Public Works Jobs in Decatur, GA (NOW HIRING)

Salary: $91,309.47 Annually
Location : 1749 Clairmont Dr, Decatur, GA
Job Type: Full Time Salaried
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 2026-00581
Division/Section: Medical-Clinical Svcs/Lab
Opening Date: 07/09/2026
Closing Date: 7/26/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Description
Pay Grade: O
**URGENTLY HIRING**
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Who We Are. We protect lives. The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is the lead agency entrusted by the people of Georgia to protect lives and promote healthy lifestyles in communities throughout the state. We are committed to preventing disease, injury, and disability; promoting health and well-being; and preparing for and responding to disasters.
What We Offer.As a member of the DPH team, you will join a group of passionate individuals dedicated to serving Georgians. Regardless of your role, you will contribute to protecting lives while enjoying a wide range of benefits.

• Make a Professional Impact - Build your career where it matters and protect lives in the community where you live, work, and play.
• Enjoy Workplace Flexibility - Experience flexibility in how you work so you can be your best self for you and the people of Georgia.
• Work with a Dynamic and Diverse Team - Collaborate with employees who share ideas and leverage collective strengths.
• Achieve Career Longevity - Take advantage of opportunities for learning and development that support a long-term career.
• Take Part in a Hands-on Working Culture - Work in a unique culture of active engagement and problem-solving, no matter your role.
• Feel Pride in Where you Work - Be part of making an impact in public health alongside dedicated people just like yourself.

The Division of Microbiology at the Georgia Public Health Laboratory (GPHL) is responsible for detecting, identifying, and reporting communicable diseases within the State of Georgia. The Division is responsible for maintaining expertise and capability in a wide variety of public health microbiology specialties. These include Mycobacteriology Reference Bacteriology, Enteric Bacteriology, Environmental Microbiology, Mycology, Parasitology, Virology, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Antimicrobial Resistance surveillance, Advanced Molecular Detection (AMD) etc. GPHL is seeking an experienced laboratory professional to serve as Deputy Director (Senior Laboratory Manager) for Bacteriology/Mycobacteriology/Parasitology.
This is a senior leadership role that reports directly to the Director of Clinical Microbiology Services and assists in managing day-to-day operational activities, personnel management and managing several programmatic areas such as PulseNet, AMD, CryptoNET etc.
Job Responsibilities

• Provide technical or scientific consultation and assures the activities are congruent with the goals of the Division of Clinical Microbiology and ensures compliance with local, state, and federal regulatory standards such as the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA), OSHA, other federal and state regulations.
• Responsible for assisting the Director of Clinical Microbiology Services with federal and state grant applications, grant deliverables, writing reports, manuscripts, and presentations. Work closely with Laboratory Operations Director to monitor and track fiscal integrity.
• Provide administrative and leadership role by directly managing two Associate Managers, approves scheduling and leave, and work assignments, decisions regarding hiring, promotions, disciplinary actions, and other administrative duties as assigned by the Director.
• Provide workforce development activities include staff engagement, coaching and mentoring, staff recognition, cross training and provide professional developmental activities to sustain employee retention, integrates strategic thinking into decisions and long-term planning for Microbiology laboratory operations.
• Ability to mentor Association of Public Health Laboratory fellows and Centers for Disease Control Laboratory Leadership Service fellows.
• Work closely with QA manager and oversees quality control, quality assurance and quality improvement of the Bacteriology/Mycobacteriology/Parasitology units including the assay development, review, conduct validations and verifications, assay implementation, documentation of non-conforming events and corrective actions and communication of all laboratory quality processes.
• Analyze data, identify trends, monitor prevention and correction of quality deviations, and develop reports for management utilizing technical knowledge and laboratory experience. Monitor critical indicators, customer satisfaction and performance metrics.
• Work closely with GPHL Biosafety Officer and support exceptional efforts to maintain compliance with institutional biosafety and chemical safety policies including reviewing and approving risk assessments.
• Provide support for policy and procedures governing GPHL, provide oversight and guidance for technical leadership, and conduct outreach to improve customer support within the State of Georgia.
• Must ensure effective management of human resources and model leadership behavior. Must have written and oral communication strategies, display active listening skills and demonstrate skills for inclusive, visionary, strategic, change and relational leadership abilities.
• Must adhere to policies and principles governing professional and scientific ethics and rules of conduct, exemplifying integrity, and serving as a role model of ethical behavior.
• Must demonstrate team player skills, driving passion for the work, humility to job, personnel interactions, and understanding.
• Demonstrate outward thinking, collaborative, open mindset, and resilience to model outward behaviors to your team and others during stressful conditions.

Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Biology, Chemistry, or Physics or related field and two (2) years of job-related experience working in a laboratory setting or related field, which includes two (2) years in a managerial or supervisory role; or Bachelor's degree in Biology, Chemistry, or Physics and two (2) years of experience at the lower-level Sr. Mgr 2, Health Laboratory (LSM012) or equivalent position.
Preferred Qualifications:

• The incumbent should meet personnel requirements for technical supervisor (42 CFR 493.1449) performing high complexity testing as defined by 42 CFR 493, Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA).

• Doctoral candidates who meet the personnel qualifications stated in 42 CFR, Part 493, Subpart M and eligible to be certified within 18 months of hire by a board approved by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) (42CFR493.1443(b)) such as American Board of Bioanalysis (ABB); American Board of Medical Microbiology (ABMM) to manage and direct the laboratory personnel of high complexity testing.
• Certified as MLS or MT in specialties by nationally recognized accredited agencies such as American Society for Clinical Pathologist or American Board of Bioanalysis or Eligible for certification within 18 months of hire.
• Demonstrated success supervising a work unit in a public health laboratory, or regulated microbiology/molecular diagnostic laboratory. Experience includes performance management and employee professional development.
• Experience managing a laboratory budget and grants.
• Experience with regulatory standards such as CLIA, FDA, EPA, and ISO 17025.
• Experience interpreting and analyzing complex data.
• Knowledge of analytical or scientific software including but not limited to Laboratory Information Management Systems.
• Knowledge of clinical diagnostic laboratory regulatory requirements and experience working with laboratory quality assurance programs.

Additional Information
The DPH Commissioner and agency leaders encourage all employees to engage in regular wellness activities and to make lifestyle choices that promote health and well-being.
The use of physical activity breaks during the workday is authorized to support this philosophy and help employees meet their wellness goals. A maximum of 30 minutes of physical activity may be allocated per workday, typically in the form of two 15-minute breaks or one 30-minute break.
Employment Information
State of Georgia employees are subject to the rules of the State Personnel Board regarding salary.
DPH accepts educational credentials recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and/or the US Department of Education (DOE) as valid. DPH will contact educational institutions to verify degrees, diplomas, licensures, and other relevant credentials.
The candidate selected for this position may be subject to pre-employment drug screening and a criminal background check.
Relocation assistance is not provided.
In the event of an identified emergency, you may be required, as a term and condition of DPH employment, to assist in meeting the emergency responsibilities of the department.
ADA Statement
DPH is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for the application or interview process, email DPH-ADA@dph.ga.gov.
DPH is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to provide information on application status by phone or e-mail. All qualified applicants will be considered, but may not receive an interview. DPH will contact selected applicants to proceed with the application process. Applicants who are not selected will not receive notification.
This position is subject to close at any time once a satisfactory applicant pool has been identified.
BENEFITS
Standard Benefits for Full-Time Salaried Employees
In addition to a competitive salary, we offer a generous benefits package that includes a flexible schedule, training opportunities, health insurance, employee retirement plan (ERS GSEPS), deferred compensation, 13 paid holidays, vacation and sick leave, paid parental leave, dental, vision, long-term care, and life insurance.
Standard Benefits for Part-Time Employees
Part-time employees are eligible to participate in the Georgia Defined Contribution Plan and receive paid parental leave.
Standard Benefits for Full-Time Salaried Employees
In addition to a competitive salary, we offer a generous benefits package that includes a flexible schedule, training opportunities, health insurance, employee retirement plan (ERS GSEPS), deferred compensation, 13 paid holidays, vacation & sick leave, paid parental leave, dental, vision, long term care, and life insurance.
Standard Benefits for Part-Time Employees
Part-time employees receive the Georgia Defined Contribution Plan and paid parental leave.
01
The answers you provide to the supplemental questions will be used to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for this position. Your responses pertaining to specific work experience and education must be clearly shown in the areas for work history and education on your application. Your application must be completed in full before it is submitted. We do not accept additional information after your application has been received by the Personnel Department. Do you accept these conditions?

• Yes
• No

02
What is your highest level of education completed?

• Doctorate's Degree
• Master's Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Associate's Degree
• Vocational/Technical Degree
• High School Diploma/GED
• Did Not Complete High School/GED

03
Are you a current employee of the Georgia Department of Public Health?

• No
• Full Time Employee
• Part Time Employee
• Temp or Contractor
• Intern
• Volunteer

04
Do you have a bachelor's degree in microbiological science or a related field?

• No
• Yes

05
Do you have 7+years of supervisory experience in a public health or clinical laboratory?

• None
• Yes

06
How many years of experience do you have with regulatory standards such as CLIA, FDA, EPA, and ISO 17025?

• None
• Less than a year
• 1-3 years
• 3-5 years

07
Do you have a Master's or Doctoral degree in a chemical, physical, biological, or clinical laboratory science or related field from an accredited institution?

• Yes, Masters in chemical, physical, biological, or clinical laboratory science or related field
• Yes, Doctoral degree in a chemical, physical, biological, or clinical laboratory science or related field
• No

08
How many years of experience do you have managing a laboratory budget and grants?

• None
• Less than a year
• 1-3 years
• 3-5 years

Required Question