Assistant Lab Manager - North Liberty Pathology

University of Iowa; Iowa City (IA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Iowa Health Care is seeking an Assistant Lab Manager to lead staff and manage the MCNL laboratory operations at the North Liberty Campus. You will supervise personnel, oversee technical and operational functions, and support regulatory compliance and quality control across the laboratory.

Collaborate with medical directors, laboratory managers, and clinicians to ensure timely service delivery, efficient workflows, and accurate testing.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in clinical laboratory sciences from an accredited college.
• 3–5 years experience in laboratory or health care supervision.
• Certification (eligible) as Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) per ASCP or equivalent.
• Proficient in computer software applications; strong written and verbal communication.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical, technical, managerial and developmental leadership to staff.
• Mentor and coach staff; disseminate policy updates and ensure regulatory compliance.
• Oversee laboratory operations, staffing, and scheduling to maintain productivity and quality.
• Evaluate and write validation and variance reports; manage risk events as needed.
• Collaborate with Medical Directors, Laboratory Supervisors, and other MCNL personnel to ensure timely service delivery.
• Oversee instrument validation, troubleshooting, and maintenance coordination; manage capital planning input.

Skills

Leadership

Staff supervision

Communication skills

Quality assurance

Computer proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s degree in clinical laboratory sciences

Master’s degree in related field

Tools

Laboratory Information Systems (LIS)

Automated laboratory instrumentation

Job description

The Assistant Lab Manager ensures the smooth, efficient operation of the MCNL laboratory by supervising assigned personnel, performing assigned administrative functions, overseeing and managing technical and operational functions of the laboratory and performing other tasks and duties as assigned.

The new University of Iowa Health Care – North Liberty Campus is a 469,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility serving as the home of UI Health Care’s nationally recognized Orthopedics service line. It offers coordinated, comprehensive, and accessible care across outpatient, inpatient, and surgical settings. In addition to world-class orthopedic care, the campus features a full-service community imaging center, laboratory services, physical therapy, a retail pharmacy, an emergency department, and a wide range of support services. Every element of the facility is thoughtfully designed to deliver an exceptional experience for patients and staff, support excellence in clinical care, education, and research, and foster meaningful community partnerships.

UI Health Care is building a welcoming, skilled, and collaborative team to help launch this innovative campus and advance our mission: Changing Medicine. Changing Lives.

Job Relationships

Administrative supervision is received from the Laboratory Manager of the Medical Center North Liberty Hospital. Collaborates effectively with the Medical Directors, Laboratory Supervisors, Laboratory Technologists and other MCNL personnel to ensure timely service delivery, operational efficiency and regulatory compliance throughout the MCNL Laboratory. Provides functional and administrative supervision of other leadership, technical and support staff of the MCNL Laboratory.

Position Specific Task Statements

• Provides clinical, technical, managerial and developmental leadership to staff.
• Mentors and coaches staff, as appropriate.
• Disseminates general information and pertinent policy or procedure changes.
• Ensure staff are compliant with policies, procedures and regulations.
• Support laboratory initiatives in a positive manner.
• Assists in maintaining productivity and quality of the laboratory operations.
• Recommends corrective action in response to errors, near misses, regulatory changes or internal/external audits.
• Writes and evaluates Variances.
• Enters Riskonnect events as needed.
• May occasionally provide assistance with bench level or supporting tasks as appropriate based on urgent needs.
• Demonstrates leadership by aligning, influencing, and inspiring the laboratory team to produce changes needed to cope with the hospital’s changing environment.
• Effectively collaborates with colleagues throughout University of Iowa Health Care.
• Oversees laboratory automation and instrumentation.
• Evaluates and recommends new instrumentation
• Assists in troubleshooting instrumentation problems
• Writes and oversees instrument validation protocols.
• Provides financial background, rationale and other lab specific analytic details to support and provide justification for capital planning requests.
• Oversees and maintains testing capabilities to insure that testing is performed in a timely, accurate and effective manner.
• Works with Emery Warner Clinical Laboratories to ensure samples are sent/transferred appropriately, including evaluation of courier routes and times.
• Ensures that billing for testing, services along with blood and tissue products is accurate and complete.
• Establishes, evaluates, and maintains effective staffing and scheduling systems.
• Develops schedules for laboratory staff and enters the schedule in ELMS.
• Approves requests for time off while maintaining adequate laboratory staffing.
• Performs activities in UI Health Care timekeeping/scheduling system.
• Assists in developing short and long term strategic plans for the laboratory in consultation with medical and departmental leadership.
• Assesses, develops and maintains regulatory compliance in collaboration with designated staff from the Pathology Quality Management Team.
• Maintains knowledge of and ensures compliance with regulatory and accreditation requirements.
• Assists with writing, executing and reviewing validation protocols.
• Assists in ensuring that proficiency testing is completed.
• Ensures all safety requirements are met and followed by laboratory staff.
• Assists in the recruitment, orientation, training, and supervision of technical and support staff.
• Participates in interviews and recommends laboratory staff for employment.
• Evaluates staff performance; in consultation with Lab Manager and Human Resources, takes appropriate action to address performance gaps/deficiencies.
• Oversees the competency program for laboratory staff.
• Completes annual performance appraisals for laboratory staff with assistance from lead technologists.
• In conjunction with lab Manager and Director, evaluates renovation and design activities for the laboratory.
• Participates in inventory and supply management with the laboratory Clerk.
• Ensures that a system is in place for maintaining and accounting for appropriate laboratory supply and reagent inventory.
• Ensures that appropriate levels of blood components are established and maintained.
• In conjunction with the main hospital Tissue Bank, ensures that appropriate tissue inventory is established & maintained and special-order tissues are obtained.
• Works with the laboratory Clerk to ensure that annual maintenance and service contracts are renewed in a timely manner.
• Participates in the review, update, and development of written procedures.
• Provide evaluative feedback to students. Work with clinical instructors/educators to facilitate clinical education.
• Performs other projects and tasks as assigned.
• Demonstrates appropriate and effective written, electronic and verbal communication.

Hours

10:30 AM to 7:00 PM

Location

North Liberty Hospital

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in clinical laboratory sciences from an accredited college or university or an equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
• 3-5 years experience in laboratory or health care supervision is required.
• 3-5 years experience working directly in laboratory or health care operations is required.
• Certification (eligible) as a Medical Laboratory Scientist or specialist certification by the American Society of Clinical Pathology is required.
• Reasonable knowledge of quality assurance and human resources activities is required.
• Must be proficient in computer software applications.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills are required

Desired Qualifications

• A Master's degree in Business Administration or Hospital and Health Administration or an equivalent combination of education or experience
• Experience working in an academic health center is desired.
• Knowledge of laboratory information systems (LIS) is highly desired.
• Experience with automated laboratory instrumentation is highly desired.
• Experience in a laboratory overseeing or performing moderate and/or high complexity testing in blood banking, chemistry, hematology, microbiology and/or tissue bank is highly desired.

Additional Information

• Classification Title: HC Svcs Supv/ Assistant Mgr
• Appointment Type: Professional and Scientific
• Schedule: Full-time
• Work Modality Options: On Campus

Compensation

• Pay Level: 5A

Contact Information

• Organization: Healthcare
• Contact Name: Polly Terukina
• Contact Email: [e-mail]