Laboratory Director

RGIT Australia; City of Brisbane; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Microba is seeking a Laboratory Director to lead our diagnostic laboratory in Woolloongabba, Qld. The role reports to the CEO and sits on the leadership team with responsibility for production, quality, and regulatory decisions.

You will shape the function, modernise operations, and ensure accreditation across NATA ISO 15189, CAP, and TGA requirements while scaling with the business. Leadership and strategic input to the Board are key aspects.

Qualifications

• At least 5 years’ relevant medical or diagnostic laboratory experience, including senior leadership.
• Proven experience leading a NATA/ISO 15189 accredited medical or diagnostic laboratory at volume and pace.
• A current CPD record meeting NPAAC requirements and recency of practice.
• A track record of modernising laboratory operations and building capability in a team.
• The ability to form an evidence-based view of the laboratory and partner with the executive team.

Responsibilities

• Oversee operational leadership of the diagnostic laboratory: throughput, turnaround times and capacity.
• Maintain NATA ISO 15189 accreditation and support CAP accreditation application.
• Ensure compliance with NPAAC standards and TGA/ARTG requirements for in-house tests.
• Drive modernisation and productivity, including new tech and automation integration.
• Translate new tests from development to routine, collaborating with Product, Bioinformatics and Commercial teams.
• Manage laboratory budget, equipment and consumables planning, and supplier relationships.
• Lead the laboratory team and develop talent toward NATA Authorised Representatives or TGA responsibilities.
• Contribute to company strategy and 2–5 year laboratory roadmap visible to the Board.

Skills

Laboratory leadership

ISO 15189

NATA accreditation

Regulatory compliance

Automation integration

Strategic planning

Education

PhD in diagnostic/molecular microbiology

Fellowship (FFSc RCPA, FAIMS, FASM)

Tools

Laboratory instrumentation

Job description

Woolloongabba, Queensland 4102, Australia

Full-time Permanent Director

Description

Join Microba as our Laboratory Director, based in Woolloongabba, Qld

You will lead our NATA and ISO 15189 accredited diagnostic laboratory as we scale. This is an executive role reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, with a seat on the leadership team and a clear mandate over production, quality and regulatory decisions.

The laboratory is lean, and the team is close. You will inherit a strong accreditation record and real scope to shape how the function is structured, resourced and run.

What you will own

• Operational leadership of the diagnostic laboratory: sample throughput, turnaround times and capacity, scaling with our commercial growth.
• Our NATA ISO 15189 (2022) accreditation and ISO 13485 in-house IVD certification, and support for our concurrent CAP accreditation application.
• Ongoing compliance with NPAAC standards and TGA/ARTG requirements for our in-house diagnostic tests.
• A modernisation and productivity agenda: retiring legacy practices, reviewing and implementing laboratory technology upgrades including sequencing platforms, and integrating new instruments and automation into our systems.
• The translation of new tests from development into routine, commercialised diagnostic service, working with our Product, Bioinformatics and Commercial teams.
• The laboratory budget, equipment and consumables planning, and supplier relationships.
• Leadership of the laboratory team, including building the technical autonomy and succession depth the function needs, and developing others toward eligibility as NATA Authorised Representatives or TGA nominated Responsible Persons.
• Input to company strategy and executive decision-making, including a two to five year roadmap for the laboratory, with visibility to the Board.

What you will bring

• A PhD relevant to diagnostic or molecular microbiology, or a Fellowship (for example FFSc RCPA, FAIMS, FASM) in a relevant discipline.
• At least 5 years’ relevant medical or diagnostic laboratory experience, including senior leadership.
• Proven experience leading a NATA/ISO 15189 accredited medical or diagnostic laboratory at volume and pace, including leading, not just maintaining, accreditation and quality systems through growth or change.
• A current CPD record meeting NPAAC requirements and demonstrating recency of practice.
• A track record of modernising laboratory operations and building capability in a team, and comfort challenging legacy ways of working.
• The judgement to form and defend an evidence-based view of what the laboratory should look like, and to partner confidently with the executive team.

Advantageous

• Experience with CAP accreditation or CAP-accredited laboratories.
• Prior experience as a nominated NATA or TGA signatory, or as a Laboratory Director.
• Hands-on experience implementing and integrating new laboratory technology, instrumentation or automation.
• Experience in a scaling biotech or diagnostics commercial environment, including international expansion.

Personal attributes

• Empathy and excellent communication skills.
• Strong influencing and relationship-building abilities.
• Adaptability and a problem-solving mindset.
• Attention to detail, with a focus on quality and professionalism.

Diversity & Inclusion

At Microba, we are committed to diversity and inclusion. We provide equal employment opportunities to all. We actively recruit and retain a diverse workforce and continuously improve our policies to foster a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion.

Eligibility to Work in Australia

Applicants for our job opportunities must have the legal right to work in Australia. We comply with all relevant laws and regulations related to employment eligibility verification and require all new hires to provide proof of their eligibility to work in Australia.

About Microba

Microba is a clinical diagnostics company harnessing the microbiome's profound potential to transform people's health. We are ASX-listed, with operations in Australia and the United Kingdom, delivering clinical-grade microbiome testing to consumers, healthcare professionals and researchers. Behind every test sits a growing proprietary database of human microbiome data, supporting new approaches to chronic disease.

Expect Better.

Working for Microba

At Microba you will be part of the biotechnology industry at a genuinely interesting stage of its growth. You will have the opportunity to directly impact healthcare and contribute to meaningful health solutions.

Company Overview

Microba is one of Australia’s most exciting listed MedTech companies with a mission to deliver new health solutions to consumers and healthcare practitioners globally. Microba’s unique technology targets gut health, and Microba’s products will deliver new paradigms of healthcare both directly and through partners that both test and resolve health conditions.