Senior Director, Lab Quality

About the role

The Senior Director, Clinical Laboratory provides strategic, programmatic, and analytic leadership in partnership with Divisional Executives, supporting divisional laboratory operations through quality oversight, regulatory accreditation programming, and contracting support.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain the System Laboratory Quality Plan, ensuring alignment across system, divisional, and ministry-level quality activities.
• Ensure laboratories across the system maintain continuous inspection readiness while fostering a just culture.
• Establish structures, programs, and caregiver development initiatives that support highly reliable laboratory services.
• Maintain conditions necessary to meet all regulatory requirements related to CLIA, OSHA, and CAP, and ensure compliance with the Laboratory Compliance Program.
• Collaborate with the Laboratory CMO to develop system-standardized quality programming that ensures regulatory compliance and high-quality patient services.
• Provide direct oversight and mentorship to Divisional Laboratory Quality teams.
• Partner with Divisional Laboratory Executive Leaders to ensure quality leaders allocate appropriate time and resources across accreditation cycles.
• Serve as executive sponsor within laboratory governance, including leadership of high-complexity testing technical workgroups.
• Travel as needed to deploy system strategies, support regional needs, and meet aggressive implementation timelines.
• Assume accountability for divisional quality leadership in support of executive laboratory governance objectives.
• Collaborate with senior system leadership on long-range strategic planning initiatives to improve quality, integration, patient experience, and value.
• Develop system-wide dashboards to drive laboratory performance improvement.
• Define quality goals and performance plans in collaboration with the System Lab Chief Administrative Officer and Regional Executive Leadership.
• Review and monitor laboratory outreach programs for compliance with applicable federal and state regulations.
• Provide senior leadership oversight for Pathology and Physician Services contracting processes.
• Ensure effective collaboration with Physician Compensation and Legal Affairs to support compliant contracting.
• Partner with System Compliance to proactively identify and correct laboratory compliance risks.
• Initiate new procedures supporting Business Development, Quality Management, Patient Safety, and Quadruple Aim initiatives.
• Actively support and integrate Providence mission and core values into all leadership decisions and daily activities.
• Promote patient safety, reliability, and continuous improvement as foundational elements of laboratory operations.

  Requirements

  Education & Certification:

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Laboratory Science or a related scientific field, or equivalent education/experience.
  • Master’s Degree in Health Administration or Business Administration (preferred).
  • Advanced technical degree (preferred).
  • Medical Laboratory Scientist (ASCP) or equivalent (required upon hire).
  • Professional certifications strongly preferred, including:
    • Certified Quality Auditor (CQA)
    • Diplomate in Laboratory Management (DLM)
    • Qualification in Laboratory Safety (QLS)

    Qualifications

    • 10+ years of experience in a clinical laboratory environment.
    • 8+ years of leadership experience with strong emphasis on Quality Management.
    • 5+ years as a systems-level thinker with long-term planning experience.
    • Demonstrated success working in environments with strong regulatory oversight.
    • Multi-facility laboratory leadership experience (preferred).
    • Acute or hospital-based clinical laboratory leadership experience (preferred).

    Skills

    • Proven ability to develop and execute a system-level laboratory quality strategy.
    • Strong change-management capability and reputation as a visible change champion.
    • Demonstrated success aligning divisions, systems, and multidisciplinary teams.
    • Excellent relationship-building skills with physicians, physician leaders, and executives.
    • Data-driven decision-maker comfortable making complex, high-impact decisions.
    • Skilled at navigating political, regulatory, and economic complexity.
    • Results-oriented, resilient leader able to manage competing priorities under pressure.
    • Strong communication, facilitation, and influence skills to drive consensus and action.

    Benefits

    At Providence, we offer a comprehensive benefits package including a retirement 401(k) Savings Plan with employer matching, health care benefits (medical, dental, vision), life insurance, disability insurance, time off benefits (paid parental leave, vacations, holidays, health issues), voluntary benefits, well-being resources and much more.