Deputy Director of Operations & Finance

State of Colorado•Denver, CO

4d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is for a Deputy Director of Operations & Finance within the Colorado Public Health Laboratory (CPHL), a division of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). The CPHL is a critical institution responsible for protecting the health of millions by identifying infectious diseases, responding to outbreaks, detecting environmental contaminants, testing newborns for genetic conditions, and supporting emergency response operations. The Operations and Finance Unit provides essential support functions including informatics, specimen accessioning, logistics, supply chain, fiscal management, and personnel administration. This role is senior executive level and will oversee a complex portfolio including logistics, supply chain, specimen accessioning, laboratory informatics, fiscal operations, customer service, workforce administration, and emergency preparedness logistics. The Deputy Director will lead senior managers, shape organizational strategy, and serve as a trusted advisor to the Laboratory Director. This role is vital to ensuring the laboratory has the necessary people, systems, resources, and technology to fulfill its mission.

Requirements

Must be a resident of the State of Colorado.
Ten (10) years of progressively responsible leadership experience leading complex operational, administrative, fiscal, scientific, technical, or business functions within a large, highly regulated organization (such as public health, healthcare, government, laboratory, higher education, or a similarly complex environment).
Experience must include responsibility for program operations, regulatory compliance, strategic initiatives, or organizational improvement, including supervision of staff or leadership of multidisciplinary teams or major programs.
Two (2) years of the ten (10) must have included experience with public or business administration, establishing goals and objectives, and developing and managing budgets to achieve program goals and objectives.
OR A Bachelor’s Degree in public administration, business administration, public health, healthcare administration, laboratory administration, organizational leadership, management, finance, information systems, or a closely related field AND six (6) years of progressively responsible leadership experience leading complex operational, administrative, fiscal, scientific, technical, or business functions within a large, highly regulated organization (such as public health, healthcare, government, laboratory, higher education, or a similarly complex environment).
Experience must include responsibility for program operations, regulatory compliance, strategic initiatives, or organizational improvement, including supervision of staff or leadership of multidisciplinary teams or major programs.
Two (2) years of the six (6) must have included experience with public or business administration, establishing goals and objectives, and developing and managing budgets to achieve program goals and objectives.
OR A Master’s Degree in public administration, business administration, public health, healthcare administration, laboratory administration, organizational leadership, management, finance, information systems, or a closely related field AND four (4) years of progressively responsible leadership experience leading complex operational, administrative, fiscal, scientific, technical, or business functions within a large, highly regulated organization (such as public health, healthcare, government, laboratory, higher education, or a similarly complex environment).
Experience must include responsibility for program operations, regulatory compliance, strategic initiatives, or organizational improvement, including supervision of staff or leadership of multidisciplinary teams or major programs.
Two (2) years of the four (4) must have included experience with public or business administration, establishing goals and objectives, and developing and managing budgets to achieve program goals and objectives.
A pre-employment background check will be conducted.
A pre-employment financial check will be conducted.
Must be available in the event of an emergency (e.g., bio-terrorist attack, chemical attack, disease outbreak or all hazards) and be required to report to work immediately at the regular or alternate location.
Must be available in the event of the activation of the Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) and be required to report to work immediately at the regular or alternate location.

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated experience successfully leading large, complex operational organizations.
Demonstrated experience leveraging technology, data, and informatics to improve operational performance, strengthen decision-making, and modernize complex organizations.
Demonstrated experience building trust, developing leaders, and creating accountability.
Demonstrated ability as a systems thinker, a tinkerer, and problem solver.
Can navigate ambiguity, competing priorities, and high-stakes decisions.
Brings strong financial, organizational, and strategic management skills.
Thrives in collaborative environments and can influence across organizational boundaries.
Understands that great operations are invisible when they work—and mission-critical when they don’t.
Has performance management and strategic planning skills.
Is motivated by public service and improving outcomes for communities.
Has experience leading organizational change, process improvement, or modernization initiatives while maintaining day-to-day operational excellence.

Responsibilities

Provide executive leadership for the operational backbone of Colorado’s public health laboratory, ensuring secure, reliable, and compliant services that support critical testing programs and emergency response activities.
Direct and mentor senior managers responsible for laboratory operations, logistics, fiscal services, client services, accessioning, and personnel administration.
Shape workforce strategy, succession planning, and organizational development across multiple functional areas.
Serve as a member of the laboratory’s senior leadership team, translating strategic priorities into action, establishing performance expectations, solving cross-functional challenges, and continuously improving systems, processes, and service delivery.
Provide executive oversight of budgets, grants, contracts, procurements, fee structures, and vendor relationships, ensuring sound financial management and positioning the laboratory for long-term sustainability and growth.
Help lead one of Colorado’s critical emergency response assets, overseeing logistics and preparedness functions that support disease outbreak response, public health emergencies, medical countermeasure distribution, and statewide continuity of operations.
Guide major initiatives involving technology modernization, laboratory informatics, facilities planning, organizational design, fiscal oversight, operational performance, and workforce readiness.
Laboratory Leadership
Laboratory Operational Oversight (Preanalytical and Support Functions)
Executive People Management & Supervision
Financial, Procurement & Grant Contract Oversight
Process Improvement, Systems & Policy Stewardship
Oversees Laboratory Emergency Preparedness and Response Functions
Facilities Coordination & Consultation
Executive Response & Special Assignments

Benefits

Free parking
Access to RTD bus lines
Flexible working arrangements
Retirement (PERA options)
Medical and dental health plans
Defined Benefit Plan or the PERA Defined Contribution Plan
Optional 401K and 457 plans
Paid life insurance
Short- and long-term disability coverage
11 paid holidays per year
Generous personal time off
Tuition assistance
Wellness programs
Professional development opportunities
Career advancement opportunities throughout the State system
Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.