Assistant or Associate Director of Newborn Screening

Employer: University of Wisconsin-Madison

Location: Madison, Wisconsin, United States

Salary: Competitive Salary

Date posted: Sep 11, 2025

Position Type: Faculty Positions, Health Sciences, Medicine, Other Health & Medicine

Employment Type: Full Time

Job Details

Salary: Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.

Job Category: Academic Staff

Employment Type: Regular

Job Profile: Assistant Professor (CHS)

Job Duties: The WSLH Newborn Screening (NBS) Laboratory screens infants born in Wisconsin for 50 metabolic and genetic disorders. This role of Assistant Director functions within the (NBS) Laboratory, Disease Prevention Division (DPD) at the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene (WSLH) in support of the NBS Laboratory Director’s delegated duties and responsibilities.

This position serves as a resource for laboratory administration and operations, quality assurance, and technical responsibilities to the NBS Laboratory Director and NBS Management team, as well as, actively participates as a member of the NBS Management team. As Assistant Director, this position will operate under the technical direction of the NBS Laboratory Director to carry out all laboratory operational and technical duties, method development, and research activities related to the WSLH service and public health mission.

As Assistant Director, this position will provide consultation to customers on test results, ensuring all duties are carried out in accordance with federal and state laws, and following WSLH and UW-Madison policies and procedures. This position will direct the review of clinical quality assurance activities in compliance with regulatory requirements and meeting the CLIA/CAP Quality System requirements set forth by the CLIA/CAP Director.

Responsibilities of this position include clinical and technical oversight of mass spectrometry, enzymatic assays, immunoreaction assays, as well as, the evaluation of test results and preparation and review of test reports, review and approval of clinical operational and technical policies and procedures, and client consultation. Technical assignment related to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), isoelectric focusing (IEF) electrophoresis and molecular assays may also be included, dependent upon candidate experience and the need of the laboratory.

As Assistant Director, this position will operate under the technical direction of the NBS Laboratory Director to carry out method development and research activities related to the WSLH service and public health mission. Assigned teaching and training duties serve undergraduate, graduate, and professional level colleagues.

The laboratory participates in international, national, and local transnational research collaborations. This position includes a joint appointment with the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Genetics & Metabolism within the School of Medicine and Public Health.

70% Clinical Technical Functions

• Oversee and carry out technical and compliance activities in the Newborn Screening laboratory.
• Review and approve procedures and QA/QI plans.
• Serve as a CLIA/CAP Technical Supervisor for the laboratory for: mass spectrometry, enzymatic assays, and immunoreaction assays; HPLC, IEF electrophoresis and molecular assays (to be determined); the evaluation of newborn screening testing results, review and approval of clinical, operational, and technical policies and procedures; ensure proper communication of all analytical results overseeing information technology and laboratory information managements systems (LIMS).
• Provide consultation to customers on test offerings and test results.
• Assure and recruit outreach to customers; including hospitals, midwives, pediatricians, and other physicians.
• Assist in the development, implementation, and maintenance of laboratory procedures in accordance with laboratory regulatory compliance requirements.
• Have sufficient knowledge and understanding in CLIA/CAP regulations and guidance, and other regulatory requirements, to ensure compliance with regulatory agencies.
• Provide training to the WSLH Newborn Screening Staff.
• Participate with the NBS Laboratory Director in operations and business planning for the NBS laboratory.
• Stay current with all UW and WSLH policies and procedures that affect the work and operation of the Disease Prevention Department.
• Represent the organization by giving presentations at professional conferences.
• Participate in continuing professional development programs with national organizations, professional, public and university service.
• Maintain current knowledge in the field of genetics, with specialized expertise in newborn screening, while ensuring continued ABMGG certification.

30% Teaching, Research and Academic Activities

• May perform genetics related research activities as they relate to the service and public health mission of UW Madison and WSLH.
• Under the direction of the NBS Laboratory Director, collaborate with UW-Madison faculty and staff across campus and with the Center for Human Genomics and Precision Medicine, with UW faculty and researchers, and with WSLH staff on future collective NBS projects related to operations and clinical activities.
• Contribute to the teaching mission by presenting lectures to undergraduate and graduate courses UW Madison course(s) and providing outreach lectures to the state partners in public health, clinical and laboratory committees.
• Mentor undergraduate, honors students, Genetics Counseling graduate students, residents, PhD students and postdoctoral fellows will contribute to the UW Madison, School of Medicine and Public Health’s mission and strategic goals.
• May publish in peer reviewed journals.
• Perform activities that will foster academic promotion, and participate in Mentor Committee activities within the Department of Pediatrics.

Key Job Responsibilities:

Department: Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene - Disease Prevention Division – Newborn Screening; Academic Home – Department of Pediatrics, Division of Genetics and Metabolism

Compensation: Negotiable based on experience and qualifications. Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and paid time off; competitive insurances and saving accounts; retirement benefits.

Required Qualifications: License/certification: Certification or completion of an American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ABMGG) or Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) fellowship in Clinical Biochemical Genetics (achievement of board certification is required within two exam cycles). Applicants qualifying as board eligible must achieve board certification within two exam cycles as a condition of on-going employment. Board certification is a condition of on-going employment. A minimum of two years of postdoctoral laboratory experience in clinical chemistry or clinical biochemical/genetics is required. Newborn screening experience is desirable. Applicant must meet CLIA/CAP educational, training and experience qualifications in the related CMS specialty(ies) to qualify as a Technical Supervisor is required. Must be able to visually distinguish colors. A successful color vision screening test is required prior to an offer of employment. Strong written and verbal communication skills are essential as the position requires active communication with clinicians and technical staff. Candidates for Associate Professor (CHS) or full Professor (CHS) rank must meet criteria for appointment at rank per UW School of Medicine and Public Health guidelines for appointment and promotion on the CHS track.

Education: Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Genetics or related field from an accredited institution, or M.D. is required. An official (or copy of an official) transcript showing conferred degree will be required prior to an offer of employment. For degrees earned outside of the United States, proof of qualification equivalency by a nationally recognized organization such as the national Association Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. or the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. is required. The candidate is responsible for all expenses related to acquiring and providing proof of qualifications.

How to Apply: To begin the application process please click on the "Apply" button. You will be asked to upload a current resume/CV and cover letter briefly describing your qualifications relevant to the position. WSLH does not sponsor work visas at the time of hire or anytime during employment for this position. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete the required Employment Eligibility Form I-9. The selected applicant will be required to pass a criminal background check prior to an offer of employment.

Contact Information: Please contact Kelsey Bailey, kelsey.bailey@slh.wisc.edu with questions.

Institutional Statement on Diversity: Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals. The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world. For more information on diversity and inclusion on campus, please visit: Diversity and Inclusion. The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer.