Director, Lab Operations

JOB SUMMARY

Maintains the laboratory performance by establishing efficiency, quality, and safety standards and ensuring staff compliance. Drives the day-to-day performance and on-time delivery of testing services; assists in the continuous improvement of testing services, scientific expertise, and departmental capabilities. Through strong, positive leadership and routine onsite support to clinical operations teams, the Director ensures the laboratory's profitability and growth. Works on complex issues where analysis of situations or data requires an in-depth knowledge of the company.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead and develop high-performing operational teams; instill a culture of accountability, service, and continuous improvement.

• Foster a customer-first mindset while ensuring cross-functional alignment and collaboration.

• Provide overall leadership and accountability for laboratory operations, ensuring high-quality, efficient, and compliant testing services.

• Ensure compliance with all applicable regulatory and accreditation requirements and maintain continuous audit readiness.

• Oversee quality management activities, including monitoring KPIs, addressing nonconformances, and leading corrective and preventive actions.

• Direct laboratory staff and leadership, including hiring, training, performance management, and development.

• Manage lab capacity, workflow, and resources to meet turnaround time, quality, and service expectations.

• Provide technical and scientific oversight for laboratory methods, instrumentation, and process changes, as applicable to the lab’s scope.

• Own lab financial performance, including budgeting, cost control, and resource planning.

• Promote a strong culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.

• Partner with cross-functional stakeholders to support operational excellence, service delivery, and strategic initiatives.

Requirements

Required

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in a discipline related to the work being conducted at the clinical laboratory.

Certification

• MB (ASCP) or CG (ASCP) certification required.

Experience:

• Broad knowledge of all areas within a particular corporate sub-function or department.

• Typically requires a minimum of 5 years of increasing managerial experience

• Directs and controls the strategy and activities of a broad functional area with overall control of planning, budgeting, methods, and staffing.

• Participates with other leaders to establish high-level company strategic plans and objectives.

• Provides regulatory oversight.

COMPETENCIES

• Leadership Presence

• Talent Development & Succession Planning

• Strategic Thinking

• Influence

• Inclusivity & Collaboration

• Change Management

• Dealing with Ambiguity

• Decision Making

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Frequently required to sit
• Requires visual acuity for operating equipment, reading technical information, and using a keyboard. 
• Frequently required to talk or hear