Associate Director, Lab Operations

The Opportunity:

Reporting to the Director of Laboratory Operations as the Associate Director Laboratory Operations you will provide leadership for laboratory operations within the Knoxville Laboratory and is responsible for overall operational performance quality compliance staffing and resource management across laboratory functions and shifts. You will lead Managers Senior Managers and operational support leaders to ensure the laboratory meets safety quality service financial and operational goals. You will work closely with the Director Quality Validation Human Resources Facilities IT and other business partners to support a safe compliant and efficient operation while preparing the laboratory for future growth.

The Role:

Strategic Execution & Performance Management

• Translate lab-wide goals into actionable plans for assigned departments; establish KPIs and lead performance reviews to ensure goal achievement.
• Monitor and manage Laboratory Operations Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
• Implement course corrections to achieve goals and contribute to monthly operational reports and presentations.

Operational Excellence & Process Optimization

• Lead initiatives to improve lab efficiency throughput and quality including infrastructure upgrades and system enhancements.
• Analyze operational data to identify trends diagnose root causes and implement corrective actions to improve lab performance.
• Manage day-to-day capacity and organizational capability to perform high-volume testing required for the release of plasma per customer specifications.

Regulatory Compliance & Quality Oversight

• Ensure adherence to FDA CLIA cGMP and internal SOPs; maintain inspection readiness and lead corrective/preventive actions.
• Ensure laboratory operations comply with all relevant regulatory agencies (FDA CLIA GHA etc.). Maintain an inspection-ready condition at all times drive corrective/preventive actions (CAPA) and ensure staff are trained in current SOPs.

Leadership & Talent Development

• Leads and develops Managers Senior Managers and operational leaders.
• Oversees staffing plans succession planning leadership development employee relations and workforce planning to support current and future operational needs.

Financial & Capital Management

• Supports development of operating budgets staffing plans and resource requirements.
• Monitors financial performance and works with laboratory leadership to ensure resources are aligned with operational demands and business priorities.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partners with Quality Validation Human Resources Facilities IT Engineering and other business partners to support laboratory operations implement improvements and address operational challenges.

Stakeholder Engagement & Industry Relations

• Serves as a key representative for laboratory operations.
• Builds effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders and supports business continuity benchmarking customer service and operational planning activities.

Safety & Facility Oversight

• Promote a culture of safety and compliance; ensure facility maintenance meets operational and regulatory standards.
• Maintain a clean efficient and safe work environment.
• Ensure strict adherence to Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) OSHA and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

Change Leadership & Innovation

• Leads major operational changes that affect laboratory functions staffing workflows systems or business processes.
• Supports implementation of new technologies equipment and operational improvements while ensuring organizational readiness and adoption.

Your Skills & Abilities:

• Bachelors degree in chemical biological or clinical laboratory science or medical technology from an accredited institution required.
• Medical Technologist preferred.
• Minimum of 8 years of relevant laboratory experience including at least 4 years of leadership experience in a laboratory healthcare manufacturing pharmaceutical biologics or other regulated environment.
• Regulatory Knowledge: Demonstrated working knowledge of FDA regulations including GMP GLP and CLIA standards.
• Financial Acumen: Experience monitoring departmental budgets and managing resource allocations.
• Leadership & Communication: Proven ability to manage motivate and develop supervisory teams. Strong written verbal and presentation skills to effectively communicate metrics and drive operational results.
• Problem Solving: Excellent critical reasoning and analytical skills to resolve recurring operational defects and manage shifting priorities under tight deadlines.

Key Leadership Competencies

• Strategic thinking
• Operational leadership
• Organizational effectiveness
• Change management
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Continuous improvement mindset
• Quality and Regulatory focus

Working Conditions:

• Ability to compute analyze and interpret operational data and statistical forecasts.
• Fast-paced environment with frequent interruptions.
• Frequently sitting with a moderate amount of time walking the laboratory floor and standing.
• Must be able to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) and tolerate occasional exposure to extreme temperatures and bloodborne pathogens. Ability to lift/carry up to 40 lbs.
• Overnight travel required up to 1520% of the time.
• Schedule Flexibility: Ability to work a flexible schedule including weekends evenings and holidays to provide operational oversight across all 7 days of operation and multiple shifts.
• Operational Availability: Maintains operational accountability for a 7-day (24/6) high-volume testing environment requiring occasional visibility and presence on alternate shifts to support leadership teams and manage critical escalations.

Note: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion sex sexual orientation gender identity disability veteran status national origin or other legally protected classifications.

About CSLPlasma

Learn more about CSL Plasma here and CSL CSL Behring CSL Seqirus and CSL Vifor here more about CSL CSL Behring CSL Seqirus and CSL Vifor here at and CSL Plasma at Benefits

For more information on CSL Plasma benefits visit Belong at CSL

At CSL Inclusion and Belonging is at the core of our mission and who we are. It fuels our innovation day in and day out. By celebrating our differences and creating a culture of curiosity and empathy we are able to better understand and connect with our patients and donors foster strong relationships with our stakeholders and sustain a diverse workforce that will move our company and industry into the future.

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CSL is an Equal Opportunity Employer. If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process please visit Experience:

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