Associate Director of Laboratory Services

Our client takes pride in walking alongside patients and families during some of life’s most consequential journeys. Within the communities they serve, they responsibly invest in equitable, compassionate care through service, patient advocacy, and education. Their core values—
Excellence, Empathy, Integrity, and Accountability guide everything they do and are essential to exceeding customer expectations. They seek individuals who believe in these values, demonstrate a genuine desire to make a positive impact, and align with the organization’s mission, vision, values, and key service behaviors. Team members are expected to work collaboratively toward a shared goal of delivering outstanding care and service to the communities served.

The Associate Director of Laboratory Services assists the Laboratory Director with the overall operation and administration of the clinical laboratory. This includes responsibility for personnel management, equipment, safety, laboratory policies, quality assurance, all testing (including proficiency testing), and test reporting.

The Associate Director provides leadership to all direct-report managers and works closely with the Laboratory Director and Medical Director on clinical and operational matters.

• Direct Oversight: General Laboratory and Anatomic Pathology personnel
• Interrelationships: Collaborates formally and informally with medical personnel, pathologists, section supervisors, and other hospital and laboratory staff

• Routinely demonstrates a strong commitment to the organization’s behavioral standards and serves as a role model
• Consistently upholds the Mission, Vision, and Values
• Practices key service behaviors that support outstanding customer and employee experiences
• Adheres to confidentiality policies related to patients, families, visitors, staff, physicians, and customers
• Maintains a professional appearance and demeanor
• Completes all required hospital education and employee health requirements on time
• Performs all work safely and follows organizational safety requirements

• Be available to the laboratory on an as-needed basis to provide supervision via on-site, telephone, or electronic consultation
• Assist in developing and implementing departmental goals and objectives with staff input
• Interact with customers to ensure timely, accurate communication and service delivery
• Keep employees informed of current and future changes
• Foster a psychologically safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental work environment
• Support and encourage professional growth and development of staff
• Promote empowerment and team-building principles

• Select appropriate test methodologies for clinical use
• Verify test procedures and establish test performance characteristics, including precision and accuracy
• Assist with enrollment and participation in HHS-approved proficiency testing programs
• Assist with maintaining quality control programs and acceptable analytic performance parameters
• Resolve technical problems and ensure appropriate corrective actions
• Ensure patient results are not reported until all corrective actions are completed
• Identify training needs and ensure ongoing education for testing personnel
• Evaluate and document competency of all testing personnel
• Monitoring of result recording and reporting
• Review of QC, proficiency testing, and maintenance records
• Evaluate and document performance of high-complexity testing personnel semiannually in the first year and annually thereafter (or sooner if methodology/instrumentation changes)

• Assist the Laboratory Director in developing and implementing quality management principles
• Provide administrative oversight of quality control programs
• Lead development of formal QA activities across all laboratory services
• Ensure continuous quality assessment and improvement
• Assist in maintaining accreditation standards (CAP, CLIA ’88, ISBH, DNV), including safety, compliance, and education programs

• Develop and recommend operating and capital budgets
• Ensure departmental operations remain within budget
• Prepare and manage FTE budgets and staffing plans
• Maintain accountability for productivity
• Assist the Director in using the budget as a planning and control tool
• Support development of strategic objectives and innovative programs, including:
• Evaluating feasibility of new or expanded procedures
• Staying current with medical advances and integrating them into laboratory strategy

• Take responsibility for ongoing professional development
• Maintain professional competence through continuous learning
• Perform duties in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and technical standards
• Prepare clear, complete reports and recommendations based on sound analysis
• Complete a minimum of six (6) hours of continuing education annually