Business Operations Analyst, Public Health Laboratories (MA 3) DOH9031

Business Operations Analyst, Public Health Laboratories

This position offers a hybrid work arrangement, combining remote work with scheduled onsite work at our DOH facility in Shoreline, WA, approximately 1-2 days week. This Non-Permanent Appointment has a duration of 6 months.

The Opportunity As the Business Operations Analyst, you will manage and improve the business processes that keep Washington State Public Health Laboratories (PHL) operating efficiently. This position oversees laboratory invoicing and payment coordination, facilitates procurement and contract activities, maintains equipment and asset tracking processes, and provides operational information to support laboratory management. You will work closely with laboratory staff, management, vendors, and DOH procurement and accounting teams to resolve issues, maintain accurate records, and ensure purchasing and payment activities move forward. You will also identify opportunities to improve administrative workflows, lead continuous improvement projects, and develop practical tools and procedures that strengthen how PHL manages its business operations.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Manage the PHL invoicing process, including reviewing and organizing purchase orders, invoices, and proof-of-delivery documentation, coordinating payment processing, and resolving vendor payment issues.
• Coordinate with vendors, DOH Procurement, Accounting, and laboratory staff to obtain required documentation, address payment barriers, and maintain accurate vendor payment information.
• Facilitate contract and grant activities by guiding staff through contract initiation and renewal processes, maintaining tracking records, and providing purchasing and asset information to support grant development.
• Coordinate procurement activities between laboratory staff and DOH Procurement to meet laboratory supply and service needs.
• Develop and maintain procurement resources, instructional materials, and training to help laboratory staff navigate purchasing processes.
• Lead continuous process improvement efforts by identifying administrative inefficiencies, developing solutions, and coordinating implementation through the PHL Continuous Process Improvement forum.
• Oversee laboratory equipment and asset tracking activities, including monitoring purchases, costs, service contracts, equipment performance, and inventory records.
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures, tracking tools, and administrative processes that improve the accuracy, consistency, and efficiency of PHL business operations.

Why You’ll Love This Role This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact behind the scenes of Washington’s public health laboratory system. You will work across different areas of laboratory operations, solve practical business challenges, and turn process improvement ideas into changes that make every day work more efficient. Your contributions help ensure laboratory staff have the equipment, supplies, contracts, and resources they need to deliver critical public health services to communities across Washington.

The Ideal Candidate You are an organized, solutions-oriented professional who enjoys bringing structure to complex administrative processes and finding better ways to get work done. You are comfortable analyzing information, identifying discrepancies, resolving issues, and coordinating with people across different teams and organizations. You communicate clearly, manage competing priorities, and take initiative in improving processes while remaining responsive to the needs of the people who depend on your work. You value collaboration, approach different perspectives with respect, and understand how reliable business operations contribute to the larger public health mission.

Required Qualifications There are multiple pathways to qualify for this position. You must meet one of the options provided and any additional criteria listed. Experience may have been gained through paid or unpaid activities. Please ensure any relevant experience defined below is outlined in your cover letter, resume, and/or applicant profile. Option 1: Four years of experience in business operations, administrative analysis, procurement coordination, accounts payable, contract administration, asset management, or improving administrative processes such as identifying problems or inefficiencies in existing administrative workflows and developing practical solutions to make them more efficient, accurate, and consistent.

Option 2: A bachelor's degree in business administration, public administration, accounting, finance, operations management, or a related field AND Two years of experience in business operations, administrative analysis, procurement coordination, accounts payable, contract administration, asset management, or improving administrative processes such as identifying problems or inefficiencies in existing administrative workflows and developing practical solutions to make them more efficient, accurate, and consistent.

And the following knowledge, skills, and experience:

• Experience managing administrative workflows that require accurate documentation, recordkeeping, deadline tracking, and issue resolution.
• Experience coordinating purchasing, invoicing, procurement, or contract-related activities with internal teams and external vendors.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel for organizing, tracking, and analyzing operational or financial information.
• Experience maintaining electronic records, databases, or tracking systems and developing or documenting standard operating procedures.
• Skilled in analyzing administrative processes, identifying problems, and implementing improvements to increase efficiency and accuracy.
• Ability to review and analyze purchasing, invoice, or operational records to identify discrepancies, resolve issues, and support business decisions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in project management including planning, coordinating, and tracking projects, including timelines, tasks, resources, and deliverables.
• Training or certification in Lean, Lean Six Sigma, or a related continuous improvement methodology.
• Experience preparing invoice documentation and coordinating payment processing, including purchase orders, invoices, and proof-of-delivery records.
• Experience troubleshooting vendor payment issues and coordinating with procurement or accounting teams.
• Experience maintaining contract, grant, procurement, or equipment tracking systems.
• Experience developing procurement guidance, instructional materials, or training for staff.
• Experience applying Lean or continuous improvement methods to administrative processes.
• Experience with Microsoft SharePoint, Microsoft Dynamics 365, or comparable business management systems.
• Experience supporting laboratory operations, scientific organizations, healthcare organizations, or other environments with specialized equipment and supply needs.

Employee Benefits We want you to have the support and benefits you need to do your best work while building a career that fits your life. As a DOH employee, you’ll have access to a comprehensive benefits package that supports your health, financial well-being, and work-life balance, with resources to support you now and help you plan for the future. Learn more about DOH benefits and what it’s like to work with us by visiting Work@Health.

The Public Health Laboratories Where Science Protects Communities At the Public Health Laboratories, every test matters. From hunting emerging pathogens to ensuring every newborn in the state gets life-saving screenings, your work will drive disease detection, outbreak response, and protect Washington’s most vulnerable. We’re the state’s reference lab, tracking rare threats like rabies, hantavirus, and West Nile virus, analyzing outbreaks, and safeguarding food and water safety. Here, science meets service in a collaborative, equity-driven team committed to real-world impact and public health at scale.

About the Washington State Department of Health We're nearly 2,700 professionals across Washington working together to protect and improve community health. Guided by our values of Equity, Innovation, and Engagement, we address health disparities, respond to emerging challenges, and strengthen systems that support resilience. At DOH, we help reduce barriers, collaborate with diverse communities, and champion equitable health outcomes. We're passionate people who are driven to make a difference in public health. Our work depends on people who take action to learn and grow and who take action to meet the needs of others every day, in service of a healthier Washington. Explore more about the Department of Health, our programs, and our impact by visiting our website.

What to Expect (Working Conditions): The following describes the working conditions of this position, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Work Setting: This position requires regular onsite work at the Public Health Laboratories in Shoreline, WA, with a hybrid remote/telework schedule determined upon hire. When working remotely, the employee may work from home, a DOH office, or another alternate location where exposure to hazards is limited to those commonly found in an office environment.

The position is primarily sedentary and involves extended periods of computer use, including repetitive data entry, navigating databases, creating and modifying electronic documents, and using email and the internet. The laboratory environment can be noisy, fast-paced, and stressful, and the position may require working under stressful emergency response conditions. The employee may also be required to move objects and materials weighing up to 25 pounds.

Schedule: Standard DOH business hours are Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This position has a work schedule of 40 hours per week; however, the position may be expected to work longer hours to complete projects or assignments, and/or meeting business demands and deadlines, and/or during the annual legislative session. An alternative or flexible work schedule may be considered at the employee's request, subject to supervisory approval.

Travel Requirements: Travel is not required to perform the duties of this position; however occasional or infrequent travel may be expected to attend meetings, trainings, or conferences. When driving for state business, the employee must be able to legally operate a state or privately-owned vehicle; OR provide alternate transportation while on state business.

Tools & Equipment: This position uses standard office furniture and equipment, such as a desk, office chair, cell phone, computer, monitor(s), keyboard, and mouse; and when in the office, the position may also require the use of a printer, phone, fax machine, and/or copy machine. This position requires reliable access to an internet connection sufficient to perform all job duties remotely.

Customer Interactions: The position regularly requires engaging with customers in a variety of settings including agency staff, managers, and supervisors, legislators, governor's office staff, local health jurisdictions, federal government, State Board of Health, external partners, and statewide professional associations.

Other: This position is covered by a bargaining unit for which the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) is the exclusive representative. The DOH campus is a smoke-free, drug-free, alcohol-free, scent-neutral environment. This position may be required to conduct and/or participate in public health emergency preparedness and response activities.

We Encourage You to Apply If you meet the required qualifications for this position; we want to hear from you. Preferred qualifications describe additional experience, knowledge or skills that may be helpful in the role, but they are not required to be considered for the position. We welcome applicants with different backgrounds, experiences, identities, and perspectives.

Application Directions To be considered, you must complete the online application in full and submit all required materials. Incomplete applications or applications missing required materials will not be considered. When completing your application, please include the following required materials:

• Cover letter: describing your qualifications for this specific position
• Resume: that details your applicable experience and education.
• Three (3) professional references: References must be entered directly into the designated references section of your application or attached as a separate document. At least one reference must be a current or recent supervisor.

DO NOT INCLUDE private details like your SSN or birth year, personal photos, transcripts, certifications, diplomas, projects, portfolios, or letters of recommendation.

Veterans Preference: We value the experience and skill veterans bring to the workforce and encourage veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses to apply. Eligible veterans may qualify for veterans’ preference in accordance with Washington State Law. If you are claiming veterans’ preference, you must attach your applicable DD-214, NGB Form 22, or other equivalent discharge or separation documentation. Please redact your social security number, date of birth, and any other sensitive information before uploading and attaching the document.

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 do not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, age, the presence or perception of a disability, honorably discharged veteran or military status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by law.

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 [email protected] and reference DOH9031.

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

SUBSCRIBE to DOH Job Alerts 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.

To be considered, please follow the application instructions and complete all required application materials. Information provided in your supplemental question responses, including education and experience, must be supported by your applicant profile.