Quality Assurance Specialist (HSC 3) – NON-Permanent - DOH8636

Washington State Department of Health; Shoreline (WA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

The Washington State Department of Health is looking for a Quality Assurance Specialist to enhance lab operations through document control, training, and regulatory compliance at the Public Health Laboratories in Shoreline. This 12-month non-permanent role requires technical expertise and an ability to support lab staff in meeting high-quality standards across various health initiatives. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented and collaborative, ready to contribute to impactful public health efforts.

Qualifications

• Education and training equivalent to an associate degree in laboratory science.
• Experience in document control and quality assurance.
• Knowledge of regulatory standards (CAP, ISO, FDA) is essential.

Responsibilities

• Support document control and update lab procedures.
• Set up training and competency assessments.
• Conduct internal audits to ensure compliance.

Skills

Document Control

Quality Metrics Tracking

Internal Audits

Regulatory Compliance

Education

Associate degree in laboratory science or medical laboratory technology

Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology, Biochemistry or related field

Tools

MediaLab

PowerBI

Artel PCS

Artel MVS

Job description

Quality Assurance Specialist (HSC 3) – NON-Permanent - DOH8636

Quality Assurance Specialist (HSC 3) – NON-Permanent - DOH8636

1 week ago Be among the first 25 applicants

Quality Assurance Specialist

This is an onsite non-permanent position that has a duration of 12 months.

Description

Quality Assurance Specialist

This is an onsite non-permanent position that has a duration of 12 months.

The salary listed does not reflect the upcoming 3% general wage increase effective July 1, 2025.

What You Will Do

In this role, you’ll be a key part of the team at the Public Health Laboratories (PHL), working mostly onsite and helping to drive the lab’s quality assurance efforts forward. You'll support lab staff with document control, training and competency assessments, internal audits, and the tracking of quality metrics. You’ll also help ensure compliance with major regulatory standards like CAP, FDA, ISO, and more, making sure our labs meet the highest quality expectations every day.

You’ll gain hands-on experience with tools like MediaLab, PowerBI, and Artel systems while supporting a team that monitors everything from infectious diseases to environmental health concerns to Newborn Screening. If you're detail-oriented, tech-savvy, and enjoy helping others stay organized and compliant, this role offers both challenge and purpose in a mission-driven environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Support PHL staff with document control—updating procedures, forms, and manuals using MediaLab, and helping staff get comfortable with the system.
• Set up and track training, competency assessments, and quality metrics using tools like MediaLab and PowerBI.
• Help labs meet their quality goals by identifying gaps, offering support, and building systems that are easy to maintain.
• Conduct internal audits and support the lab’s readiness for external inspections (CAP, ISO, FDA, etc.).
• Assist with managing nonconforming events, root cause analysis, and corrective actions—keeping things on track and compliant.
• Provide hands-on training and support for pipette and liquid handler assessments using Artel PCS and MVS systems.
• Work closely with teams across the lab to improve quality systems and ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
  
  

Location and Flexibility

Join our onsite team to collaborate directly with colleagues and be part of our dynamic workplace environment. This position requires working onsite and in-person at our Public Health Laboratory located in Shoreline, WA.

What We’re Looking For

The ideal candidate is someone who brings both technical know-how and a collaborative mindset to their work. You’re skilled at solving problems, communicating clearly with different audiences, and contributing to shared goals. You value diverse perspectives and approach your work with cultural awareness, equity, and a strong sense of purpose. You adapt well to change, build strong relationships, and help foster an inclusive environment where everyone can do their best work. You understand how your role supports the broader mission and are motivated to make a meaningful impact.

We value all relevant experience, whether paid or unpaid and your diverse experiences can make a difference in this role. To be considered for this position, you must meet one of the required qualification options listed and any additional qualifications included in the required qualifications section. Experience may have been gained concurrently

Required Qualifications

Option1: A combination of education and training equivalent to an associate degree in laboratory science or medical laboratory technology including:

• A minimum of 60 semester hours (or equivalent) including either 24 semester hours in medical laboratory technology, OR 24 semester hours in science coursesincluding:
• 6 semester hours of chemistry
• 6 semester hours of biology
• 12 additional semester hours in any combination of chemistry, biology, or medical laboratory technology
• Laboratory training, which must include one of the following:
• Completion of a clinical laboratory training program approved or accredited by ABHES, CAHEA, or another HHS-approved organization (this may be part of the 60 semester hours).
  

OR

• At least 3 months of documented lab training in each specialty where the individual performs high-complexity testing
  
  

Option 2: A bachelor’s or advanced degree in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Cell Biology, Biology, or another basic medical science with at least 20 semester hours (or equivalent) in microbiology or a related subject

Option 3: A bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, or a degree with at least 30 semester hours (or 45 quarter hours) of college-level chemistry plus two years of experience performing chemical analysis in an analytical lab

Preferred Qualifications

The qualifications below are what would make you a strong fit for this role. While these aren’t required, having them can help you stand out as a candidate.

• ExperienceinanISOaccreditedlaboratory.
• ExperiencewithlaboratoryqualityassurancepracticesincludingISOstandardsandaccreditationprograms.
• Experiencewithdeveloping and writinglaboratorydocumentsandprocedures.
• KnowledgeofWestgard,CLSIprinciplesandpracticesisdesirable.
• ExperiencewithregulatoryagenciessuchasCAP,CLIA,ISO,FDA,EPA,DOE,etc.
• Preferthoroughknowledgeofstandardofficesoftware,suchasWord,Excel,PowerPoint, etc.
  
  

Who We Are

The PHL: Empowering Health and Protecting Communities!

The Washington State Public Health Laboratories (PHL) provides essential support to local health jurisdictions and healthcare providers in disease monitoring and outbreak response. Serving as the reference laboratory, PHL identifies rare diseases such as Rabies, Hantavirus, and West Nile virus, along with analyzing clinical samples for statewide outbreaks and shellfish contamination. With a focus on public health, PHL plays a critical role in safeguarding communities and addressing potential health threats.

We are the Washington State Department of Health (DOH)

At the Department of Health (DOH), we safeguard public health in an ever-evolving world. Through collaboration with local health jurisdictions and state, federal, and private partners, our programs and services impact every Washingtonian and visitor daily. We're driven by Equity, Innovation, and Engagement. To learn more about the DOH please visit our website and connect with us on LinkedIn , Facebook , and our blog .

Benefits And Lifestyle

We prioritize your work-life balance and offer one of the most competitive benefits packages nationwide, tailored to support your lifestyle. Discover more about "Why DOH" by visiting Work@Health .

Conditions Of Employment

You must be prepared, with or without accommodations, to do the following:

• Work Setting: This position is mostly onsite at the Public Health Laboratories, with occasional opportunities to work from home. You’ll spend a good amount of time sitting or standing while working on a computer, and you’ll need to be able to lift items up to 40 lbs. Vaccinations may be required based on the role and responsibilities.
• Schedule: This is a full-time role, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You may occasionally be asked to work more than 40 hours during busy times. Flexible work schedules may be available, subject to supervisor approval.
• Travel Requirements: Some travel may be needed for meetings or conferences, including out-of-state travel.
• Tools and Equipment: You’ll use a computer workstation, standard lab protective gear (including respirators), Artel PCS and MVS systems, MediaLab software, and temperature monitoring tools.
• Customer Interactions: Your main customers are lab staff. You’ll work closely with them to support quality efforts and may occasionally interact with accreditation inspectors.

• Other:
• As part of a public health agency, you may be called on to support emergency responses. This includes participating in real events and training as needed.
• Representation: This position is covered by a bargaining unit for which the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) is the exclusive representative.
• This non-permanent position is not eligible for a Department of Retirement Services benefit for the duration of the placement. There may be an exception for existing state employees, please contact your Human Resources Business Partner for more information
  

Application Directions

We're committed to a fair and equitable recruitment process. We only consider information submitted through our formal application. We do not accept emailed resumes, cover letters, or supplemental information and will not share any emailed information with the hiring manager.

To apply, click "Apply" and complete the application. Attach your resume, cover letter, and at least three professional references (including a supervisor, a peer, and someone you’ve supervised or led, if applicable). Do not include private information such as social security numbers or year of birth.

Make sure to document your years of experience in this field or area of work along with any tools, applications, software, etc. listed in the qualifications section of this job posting.

Do Attach The Following

• Resume
• Cover letter
• References
• DD-214 (if applicable)
  
  

DO NOT Include Or Attach The Following

• REMOVE personal photos – DO NOT submit any documents containing personal photos.
• Transcripts
• Certifications or Diplomas
• Projects or Portfolios
• Letters of Recommendation
  
  

Veterans Preference: Applicants wishing to claim Veterans Preference must attach a copy of their DD-214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22, or signed verification of service letter from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to their application. Please remove or cover any personally identifiable data such as social security numbers and birth year.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: We regard diversity as the foundation of our strength, recognizing that differing insights and abilities enable us to reflect the unique needs of the communities we serve.

DOH is an equal-opportunity employer. We prohibit discrimination based on race/ethnicity/color, creed, sex, pregnancy, age, religion, national origin, marital status, the presence or perception of a disability, veteran’s status, military status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender expression, or gender identity.

Questions and Accommodations: If you have questions, need assistance with the application process, require an accommodation, or would like to request this posting in an alternative format, please contact Shawnelle Goalder at [e-mail] and reference the recruitment number (DOH8636).

Technical Support: Reach out to NEOGOV directly at 1-855-524-5627 for technical support and login issues.



SUBSCRIBE to DOH Job Alerts

Supplemental Information

This recruitment may be used to fill positions of the same job classification across the agency. Once all the position(s) from the recruitment are filled, the candidate pool may be used to fill additional open positions for the next sixty (60) days.

Only applicants who follow the directions and complete the Application Process in-full will have their responses reviewed for consideration.

Experience and education selected, listed, or detailed in the Supplemental Questions must be verifiable on the submitted applicant profile.

This position is located in King County. A 5% salary increase is included in the advertised pay.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Entry level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Quality Assurance

• Industries

  Government Administration

Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Washington State Department of Health by 2x

Sign in to set job alerts for “Quality Assurance Specialist” roles.

Quality Assurance (QA) Analyst(Time and Leave)

QA Engineer (Third-party Contractor), TikTok Global E-commerce

Quality Assurance Analyst - Time and Leave with Workforce Application Testing experience

Quality Assurance Engineer III - EXP.O Customs, IS Operational Experience

Seattle, WA $100,000.00-$132,000.00 20 hours ago

Quality Engineering Specialist, QA Operations

Hub Delivery Quality Assurance, Hub Delivery

Hub Delivery Quality Assurance, Hub Delivery

Bellevue, WA $37,000.00-$66,800.00 2 weeks ago

Redmond, WA $85,945.00-$135,000.00 1 month ago

Quality Control Specialist (Acquisitions)

Senior Associate, Support Operations (Quality Assurance)

Quality Assurance Analyst, CoRo - Consumer Robotics

Quality Assurance Engineer-I, Prime Video Ads QA

Quality Assurance Engineer-I, Prime Video Ads QA

Bellevue, WA $130,000.00-$160,000.00 6 days ago

Quality Assurance Engineer - III, Alexa Customer Journeys

Bellevue, WA $120,000.00-$207,400.00 1 day ago

Bellevue, WA $127,500.00-$195,500.00 1 week ago

Keyport, WA $150,000.00-$180,000.00 1 week ago

MSP-CX QA, Mechantronics and Sustainable Packaging

Quality Assurance Engineer II, Quality Assurance

MSP-CX QA, Mechantronics and Sustainable Packaging

MSP-CX QA, Mechantronics and Sustainable Packaging

We’re unlocking community knowledge in a new way. Experts add insights directly into each article, started with the help of AI.