Health Services Manager, Renton Central Lab: Microbiology

About the role

The Health Services Manager (HSM) oversees and manages the operations of the Microbiology laboratory at the UW Medicine - Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology (DLMP) in Renton, WA. Under the direction of the Division of Infectious Disease Diagnostics (DIDD) Assistant Director, the HSM plans, organizes, and supervises all areas of the lab, ensuring maximum operational efficiencies and compliance with established performance and productivity metrics. Responsibilities include managing lab preanalytical and analytical automation, manual and specialized testing, fiscal activities, staff development, and process improvement projects.

Responsibilities

• Core Technical, Administrative, and Operations (55%)
  • Provides technical and administrative management and leadership to the Microbiology Laboratory.
  • Sets goals for the laboratory in conjunction with faculty and the DIDD Assistant Director; participates in division goals and policies.
  • Manages change and fosters innovation in laboratory functions using technological advances.
  • Consults with and informs leadership of activities, needs, and problems; ensures proper and efficient operations.
  • Oversees the development of educational tools/programs for training, competency, and QA/QI.
  • Develops optimized laboratory utilization algorithms and collaborates with clinical and research units.
  • Implements departmental and divisional policies and procedures; ensures clarity and understanding among staff.
  • Evaluates and recommends equipment needs; manages selection, contracts, and pricing for equipment and supplies.
  • Ensures compliance with federal, state, and accrediting requirements.
  • Acts as liaison for the laboratory with other healthcare personnel; resolves service-related problems.
  • Directs and reviews quality control standards, proficiency testing, and preventive maintenance programs.
  • Manages clinical laboratory rotations for students and trainees; may prepare and present lecture material.
  • Collaborates with other Laboratory Division Supervisors/Managers on joint concerns.
  • Prepares presentations for staff, students, and professional meetings.
  • Maintains current knowledge of relevant literature and scientific advances.
  • Maintains working knowledge of Laboratory Information System (LIS), bioinformatic pipelines, and workflow software.
• Manage Staffing (20%)
  • Ensures technical staff remain proficient and competent; coordinates continuing education and in-service training.
  • Oversees development of training procedures and checklists.
  • Interviews, hires, orients, and trains new employees; maintains documentation of training and competencies.
  • Delegates responsibilities and tasks to optimize staff time and expertise.
  • Assesses and adjusts laboratory staff based on workload, turnover, and budget; plans schedules and rotations.
  • Reviews and evaluates employee performance; provides feedback and recommends disciplinary action as needed.
  • Ensures staff awareness of compliance and safety policies, including MSDS information.
• Regulatory and Compliance (15%)
  • Ensures compliance with regulations and accrediting bodies for all Microbiology laboratories.
  • Leads evaluation of departmental practices and process improvement initiatives.
  • Oversees quality tracking, benchmarking, and metrics reports to maintain and improve testing standards.
  • Maintains and reviews quality control programs to meet CAP and other regulatory requirements.
  • Maintains "inspection ready" performance for all Microbiology areas.
• IT Responsibilities (10%)
  • Partners with Analytics and Laboratory Information System teams to implement changes and improvements.
  • Ensures automation works as intended; collaborates with vendors for updates and data display.
  • Uses LIS and laboratory pipeline dashboards to ensure consistency in performance.
  • Ensures downstream computer systems display reports in a user-friendly format.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory science or related field.
• Medical Laboratory Scientist certification with the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) or equivalent.
• Six years of progressively responsible clinical technologist experience, including three years in a leadership or supervisory capacity.
• Experience with wet bench procedures, instrumentation, quality management/assurance, and CAP proficiency guidelines.
• Track record of effective team management, change management, and meeting group goals.
• Extensive knowledge of clinical laboratory test/system validations and data management.
• Demonstrated experience with laboratory process improvements.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in medical laboratory science or equivalent field (desired).
• Substantial experience in Clinical Microbiology operations (desired).
• Five or more years of Microbiology Manager-level experience (desired).
• Experience in hospital, academic medical center, or reference laboratory setting (desired).
• Experience with Lean Management, Six Sigma, or laboratory process improvement (desired).
• Experience identifying inefficiencies and implementing process improvements (desired).
• Experience with WASP or Kiestra Lab Automation lines in a high-volume lab setting (desired).

Benefits

• Vacation time and sick time off that accrue monthly, including 12 paid holidays.
• State Employee Tuition Exemption Program covering up to 6 credits per quarter at participating institutions.
• Fully subsidized public transit pass (U-PASS) for regional transportation.
• Comprehensive healthcare, dental, disability, and retirement plan options.
• Access to free fitness, healthy eating, finance, and stress reduction classes through the Whole U program.

Pay

Annual pay range: $110,928.00 – $166,392.00.

Schedule

• 100% FTE (full-time).
• Day shift; specific schedule to be discussed with the hiring manager.