Assistant Director, Clinical Laboratory

County of Riverside; California; On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

County of Riverside's Riverside University Health System Medical Center in Moreno Valley seeks an experienced Assistant Director, Clinical Laboratory to lead and oversee laboratory operations across RUHS facilities. The role requires strong strategic, operational, and administrative skills, and collaboration with physicians, pathologists, and healthcare leaders.

The position emphasizes quality improvement, patient safety, regulatory compliance, and program development, with the ability to act as

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in medical technology, biological or physical science, or closely related field.
• License: California CLS license issued by the Department of Health Services.
• Experience: At least 3 years of clinical lab testing experience, with 1 year in a supervisory role.
• Knowledge: CLIA, quality improvement, patient safety, and supervisory principles.

Responsibilities

• Assist in developing and implementing the strategic plan for the Clinical Laboratory across RUHS.
• Oversee CLIA compliance, administrative and quality activities, and personnel management.
• Plan, supervise, and evaluate work of technical and non-technical lab staff across MC, CHC and CHS.
• Support workload management, instrument maintenance, and staffing adjustments to maximize productivity.
• Develop and manage QA/QC documentation and budgets related to the laboratory.

Job description

For questions regarding this position, please contact the Recruiter listed in the Supplemental Information section.

About The Position

Riverside University Health System (RUHS) is seeking an experienced and strategic healthcare laboratory leader to serve as Assistant Director, Clinical Laboratory. In this executive-level role, you will help lead and oversee laboratory operations across the Riverside University Health System, including the Medical Center, Community Health Centers, and Correctional Health Services.

This role manages laboratory operations through supervisory staff, supports the coordination of medical and pathology services, ensures compliance with regulatory and accreditation standards, promotes quality improvement and patient safety initiatives, oversees staff competency and development, collaborates with pathologists and healthcare leaders to resolve complex operational issues, manages key partnerships and academic affiliations, and serves as the acting Director when assigned to support the achievement of departmental and organizational goals.

The successful candidate will be a collaborative and results-oriented laboratory professional with significant leadership experience in a complex healthcare environment. They will possess strong operational, strategic, and administrative skills, along with the ability to manage multiple laboratory programs, lead diverse teams, and build effective relationships with physicians, pathologists, healthcare leaders, and community partners. This is a unique opportunity to play a pivotal role in advancing high-quality laboratory services across one of California's largest public healthcare systems. The Assistant Director operates with a high degree of independence and has significant influence on organizational performance, patient care outcomes, and the achievement of departmental objectives.

A valid license as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) issued by the State of California Department of Health Services is required.

This class has been deemed eligible for the Performance Recognition Plan as set forth under Article 3, Section 311 of the County Management Resolution. Program eligibility requires employees to hold leadership responsibilities, manage other employees or programs, and have significant influence on the achievement of organizational objectives.

Meet the Team!

Founded in 1893, Riverside University Health System Medical Center has grown into a cornerstone of healthcare excellence and medical education in the region. Our highly skilled healthcare professionals and dedicated support staff are committed to delivering exceptional, state-of-the-art care to the diverse populations of Riverside County.

Located in Moreno Valley, our 439-bed Medical Center is home to a Level I Trauma Center, a Level II Pediatric Trauma Center, and the county’s only Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). If you’re passionate about making a meaningful difference and helping others, RUHS Medical Center is the place for you!

For more information about RUHS Medical Center, please visit www.ruhealth.org

Examples Of Essential Duties

• Assist the Director, Clinical Laboratory in developing and implementing the strategic plan, including the assessment of new technology, staffing, space and capital needs.
• Assist the Director, Clinical Laboratory in the overall management of the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) including administrative, financial, compliance, quality improvement, technical, and personnel activities in accordance with established policies and standards.
• Plan, assign, supervise, and evaluate the work of all technical and non-technical laboratory personnel within the MC, CHC and CHS, ensuring compliance with all local, state and federal regulations, as well as oversee the day-to-day activities of the laboratories.
• Assist staff in meeting workload demands and any necessary minor adjustments or repairs on instruments and equipment; evaluate staffing levels to ensure maximum productivity as workload fluctuates.
• Perform the most complex analytical tests and/or procedures, recognize deviation from expected results and take appropriate action to maintain accuracy and precision.
• Assist in developing and ensuring documentation of Quality Assurance/Quality Control program compliance with regulatory standards.
• Evaluate problems related to collection and processing of specimens for analysis, including answering questions about specific factors that can influence test results.
• Oversee the preparation and maintenance of records, reports and correspondences; assist in preparing departmental budget including personnel, operational and capital equipment costs.
• Develop and recommend policies and procedures; develop written procedures to clarify or describe standard practices; coordinate the publication and dissemination of procedures.
• Assist in determining the need, suitability and cost of instruments, equipment, clinical testing, and supplies.
• Evaluate new techniques and procedures in terms of space and personal requirement, method comparison, cost analysis, and the establishment of reference intervals.
• Develop and manage the Clinical Laboratory’s student training program; manage existing affiliation agreements and build academic partnerships to attain new relationships and agreements with educational organizations.
• Oversee the maintenance of the laboratory information system software and/or database.
• Monitor equipment service contracts and compliance with laboratory safety policies.
• Collaborate with other departments, community hospitals, medical staff, and Pathologists as appropriate, in-patient care and performance improvement activities; communicate appropriately and clearly to physicians, staff and administration.
• Promote standardization and optimization throughout the laboratory system.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree, preferably in medical technology, biological or physical science, or a closely related field to the assignment.

Experience: Three years of performing a wide range of clinical laboratory testing using standardized procedures, one year of which must have been in a supervisory role within a medical laboratory.

Knowledge of: Chemistry, bacteriology, serology, hematology, and parasitology; principles, techniques, equipment, and terminology used in the laboratory diagnosis of disease and abnormal condition; common causes of disease and the methods of transmission and control of communicable diseases; principles of effective supervision.

Ability to: Perform the more difficult laboratory tests and analyses; supervise and train laboratory personnel; analyze situations accurately and take effective action; prepare reports; maintain cooperative working relationships with staff and others.

License: Possession of a valid California Driver’s License may be required.

Possession of a valid license as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) issued by the State of California Department of Health Services.

Veteran's Preference

The County has a Veterans Preference Policy applicable to new hires. To qualify, attach the required documents to your job application. Documents include a copy of your (or your spouse's) Member-4 Form DD-214 indicating dates of service. For spousal preference, and as applicable, the following documents: a copy of your marriage certificate, spouse's death certificate, a letter of spouse's disability and/or letter of service-related death (if available) from the U.S. Veteran's Administration. For privacy reasons, it is recommended that you remove your social security information from the document(s). A Human Resources Representative will review the materials and determine if you qualify for veterans' preference. For complete details and documentation requirements, please review the Veterans Preference Policy, C-3 here: https://rivcocob.org/board-policies

Reasonable Accommodations

The County of Riverside is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter for the position noted above. For additional information and/or to obtain the appropriate form for requesting a reasonable accommodation, please visit the Disability Access Office web page located at: https://rc-hr.com/disability

Schedule, Overtime, Standby/On-Call, and Travel Obligations

The County of Riverside offers a variety of alternative work schedules, dependent upon department operations and needs. Certain assignments may involve overtime, standby/on-call shifts, and/or travel; however, scheduling, shift assignments, overtime work, standby/on-call duty, and travel obligations are subject to management approval, operational needs, and/or may be modified or discontinued at any time. Applicants should contact the assigned recruiter for additional information regarding the schedule, overtime and standby/on-call expectations, and travel obligations.

Proof of Education

If using education to qualify or when requested by the recruiter, upload a copy of any license(s), official/unofficial transcript(s), degrees, and/or related employment documents to your NeoGov account at the time of application and before the closing date. Official or unofficial transcripts will be accepted.

If your education was completed outside of the United States, you will need to provide a copy of your Foreign Education Equivalency evaluation from a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services ( NACES ) or Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. ( AICE ).

Work Authorization Requirement

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application. The County of Riverside does not participate in visa sponsorship programs, including H1-B visas, and will not provide sponsorship for any employment-based visas.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The County of Riverside is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the County of Riverside to provide equal employment opportunities for all qualified persons. All applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, or denial of medical and family care leave, or any other non-job-related factors.

Pre-Employment

All employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of pre-employment requirements including a criminal background investigation, which involves fingerprinting. (A felony or misdemeanor conviction may disqualify the applicant from County employment). A pre-employment physical examination and background check may be required.

Probationary Period

As an Approved Local Merit System, all County of Riverside employees, except those serving "At Will," are subject to the probationary period provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding, County Resolution, or Salary Ordinance. Temporary and Per Diem employees serve at the pleasure of the agency/department head.

General Information

Current County of Riverside and/or current employees of the hiring department may receive priority consideration. Qualified candidates may be considered for future County vacancies.

Job postings may close without notice based on application volume. Submit your complete application by the recruitment close date; no late applications are accepted. Ensure all relevant experience/education is reflected on your application/resume, as a failure to demonstrate position requirements may disqualify applicants. A description of job duties directly copied from the job classification or job posting will not be considered.

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