Electron Microscopy Lab Manager (Path & Lab Med)

Electron Microscopy Lab Manager

What we do here changes the world. UTHealth Houston is Texas' resource for healthcare education, innovation, scientific discovery, and excellence in patient care. That's where you come in.

Leads and oversees all operations of a specialized Electron Microscopy laboratory, including technical procedures, staff management, quality assurance, and client services. Ensures accurate, timely diagnostic results while maintaining compliance with CAP and regulatory standards. Provides hands-on technical expertise, supports staff training, implements new methods, and drives continuous improvement. Serves as the primary liaison for stakeholders and manages administrative functions such as reporting, budgeting, and other activities.

Once you join us you won't want to leave. It's because we reward our team for the excellent service they provide. Our total rewards package includes the benefits you'd expect from a top healthcare organization (benefits, insurance, etc.), plus:

• 100% paid medical premiums for our full-time employees
• Generous time off (holidays, preventative leave day, both vacation and sick time – all of which equates to around 37-38 days per year)
• The longer you stay, the more vacation you'll accrue!
• Longevity Pay (Monthly payments after two years of service)
• Build your future with our awesome retirement/pension plan!

We take care of our employees! As a world-renowned institution, our employees' wellbeing is important to us. We offer work/life services such as...

• Free financial and legal counseling
• Free mental health counseling services
• Gym membership discounts and access to wellness programs
• Other employee discounts including entertainment, car rentals, cell phones, etc.
• Resources for child and elder care
• Plus many more!

Position Summary:

Manages and supervises the technical, logistical, customer service and administrative functions of a specialized laboratory. Responsible for the implementation and success of a highly-sophisticated clinically based Electron Microscopy laboratory. Supports continuous improvement of laboratory services ensuring timely and high- quality patient results rendering ultrastructural pathological diagnosis.

Position Key Accountabilities:

• Manages the daily operations of the Electron Microscopy Laboratory encompassing both native and transplant biopsy services including but not limited to renal, muscle, nerve, heart, blood, fat pads, skin, and primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) services.
• Primary contact for responding to Electron Microscopy Laboratory questions and communicating with department management, hospital management, physicians and administrators regarding laboratory needs and suggested improvements.
• Provides support on a routine basis to existing lab personnel at the bench. Can proficiently gross and process samples for semi-thin ultramicrotomy sectioning, prepare ultra-thin sections for ultrastructural examination, provide evaluation of pathological ultrastructural changes in patient biopsies, and demonstrate skills in electron microscopy operations and digital acquisition.
• Ensures all requirements for CAP accreditation with regards to the Electron Microscopy Laboratory are met and followed. Oversees CAP external case review program, related surveys, and quality improvement programs for ultrastructural pathology. Maintains accurate laboratory records as part of a rigorous quality assurance and control program.
• Works with department and hospital medical and administrative leadership regarding implementation of new methodology, tests, and procedures as appropriate. Serves as a consultant to other clinical and research labs within UTHealth Houston and surrounding institutions. Such consultation activities include the troubleshooting of technical issues and the development and implementation of new ultrastructural analysis techniques.
• Interprets, implements, and maintains College of American Pathologists guidelines and translates requirements into standard operating policies and procedures. Develops and implements quality control programs to ensure accuracy, reliability, and appropriate turnaround times of testing procedures, proper function of laboratory equipment, and compliance with federal regulations as well as preparation and maintenance of applicable records. Establishes, reviews, and revises laboratory policies and procedures on a continuous basis and maintains proper inventory levels including reordering of laboratory supplies.
• Prepares technical reports reflecting volume of work, utilized procedures, and test results. Coordinates the preparation of reports and analysis reflecting progress, adverse trends, and appropriate recommendations or conclusions.
• Stays abreast of and executes latest technical and management developments including new lab procedures.
• Manages outside client services. Provides oversight for client issues acting as the main interface between clients, patients, and the laboratory.
• Manages the work of laboratory personnel engaged in routine and specialized technical procedures including planning laboratory work assignments, evaluating work performed, and handling procedural and technical laboratory issues ensuring laboratory efficiency. Ensures remedial action is taken and documented whenever laboratory test results deviate from established performance specifications.
• Provides advanced problem solving, troubleshooting, interpretation/consultation, training of technologists, verification of specimen quality and test results.
• Provides training for clinical and research faculty and to medical residents while on rotation in the Electron Microscopy Laboratory.
• Maintains, inspects, and performs adjustments and repairs to laboratory equipment to ensure accuracy of test results.
• Manages Human Resources activities of department in regards to: recruiting and selection, hiring and termination, training, professional development, mentoring, counseling, performance evaluations, and salary planning.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Certification/Skills:

• Proficient in electron microscopy tissue processing, embedding, sectioning, and staining techniques.
• Proficient in recognition of ultrastructural pathology.
• Able to analyze and understand histological and ultrastructural data and results.
• Proficient in electron microscope operations and digital acquisition.
• Proficient knowledge of regulations and quality control standards (e.g. CLIA, CAP).
• Effective communication with pathologists and other laboratory staff.
• Expertly able to assess situations and make informed decisions based on data.
• Certified Histotechnologist (HTL(ASCP)) by American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) required
• Personnel in this position before February 1, 2025 will be grandfathered into this requirement.

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's Degree required

Minimum Experience:

5 years of Clinical Electron Microscopy experience required 1 year Supervisory Experience preferred

Physical Requirements:

Exerts up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 20 pounds frequently and/or up to 10 pounds constantly to move objects.

Security Sensitive:

This position is a security-sensitive position pursuant to Texas Education Code §51.215 and Texas Government Code §411.094. To the extent that a position requires the holder to research, work on, or have access to critical infrastructure as defined in Texas Business and Commerce Code §117.001(2), the ability to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure is a minimum qualification to be hired for and to continue to be employed in that position. Personnel in such positions, and similarly situated state contractors, will be routinely reviewed to determine whether things such as criminal history or continuous connections to the government or political apparatus of a foreign adversary might prevent the applicant, employee, or contractor from being able to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure. A foreign adversary is a nation listed in 15 C.F.R. §791.4.

Residency Requirement:

Employees must permanently reside and work in the State of Texas.