fashion. Uses Microsoft Office SharePoint Server to store all work files in an accessible location.
• Respond to requests for materials and information about program activities in writing, by phone and by email. Provides members and partners with appropriate information regarding program activities.
• Prepare and distribute documents, correspondence, reports, forms, training materials, and graphics for the Association. Prepare presentations about APHL activities for others and self to deliver at conferences and seminars.
• Provide general administrative assistance to all staff, including the Executive Director, the Chief Program Officer, Public Health Programs and the Senior Director, PHPR as requested.
• Provide guidance to the PHPR team on the administration of preparedness-related contracts, grants and other funding agreements to public health laboratories.
• Develop contracts for APHL contractors and consultants.
• Manage administrative processes to ensure compliance with APHL policies, completion of deliverables and timely payments to all parties.
• As is true for all APHL staff, completes other duties as assigned.

Committee Management:

• Serve as the primary staff liaison for the PHPR Committee, providing oversight and scientific support to committee members and other subcommittees with related preparedness priorities.
• Serve as the lead for linking preparedness initiatives across various APHL groups.
• Manage administrative processes for the PHPR Committee, meeting relevant deadlines.

Emergency Management:

• Manage APHL’s Continuity of Operations Planning (COOP) activities including the review and maintenance of the COOP Model Guidelines for Public Health Laboratories.
• Participate in APHL Emergency Operations Center/Incident Command System, as requested.
• Provide guidance to team members to ensure that APHL maintains these lists: (1) Public Health Laboratory Emergency Contact List; (2) Biothreat Laboratory Preparedness Coordinators Contact List; (3) Biosafety Officer Contact List; and other lists as requested by leadership.
• Lead maintenance of APHL’s Response Plan and delivering training for staff on Incident Command System (ICS).

Laboratory Capability and Capacity Assessments:

• Serve as the lead staff, collaborating with other internal staff, to manage the development and analysis of laboratory preparedness assessments such as the annual All-Hazards Laboratory Preparedness Survey and generate relevant reports regarding laboratory capability and capacity.
• Serve as the staff lead to collaborate with CDC programs and other organizations to provide timely and relevant data on laboratory preparedness and response.

Partnerships and Relationship Building:

• Strengthen partnerships with relevant federal, state and local agencies and other key partners such as TFAH, ASTHO, NACCHO, CSTE, BCHC, ASPPH and APHA, facilitating interaction with these partners on public health preparedness and response, legislative and regulatory issues.
• Collaborate across APHL to develop and maintain partnerships with external public health laboratory network such as the Canadian Public Health Laboratory Network (CPHLN), Pacific Island Health Officers Association and associated laboratories, and the Caribbean Basin laboratories, providing support as appropriate for the development of laboratory preparedness capabilities.
• Manage and build relationships with first responder communities, federal agencies and others tasked with responding to threats and/or developing standards for handheld assays, kits and devices.
• Serve as the staff lead for the APHL unknown algorithm for responding to suspicious non-clinical threats.

Project Support:

• Support program goals to strengthen laboratory preparedness and response domestically and globally.
• Ensures linkages across APHL and among CDC programs engaged in emergency preparedness and response.
• Coordinate with the CDC to ensure all APHL procurement and contracts management activities are on track.
• Maintain confidential information and build strong partnerships across local, state, Federal, international and non-governmental organizations.

Public Policy and Communications:

• Collaborate with APHL Senior Leadership, including the Chief Policy Officer, to identify legislations, other policies and funding opportunities that may impact public health laboratory preparedness and as appropriate solicit member feedback and comment on existing and pending federal legislations.
• Serve as the staff lead for developing communications materials (e.g., fact sheets) to promote the role of public health laboratories in preparedness and response.
• Review funding opportunity announcements for public health preparedness and response and provide timely and relevant guidance to staff and state, local and territorial public health laboratories eligible for such funds.
• Manage APHL’s efforts to provide guidance on the development and maintenance of public health emergency preparedness and response cooperative agreements and lead the development of APHL’s guidance tools to assist states in responding to such funding opportunities.
• Lead APHL efforts to develop and maintain performance measures for public health emergency preparedness and response.
• Participate in meetings to increase the visibility of member laboratories and promote their role in crisis response.
• Monitor regulatory actions and convey to the members those items that are relevant to public health laboratory practice.
• Provide guidance to partners on key metrics for preparedness and response indicators.

Technology and Information Transfer:

 

• Provide scientific support and facilitate technology transfer from federal agencies to public health laboratories.
• Serve as conduit of information for CDC’s Laboratory Readiness and Informatics Branch, National Center for Environmental Health, and ORR staff, APHL members, national associations, and involved federal agencies regarding public health laboratory preparedness and response activities.
• Collaborate across APHL to provide guidance to members and partners on electronic data messaging and other informatics initiatives that affect preparedness and response.

Team Collaboration and APHL Representation:

• Convene and facilitate internal staff preparedness meetings.
• Provide support for the planning of preparedness meetings/conferences such as the Preparedness Summit and the LRN National and Technical Meetings and webinars/conference calls.
• Participate in and/or present at relevant national meetings to promote the role of public health laboratories in all-hazards preparedness and further strengthen relationships with relevant federal, state and local agencies and other key partners.
• Serve as a scientific resource for other internal staff in the communications, marketing and policy departments.
• Provide guidance on emergency operations and incident management to staff.
• Assist with the APHL LRN-biological Gatekeeping activities, working in close collaboration with internal staff and CDC/LRN Program Office Staff.
• Prepare reports, articles, presentations and other documents summarizing preparedness activities for self and others to deliver at relevant meetings. Develop and disseminate information through updates on program website, SharePoint, weekly E-Update and newsletter, Lab Matters, and other communication avenues.
• Prepare annual committee and cooperative agreement reports.
• Prepare cooperative agreement and other funding requests.

Special Requirements:

• Travel required up to 30%.

• Master’s Degree in Public Health or Microbiology, or other life sciences and 2 years relevant experience OR
• Bachelor’s degree required in life science or health/laboratory field, in an area providing knowledge of microbiology, chemistry, medical technology, pharmacology/toxicology, and/or general laboratory methods and 4 years relevant experience.
• Minimum of 5 years’ progressive and relevant experience (a combination of experience and education such as a Master’s or other advanced degree can be used to meet this requirement)
• Experience in clinical or public health laboratory or governmental agency (preferred)

Knowledge:

• Infectious Diseases, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Chemistry, Medical Technology, Pharmacology/Toxicology, and/or general laboratory methods, Project Management, Microsoft Office Suite and database software. Familiarity with SharePoint preferred.
• Prefer candidate with knowledge of membership-based organizations, federal agencies or state and local health departments.

Skills:

• Strong project management skills required.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills required.
• Demonstrated capability to deliver multiple high-quality products under tight deadlines.

Abilities:

• Ability to establish working relationships with diverse groups
• Ability to work independently and use sound judgment to shape national activities.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, especially as it pertains to sensitive materials.
• Ability to travel within the United States
• Team Player with a positive attitude!

APHL Week is a Conference/Convention that is held at the APHL Home Office Bethesda, MD. This event is mandatory for all employees to attend. Travel and lodging will be reimbursed by APHL.

Please Note: Reimbursement for travel and lodging may not be possible for employees that are local to the APHL Home Office.

The duties and responsibilities listed in this job description are illustrative ones anticipated for this position. Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned as required. Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) reserves the right to amend or change this job description to meet the needs of its programs. This job description and any attachments do not constitute or represent a contract.

Work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations will be made for known physical or mental limitations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a colleague to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations will be made for known physical or mental limitations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role.
During the job, the colleague may need to sit for extended periods, use a computer keyboard to type, read information visually, and communicate orally through a computer monitor.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, protected veteran status, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin or any other characteristics protected by applicable law.