Laboratory Supervisor - Jefferson City Diagnostic Lab

Job Summary - Why you'll love this positionJob Location: Jefferson City, Missouri (applicant must reside in or be willing to relocate to this area). The diagnostic laboratory is located within the State Public Health Lab building. The salary indicated represents the current regular pay rate for this position. If the individual selected is eligible for a pay differential (e.g., Years of Service), it will be added to total compensation on their paycheck. A pay differential does not raise base pay. Why you'll love this position: The Animal Health Diagnostic labs are operated under the direction of the State Veterinarian. The division of Animal Health plays a crucial role for the Missouri Department of Agriculture and assist in detecting, controlling and eradicating livestock diseases that threaten the profitability, movement, and marketability of Missouri's livestock and livestock products. The Jefferson City laboratory contains testing sections for serology, microbiology, and molecular diagnostics. In addition, they manage the Animal Health Warehouse and provide Veterinarians throughout the State with regulatory supplies that are needed to maintain compliance with state and federal regulation. We are looking for a full time Laboratory Supervisor to fill a critical role at our Jefferson City laboratory. If you have a passion for agriculture and diagnostics and want to make a difference every day in the lives of Missourians, this may be the job for you! Responsibilities - What you'll do Serve as the lead Scientist in the Jefferson City Laboratory and be the primary point of contact for external providers, and clients. Work closely with the Diagnostic Laboratory Director, based in the Springfield Laboratory, to institute improvements and enhancements to the Jefferson City laboratory workflows, and assist in budget decisions. Provide Supervisory oversight to include the following: recruiting, selecting, orienting and training staff; planning, assigning, and appraising staff performance and results; coaching, rewarding and administering disciplinary actions as appropriate; preparing and signing performance evaluations and reviews. Ensure compliance with established quality standards; develop operational, quality, and troubleshooting procedures; ensure staff compliance with all established procedures; certify instrument performance and arrange for equipment replacement, service and repair. Responsible for maintaining laboratory supply inventory by determining on hand inventory amounts, anticipating needed supplies, submitting request for those orders, and verifying receipt of those supplies. Perform a variety of tests, to include PCR, ELISA, and AGID, in accordance with established standard operating procedures (SOPs) looking for the presence of disease agents in clinical or other specimens, such as: feces, urine, blood, water, and dairy products. Assure the accuracy of tests through quality control procedures and notify appropriate scientific and supervisory staff when a test system is not functioning; and in consultation with appropriate authorities, implement and document appropriate remedial and corrective actions. Assist in the development of, maintenance of and adherence to SOPs throughout the lab. Be familiar with the laboratories Quality Management System, ensure implementation and understanding for all supervised staff. Serve as Safety Officer and always maintain lab safety by following safe handling and quality control processes and wearing proper protective gear. This includes maintaining a sterile lab environment to avoid any cross-contamination of specimens and samples. Perform data entry for test submissions and test results. Participate in meetings, conferences, and seminars. Other duties as assigned. Duties may require work to be performed after regular duty hours or on weekends. Qualifications - All you need for successMinimum Qualifications: Six (6) or more years of relevant experience working in a laboratory environment. Post-secondary degree with emphasis in chemical, physical, biological, clinical laboratory science, medical technology program, or closely related fields will count toward experience Two (2) or more years of progressive management or supervisory experience in a laboratory setting Valid MO Driver's License Other Qualifications: Ability to interpret data from a variety of instrumentation Ability to troubleshoot a variety of instruments Ability to communicate clearly and effectively both verbally and in writing Ability to effectively use Microsoft Excel, Word, and other software applications in the performance of duties Ability to be both a productive individual and team member Ability to represent the department in a professional manner Ability to prioritize work based on the type of incoming samples Ability to work independently, identify tasks, standardize procedures, and provide feedback to the program Ability to work well with fellow scientists and managers Preferred Qualifications: Excellent attention to detail, high-level organizational skills, and the ability to multitask 1 year of experience working with molecular diagnostics Strong communication skills that will foster a team environment Excellent computer skills, data entry skills, generating reports, and knowledge of LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System) and Ideagen Quality systems (Qualtrax) Knowledge of animal agriculture industry or agriculture related field Lack of post-secondary education will not be used as the sole basis denying consideration to any applicant.Job Details - More reasons to love this position 3 weeks paid vacation; 3 weeks paid sick leave; 13 paid holidays Health (medical, dental, vision) and free life insurance Retirement Up to $75/month match on savings plan 6 weeks paid leave for birth or adoption The State of Missouri offers an excellent benefits package that includes a defined pension plan, generous amounts of leave and holiday time, and eligibility for health insurance coverage. Your total compensation is more than the dollars you receive in your paycheck. To help demonstrate the value of working for the State of Missouri, we have created an interactive Total Compensation Calculator. This tool provides a comprehensive view of benefits and more that are offered to prospective employees. The Total Compensation Calculator and other applicant resources can be found here. Contact Details - If you have questions or require any accommodations to participate in the application or interview process please contact: #LI-STEELE

Created: 2026-03-04