Senior Director - Laboratory Operations

The Lab Operations Sr Director will be responsible for providing overall direction for laboratory operations and administration within the Atlantic Division Regional Laboratory located in Burlington North Carolina in order to service clients and patients in accordance with contractual obligations, industry standards of scientific integrity and regulatory requirements. You will provide oversight to an employee mix of up to 600 technical and non-technical operational team members including supervisors and managers. The Sr Director will be responsible for developing and executing strategic business priorities, ensuring adequate personnel and resources to provide market leading service, and driving innovation to realize operational efficiencies. The person will ensure compliance with regulatory agencies and also be responsible for training, staffing to metrics, TAT, and facilities. In addition, you will also work closely with supply chain, field operations, medical and scientific leadership, corporate operations, and commercial leadership to support business objectives.

The successful incumbent must be able to function with autonomy, while reporting directly to the VP of Operations. The Lab Operations Sr Director will be accountable for achieving laboratory performance metrics and driving leadership, team member development and inspiring an engaged workforce. The ideal candidate must be able to influence supply chain partners to achieve technical and operational goals.

• Directly supervise, train, and mentor laboratory managers, and have accountability for all staff within the departments
• Fiscal oversight of the departments, including labor, reagent/supply management and securing additional capital resources necessary to maintain service levels
• Ensure the laboratory provides market leading service levels to meet the needs of our customers and patients, including meeting thresholds for key performance indicators
• Responsible for the development and implementation of the laboratory structure and organization to ensure uninterrupted lab operations, scientific integrity of laboratory activities and high quality accurate test results
• Ensure employees are properly trained in all laboratory areas, policies and procedures are followed and SOPs are reviewed and approved as required
• Enforce and assure that prompt corrective action is taken in respect to laboratory audit findings or deficiencies noted with regards to implemented quality programs
• Serve as a laboratory departmental liaison during government inspections and/or client audits, with accountability to implement corrective, preventative, and effectiveness actions for findings and deficiencies
• Responsible for the hiring, training and development of laboratory and specimen management staff
• Direct the implementation of standardized procedures for the laboratory including internal and external quality control and validation/implementation of new equipment and methods

• Participate in external customer negotiations with respect to scientific and/or laboratory requests, as needed, and assures to provide internal customer support regarding medical/scientific and lab technical issues
• Collaborate with the medical director, technical director, QA, laboratory managers, discipline directors, other laboratory directors, and corporate operations
• Oversee training, talent development and employee engagement initiatives, ensuring policies and procedures are followed
• Keep the VP of Operations appraised of all relevant issues
• Maintain a clean and safe work environment

• Bachelor's degree in Biology, Chemistry, Medical Technology or a related life science. Advanced level degree MBA / PhD preferred
• Minimum 6 years of clinical diagnostics laboratory experience within a supervisory or management role
• Previous experience managing people leaders is required
• ASCP, AMT, or any other relevant laboratory certifications are a plus
• Prior experience in a high volume, clinical laboratory environment
• Strong working knowledge of CLIA, CAP and relevant state regulations
• Understanding of laboratory operations as well as policies and procedures
• Proven success in training and developing both technical and non-technical employees
• Ability to problem solve and provide solutions under minimal supervision
• Previous experience working in an autonomous environment with a high degree of accountability
• Strong presentation and communication skills; both written and verbal