Associate Director - Lab Operations

IQVIA Laboratories; Santa Clarita (CA); On-site; USD 92,000 - 214,000; Full time

Job summary

IQVIA Laboratories in Valencia, CA seeks an Associate Director, Lab Operations to lead regulated clinical testing operations and drive continuous improvement. This role will shape departmental strategy, develop staff, and ensure high-quality, compliant performance.

You will manage laboratory teams, set objectives, and collaborate with QA and EHS to resolve issues while pursuing cost efficiencies and operational excellence.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a laboratory science or equivalent.
• 8+ years of experience in a regulated laboratory setting.
• 5+ years line management experience.
• In-depth knowledge of clinical testing procedures and related regulations.

Responsibilities

• Direct the daily activities of laboratory work groups and supervise staff.
• Plan, prioritize, and assign workloads and resources.
• Recruit, train, and develop laboratory personnel.
• Set team objectives aligned with departmental strategy.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities and assist with budget planning.
• Resolve operational, quality, safety, and supply-chain challenges across departments.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory and safety requirements with QA and EHS teams.
• Drive CAPA closure and root-cause analysis for quality incidents.

Skills

People leadership

Regulated environment know-how

Budget planning

Education

Bachelor's degree in chemical/physical/biological or clinical laboratory science

Tools

CAPA & root cause analysis

Quality Assurance

Job description

We are seeking an Associate Director, Lab Operations to join IQVIA Laboratories at Valencia, CA.

We hire passionate innovators who drive healthcare forward through thoughtful and inclusive collaboration. If you want to discover a career with greater purpose, join us as we transform and accelerate research and development.

Job Summary

Lead laboratory teams in a regulated clinical testing environment, ensuring safe, compliant, high-quality, and efficient operations. Shape departmental strategy, develop staff, manage operational performance, and drive continuous improvement across laboratory functions.

What You'll Be Doing

• Direct the daily activities of laboratory work groups through effective delegation, technical training, coaching, and supervision
• Plan, prioritize, and assign workloads, projects, and operational resources
• Recruit, train, develop, and manage the performance of laboratory staff
• Establish team objectives and performance metrics aligned with departmental strategy and operational goals
• Identify cost-saving and revenue opportunities while supporting budget planning for consumables, instrumentation, and staffing
• Resolve operational, quality, safety, and supply-chain challenges across multiple departments
• Ensure regulatory and safety compliance in collaboration with Quality Assurance and Environmental, Health and Safety teams
• Drive CAPA closure, quality incident resolution, root cause analysis, business continuity, and continuous improvement initiatives

What We Are Looking For

• A bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience is required; some CAP/CLIA laboratory locations may require a Bachelor of Science in a chemical, physical, biological, or clinical laboratory science, medical laboratory technology, or cytotechnology
• Typically requires >8 years experience in regulated environment
• 5 years line management experience is required
• In-depth knowledge of clinical testing procedures and applicable laboratory testing regulations
• Strong technical understanding of laboratory operations, testing methods, study setup, and cross-functional or system dependencies
• Working knowledge of quality assurance, quality control, CAPA, root cause analysis, and occupational safety and health regulations
• Applicable certifications and licenses are required where specified by local regulations
• Other equivalent combination of education, training, and experience may be accepted in lieu of degree

The Knowledge, Skills And Abilities Needed For This Role

• Ability to lead and manage processes, projects, and operational tactics across one department or multiple related departments
• Effective people leadership, supervision, performance management, and coaching skills
• Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels, including senior leadership
• Ability to assess and prioritize multiple tasks, projects, operational risks, and competing demands
• Ability to establish effective working relationships and foster collaboration with employees, managers, clients, Quality Assurance, and Environmental, Health and Safety partners
• Commitment to building a unified, quality-oriented culture that supports employee engagement, customer satisfaction, operational performance, and retention

What We Offer You

We put our employees at the center of everything we do and are committed to providing them, and their families, with benefits that meet their diverse and changing needs. We invest in integrated benefits programs and resources to take care of our employees' physical, mental and emotional, financial and social well-being so they can thrive at home and at work, at any stage of their well-being journey.

To learn more about our benefits, visit https://jobs.iqvia.com/benefits.

If you're looking to unleash your potential, join IQVIA Laboratories to help make the extraordinary possible!

IQVIA is a leading global provider of clinical research services, commercial insights and healthcare intelligence to the life sciences and healthcare industries. We create intelligent connections to accelerate the development and commercialization of innovative medical treatments to help improve patient outcomes and population health worldwide. Learn more at https://jobs.iqvia.com

IQVIA is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by applicable law. https://jobs.iqvia.com/eoe

IQVIA is committed to integrity in our hiring process and maintains a zero tolerance policy for candidate fraud. All information and credentials submitted in your application must be truthful and complete. Any false statements, misrepresentations, or material omissions during the recruitment process will result in immediate disqualification of your application, or termination of employment if discovered later, in accordance with applicable law. We appreciate your honesty and professionalism.

The potential base pay range for this role, when annualized, is $92,200.00 - $213,900.00. The actual base pay offered may vary based on a number of factors including job-related qualifications such as knowledge, skills, education, and experience; location; and/or schedule (full or part-time). Dependent on the position offered, incentive plans, bonuses, and/or other forms of compensation may be offered, in addition to a range of health and welfare and/or other benefits.