Program Manager

Salary

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 $110,600 - $129,950.

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 $93,700 - $110,100.

Position Summary

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

The Program Manager, Infectious Diseases is responsible for the management of a portion of the work associated with respiratory viruses and vaccine preventable disease in coordination with other Infectious Disease program staff and Infectious Disease activities undertaken by the department. The Program Manager, Infectious Diseases reports to the Senior Director of Infectious Diseases under the overall direction of the Chief of Public Health Programs. The staff member oversees the ongoing assessment and improvement of respiratory and vaccine preventable disease testing capacity of the public health laboratory system, works to provide a science base for policy decisions in the field of infectious disease laboratory practice, provides support to the Association’s Infectious Disease Committee and Influenza and Respiratory Pathogens Subcommittee, and represents the Association in various forums. Additionally, the Program Manager monitors, assesses and reports on policy and regulatory changes. The Program Manager, Infectious Diseases supervises a Senior Specialist, Infectious Diseases. The Program Manager coordinates with staff members across the organization involved in respiratory disease work. The staff person works in close collaboration with CDC’s NCIRD including the Division of Viral Diseases and the Coronavirus and Other Respiratory Viruses Division, other partners at CDC, and at partner organizations. 

At this time, this position is funded through June 2027 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.

Duties & Responsibilities

The Program Manager, Infectious Diseases:

• Independently manages key aspects of APHL’s respiratory disease work, including: 
  • Maintaining relationships with major funders and partner organizations. Provides a strong voice for laboratory issues by representing the interests of member laboratories to federal and organizational partners.
  • Utilizing advanced knowledge and experience in infectious diseases and laboratory science to represent the organization in external initiatives, advisory committees, and meetings, facilitating member participation in the same. 
  • Successfully selecting and managing contractors and consultants. Duties include project development, contract negotiations, payment submission, accounting and verification of deliverables. 
  • Facilitating transfer of technology to member laboratories as it relates to respiratory and vaccine preventable disease testing. 
  • Managing APHL activities to assess the capacity and capability of public health laboratories to perform diagnostic and surveillance testing for respiratory and vaccine preventable diseases. Analyzes and creates reports from survey data. 
  • Developing policy statements, model practices, or guidance on laboratory practice, as needs dictate.
  • Working with relevant partners to actively transfer information pertaining to testing for the detection or surveillance of respiratory viruses and vaccine preventable diseases between public health laboratories, federal agencies, and partner organizations.
  • Leading the development of workshops and other training opportunities related to respiratory disease testing activities as needed by member laboratories.
  • Supporting global laboratory assessments and procurement as needed.
• Seeks and pursues opportunities to expand and improve APHL’s respiratory virus work efforts, including but not limited to the activities outlined in the Cooperative Agreement with CDC.
• In collaboration with the Senior Director of Infectious Diseases, assists in preparing the funding proposals and reports.
• In collaboration with the Senior Director of Infectious Diseases, prepares and manages budgets.
• Works across the Association to provide support and input to promote the value of public health laboratory testing in support of respiratory disease diagnostics and surveillance.
  • Provides input to the APHL Infectious Disease Committee and the Influenza and Respiratory Pathogen Subcommittee, in coordination with the chair and the assigned staff liaison. Assists public health laboratories by responding to inquiries about respiratory disease testing issues and other infectious disease concerns.
  • Represents the organization in external initiatives, advisory committees, and meetings. Attends and participates in scientific symposia on behalf of the association and staffs the APHL exhibit booth as needed.
  • Prepares documents, reports and correspondence for the Association. Prepares presentations about APHL respiratory disease activities for self and others to deliver at conferences and seminars.
  • Participates in other Infectious Disease team activities as assigned.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Moderate travel required within the United States and internationally (approximately 6-8 trips per year).

Employment Standards- Education and Experience

• Minimum of 8 years of relevant experience or substantive experience at the Senior Specialist level.  Graduate level degrees may be considered in lieu of experience.
• Health department, federal agency, member-based organization, or laboratory field experience preferred.
• Clinical laboratory science or microbiology background helpful.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge

• Public health practice, regulations, and policy.
• Current respiratory disease laboratory methods and molecular diagnostic methods; ability to keep current with new developments in the field.
• Respiratory and vaccine preventable disease activities undertaken at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• Budget development and oversight processes.
• Training development and delivery methodologies.
• Computer literacy, including database development and analysis, and PowerPoint presentation preparation.

Skills

• Strong writing skills with experience in developing laboratory guidance documents and scientific manuscripts.
• Excellent organizational, written and verbal communication skills.
• Effective project management skills; well-organized and detail oriented.
• Excellent customer relations skills.

Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to handle changing priorities and multiple tasks under tight deadlines.
• Ability to establish working relationships with diverse groups of colleagues.
• Ability to work independently and in a team setting, organize work projects and complete tasks within assigned timeframes with little supervision.

APHL Weeks:

APHL Week is a conference/convention that is held at the APHL Home Office (Bethesda, MD). While this has been an in-person event in the past, most recently it was conducted virtually. Employee attendance is mandatory.

Position Description Status:

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:

Work environment characteristics include a professional remote, hybrid, and/or office-based setting with frequent communication through virtual and in-person interactions. The position requires prolonged computer use, the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment, independent and collaborative work, and consistent professionalism while meeting deadlines and organizational expectations. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands:

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.

Equal Opportunity Employment Statement:

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.