Microbiology Manager

About the role

Collaborates to maintain effective testing, products, services, and equipment. Introduces new tests, processes, and equipment, including recommendation, selection, evaluation, cost analysis, change management, and education. Prepares and manages an operating budget to ensure appropriate staffing, professional development, space, supplies, and equipment. Develops and oversees new policies, procedures, or processes in the document control system, ensuring regulatory compliance.

Responsibilities

• Supervises, manages, assigns, and performs pre-analytical and support activities related to department operations.
• Manages, supervises, assigns, and performs testing and analytical procedures, ensuring staff adherence to regulations and policies.
• Performs, assigns, and manages post-analytical activities related to laboratory testing for all age groups.
• Directs department staffing within budgeted hours, including interviewing, selecting, orienting, training, and assessing staff competency.
• Supervises, manages, leads, engages, and mentors department staff, resolving complex customer service issues and facilitating workflow.
• Leads and participates in laboratory performance improvement activities, promoting team building, employee engagement, patient satisfaction, and safety.
• Participates in committees, teams, and councils, including cross-campus and campus-specific teams. Serves as a technical resource throughout the system and chairs the system team applicable to specialty.
• May include transport of hazardous waste from the point of generation to a designated secure storage area; employee will be required to complete initial training (prior to handling hazardous waste) and refresher training to include proper handling and transport of hazardous waste, and proper selection, use and disposal of personal protective equipment.
• Follows safety policies including the use of PPE, handwashing, and hazardous chemical handling, and completes required training for handling hazardous waste.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree required. 2+ years of experience in a clinical laboratory management role required. 4+ years of clinical laboratory training or experience, or both, within the assigned specialty required. 5+ years of experience in a supervisory role in a complex clinical laboratory preferred.

Skills

• Knowledge of applicable regulatory and accreditation standards, rules, and guidelines, such as DNV, CLIA, OSHA, AABB, COLA, CAP, ASHI, and related agencies, as well as Corporate Compliance Plan.
• A high degree of theoretical and practical knowledge and expertise of analytical testing in licensed specialty(ies), with ability to share, explain, teach, and mentor others.
• Ability to effectively communicate in verbal and written English with patients, staff, partners, and customers of varied backgrounds in a respectful, effective, and professional manner.
• Ability to read text and numbers in English, and comprehend, measure, reason, match, problem solve.
• Ability to apply accurately learned computer related applications and programs, including using electronic keyboards and other peripheral devices.
• Mature, independent professional judgment and leadership of team and the ability to handle confidential information within hospital guidelines and applicable regulations.
• Ability to make appropriate decisions in stressful situations and handle multiple priorities and projects.
• Ability to build and maintain effective, productive and cohesive teams and appropriate peer relationships to facilitate organizational objectives.
• Computer skills, particularly Microsoft Office Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.

Additional information

Equivalent laboratory training and experience meeting the requirements defined in CLIA regulation 42CFR493.1489(b)(3)(ii): For high complexity testing, equivalent laboratory training and experience includes the following: 60 semester hours or equivalent from an accredited institution that, at a minimum, includes either 24 semester hours of medical laboratory technology courses, OR 24 semester hours of science courses that include six semester hours of chemistry, six semester hours of biology, and 12 semester hours of chemistry, biology or medical laboratory technology in any combination; AND Laboratory training including either completion of a clinical laboratory training program approved or accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) or the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) (note that this training may be included in the 60 semester hours listed above), OR At least three months documented laboratory training in each specialty in which the individual performs high complexity testing; OR Successful completion of at least a 50-week official US military medical laboratory procedures training course and currently hold or have held the military enlisted occupational specialty of Medical Laboratory Specialist (Laboratory Technician); OR Qualified and served as high complexity testing personnel in a CLIA-certified laboratory as of December 28, 2024, and have done so continuously since December 28, 2024. Additional Licensure or certification requirements may apply depending on the specific unit or state in which this position is located. Due to regulatory body nomenclature changes in 2022 and 2023, MT(ASCP) and MT(AMT) are denoted now as MLS (ASCP) and MLS (AMT).