Associate Laboratory Director

Company Overview

Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life‑changing technologies spans diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 122,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

Benefits

• Career development with an international company where you can grow the career you dream of.
• Free medical coverage in the Health Investment Plan (HIP) PPO medical plan in the next calendar year.
• Excellent retirement savings plan with a high employer contribution.
• Tuition reimbursement, the Freedom 2 Save student debt program, and FreeU education benefit – an affordable path to a bachelor’s degree.
• Recognition as a great place to work in dozens of countries and named one of the most admired companies by Fortune.
• Recognition for diversity, working mothers, female executives, and scientists.

Position Overview

The Associate Laboratory Director is responsible for ensuring the medical and technical performance of tests delegated by the laboratory director, as well as serving as a subject matter expert (42 CFR 493.1451). Responsibilities include ensuring delegated tests meet medical, professional and regulatory performance standards, providing medical expertise in the assessment of patient materials, supporting physicians regarding patient results and laboratory processes, ensuring qualified, well‑trained and competent staff, and ensuring effective investigation and resolution of incidents. The role participates in the Quality Management System and works closely with cross‑functional teams including Laboratory Operations, Laboratory Medical and Pathology, Customer Service, Product/Commercial, Quality, Systems Engineering, IT, and Facilities.

Essential Duties

• Support the clinical laboratory director to ensure effective functioning of all tests.
• Communicate effectively regarding all delegated activities.
• Establish test performance requirements that meet regulatory and medical standards.
• Define appropriate test performance characteristics.
• Evaluate medical and technical performance against current regulatory and best‑practice standards.
• Ensure testing systems meet or exceed performance requirements across pre‑analytic, analytic, and post‑analytic phases.
• Confirm test methodologies provide the quality of results required for patient care.
• Liaise with (or delegate to) R&D, product and software teams to provide performance requirements, validation design, and requirements that meet regulatory and medical best practices.
• Ensure validation and verification procedures determine accuracy, precision, and other pertinent performance characteristics.
• Ensure laboratory personnel perform test methods as required for accurate and reliable results and that training and competency programs are appropriate.
• Maintain an appropriate proficiency testing program.
• Collaborate with the quality team to establish and maintain effective quality control and assurance programs, including policies, procedures, and mechanisms to monitor analytical performance.
• Report patient test results only when the test system is functioning properly and document remedial actions for significant deviations.
• Include pertinent information in test result reports for interpretation.
• Support incident investigation, corrective and preventive actions.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional partners on new product commercial launches (training, SOP documentation, marketing material review, etc.).
• Uphold company mission and values through accountability, innovation, integrity, quality, and teamwork.
• Support and comply with the company’s Quality Management System policies and procedures.
• Maintain regular and reliable attendance.
• Act with an inclusion mindset and model these behaviors for the organization.

Minimum Skills and Qualifications

• MD or DO with a current medical license & board certification in Anatomic and/or Clinical Pathology, or equivalent qualifications required for certification.
• OR MD, DO, or DPM with a current medical license and at least 1 year laboratory training in high‑complexity testing.
• OR Doctoral degree in chemical, physical, biological or clinical laboratory sciences with certification by a board approved by HHS.
• OR Doctoral degree in a relevant science plus 1 year training.
• Experience leading teams, projects, and/or committees with a demonstrated ability to lead through influence.
• Strong understanding of molecular testing and techniques.
• Excellent analytical, critical‑thinking and risk‑management skills.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Be onsite at least 4 days per week.
• Apply excellent written and verbal communication skills to convey difficult information in a clear, kind, and respectful manner.
• Ability to comply with any applicable personal protective equipment requirements.
• Ability to use near vision to view samples at close range.
• Ability to travel up to 5 % of working time, which may include overnight/weekend travel.
• Ability to lift up to 15 pounds for approximately 5 % of a typical working day.
• Ability to work on a mobile device, tablet, or computer screen and perform typing for approximately 80 % of a typical working day.
• Ability to work in and contribute to a fast‑paced, highly collaborative environment.
• Demonstrated ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without accommodation.
• Authorization to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Preferred Qualifications

• ABMGG certification.
• Ability to hold NY CoQ in molecular genetics.

Pay

The base pay for this position is $113,300.00 – $226,700.00. In specific locations, the pay range may vary from the range posted.