Assistant Director, Clinical Laboratory

Ruhealth; Moreno Valley (CA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Riverside University Health System (RUHS) seeks an experienced Assistant Director, Clinical Laboratory to lead operations across the Medical Center, Community Health Centers, and Correctional Health Services. The role includes strategic planning, quality improvement, and oversight of regulatory compliance.

The successful candidate will manage supervisory staff, collaborate with pathologists and healthcare leaders, and influence organizational performance and patient care outcomes within one of

Qualifications

• Leadership experience in a complex healthcare environment.
• Operational, strategic and administrative skills.
• Supervisory experience managing laboratory staff and programs.
• Ability to build effective relationships with physicians, pathologists and healthcare leaders.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Director, Clinical Laboratory in developing and implementing the strategic plan, including technology assessment, staffing, space and capital needs.
• Manage CLIA-related activities—administration, financials, compliance, quality improvement, technical and personnel.
• Plan, supervise and evaluate work of all technical and non-technical laboratory personnel across MC, CHC and CHS; ensure regulatory compliance.
• Monitor workload and adjust staffing; maintain instrument uptime and performance.
• Develop and document QA/QC programs to meet regulatory standards.
• Oversee budgeting for personnel, operations and capital equipment costs.
• Develop policies and procedures; communicate standard practices; disseminate procedures.
• Develop and manage student training programs and academic partnerships.
• Oversee the Laboratory Information System and related databases.

Skills

Leadership experience

Strategic planning

Operational management

Quality improvement

Regulatory compliance

Staff supervision

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

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

• 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.

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.