Director of Laboratory Operations

Permanent Director of Laboratory Operations

The Director of Operations has responsibility for daily laboratory operations and coordinates and manages the general business and operation of the laboratory including supervision of technical supervisors of laboratory departments. She/He is responsible for efficient and effective departmental operations, including quality control and adherence to compliance policies. Working with the Chief Scientific Officer/Senior Laboratory Director the Director of Operations directs the planning and implementation of the overall policies, procedures and services for the laboratory sections. He/she is familiar with a variety of the clinical laboratory concepts, practices and procedures and relies on extensive experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. She/He leads and directs the work of others.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Maintains final responsibility for turn-around time in assigned department(s).
• Works closely with Technical Supervisory staff and provides oversight and guidance.
• Responsible for maintaining and supporting sufficient and competent laboratory personnel.
• Monitors staff productivity and workload and works with supervisors to adjust scheduling accordingly.
• Works with Technical Supervisor staff on PT administration and compliance with policies and procedures.
• Prepares and/or presents proposals for new instrumentation in concert with supervisor staff.
• Identifies and monitors costs associated with department operations and assists CSO/Laboratory Director with development and annual department budgets.
• Works with other personnel as a laboratory representative to plan and implement projects, including preparation of written requirements associated with specific project goals, providing status reports and development solutions for problems as they arise
• Works with CSO/Laboratory Director and Technical Supervisor on method selection and verification and determining the performance characteristics of the laboratory methods.
• Ensures effective remedial and corrective action programs in the laboratory.
• Helps develop operations, quality and troubleshooting procedures in partnership with CSO/Laboratory Director and Office of Quality.
• Works with the Office of Quality and Technical Supervisors to ensure compliance with training and competency policies.
• Maintains professional knowledge by attending workshops, reviewing publications, etc.
• Participates/presents educational training to lab staff.
• Identifies personnel with leadership potential and works with HR and laboratory leadership to develop that potential.
• Provides regular and timely updates to appropriate personnel, and answers inquiries from other areas of the company.
• As needed, schedules and leads meetings associated with laboratory projects and operations.

In coordination with the Chief Scientific Officer/Senior Laboratory Director:

• Establishes policies and procedures for technical areas of the laboratory.
• Assist in solving technical problems.
• Maintains responsibility for ensuring overall laboratory quality, including quality control and quality assurance programs.
• Leads the laboratory effort to develop systems to achieve performance objectives
• Responsible for participation in regular proficiency testing programs for the lab.
• Responsible for ensuring that all records are up to date and available for inspection.
• Ensures regular review of quality control for trends and problems

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• This job has direct supervisory responsibilities of Technical Supervisor(s) assigned to the specific laboratory departments.

Qualifications:

Education and/or Experience:

• Ph.D., MS or BS in Medical Technology or a Chemical, Physical, Biological science from an accredited institution.
• Must have a minimum of 5 years of supervisory experience,
• Must have leadership qualities, be adaptable to change and self-motivated.
• Must possess communication, motivational, technical, human relations, conceptual and decision-making skills.
• Experience/training in Lean/Six Sigma preferred.

Computer Skills:

• Must be able to learn and utilize the laboratory information system.

Physical Demands:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job while wearing the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment.
• On occasion the individual may be called upon to handle biological specimens.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear.
• The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision and ability to adjust focus.