Associate Director, Laboratory Operations- TiH

Natera; Idaho Falls (ID); On-site; USD 132,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans

Fertility care benefits

Generous employee referral program

Job summary

Natera is seeking an Associate Director, Laboratory Operations in Idaho Falls, ID, to lead and direct lab operations, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. The role involves developing and managing budgets, staff performance, and optimizing manufacturing processes.

The ideal candidate will have a BS/BA in a STEM field and at least 8 years of experience in a leadership role, particularly in CLIA/CAP settings. Natera offers competitive benefits including medical plans and a generous employee referral program.

Qualifications

• At least 8 years' experience in manufacturing or CRO production at a leadership level.
• At least 5 years' experience overseeing a production team.

Responsibilities

• Provide operational and strategic leadership to laboratory products.
• Participate in budget preparation and monitor production performance.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory and legal parameters.

Skills

Communication skills

Organization skills

Detail orientation

Interpersonal skills

Experience in Molecular Biology

Education

BS/BA degree in STEM-related field; Biological Sciences preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Google products

Job description

Associate Director, Laboratory Operations- TiH

Austin, TX

Position Summary

The Associate Director, Laboratory Operations is a key leader in Natera’s lab operations who oversees and directs the development, planning, implementation and maintenance of manufacturing methods, processes and operations for new or existing products and technologies. The AD works closely with groups to ensure strict compliance with good manufacturing practices and CLIA/CAP guidelines at all times. Ensures the effective use of materials, equipment and employees in producing quality products. Monitor and control staffing / labor, capital expenditures, and manufacturing performance. Develops budget and monitors expenditures. Formulates and recommends manufacturing policies, procedures and programs. Selects, develops and evaluates line‑management to ensure the efficient operation of the function.

Primary Responsibilities

• Provide operational and strategic leadership to laboratory products assigned.
• Participate in budget preparation, monitoring of revenue, expenses, test volume, FTE efficiency, report/result turnaround, and overall production performance.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory and legal parameters.
• Serve as a model for standards and behavior performance.
• Participate in drafting of SOW and processing of select research samples through the CLIA lab.
• Lead, direct and manage high‑performance teams with accountability for operations, quality, customer service, and success of assigned departments and product lines.
• Identify and champion development of departmental key performance indicators (KPI) and analyze for opportunities to optimize department performance.
• Direct Production Laboratory personnel in support of activities for manufacturing that will include method validation, method transfer, and in‑process testing.
• Develop or oversee the development of Laboratory production process, procedures, and authorize the implementation.
• Develop subordinate’s development through professional development reviews, coaching, mentoring, and training.
• Collaborate with direct reports to create professional development goals for the team and foster a positive work environment.
• Generate and routinely provide executive level production/departmental summaries.
• Represent the company during audits, visits, and technical and client calls.
• Build effective partnerships with department heads to help drive the business toward achieving company objectives.
• Establish operational objectives and plans.
• Delegate assignments as necessary.
• Work on issues where analysis requires in‑depth knowledge of organizational objectives.
• Establish schedules, work plans, and performance requirements.
• Interact regularly with senior management or executive levels.
• Work with PHI on a regular basis in paper and electronic form.
• Complete training relating to HIPAA/PHI privacy, General Policies and Procedure Compliance training and security training within 30 days of hire.
• Maintain current status on Natera training requirements.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• BS/BA degree (or equivalent) in STEM‑related field; Biological Sciences preferred.
• At least 8 years’ experience and with at least 5 years’ experience overseeing manufacturing or a Contract Research Organization production team at a leadership level.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Experience managing a CLIA/CAP CRO production team is highly preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) and Google products (Gmail/GCal/Drive/GChat).
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, strong organization skills and high attention to detail.
• Aptitude to thrive in a fast paced unstructured, constantly changing environment when faced with multiple challenging projects.
• Strong interpersonal skills with a service‑oriented mindset.
• Proactive, independent self‑started with a can‑do attitude.
• Establish and maintain positive and effective working relationships with clients, coworkers, contractors, and vendors.
• Strong detail orientation: ability to set priorities, multi‑task and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work effectively with technical employees at all levels.
• Ability to handle sensitive, confidential information discreetly and professionally.
• Experience in Molecular Biology.
• Experience in building and managing a high performing group of engaged and motivated employees.

Pay Range

$132,000 - $165,000 USD (Austin, TX)

Our Opportunity

Natera™ is a global leader in cell‑free DNA (cfDNA) testing, dedicated to oncology, women’s health, and organ health. Our aim is to make personalized genetic testing and diagnostics part of the standard of care to protect health and enable earlier and more targeted interventions that lead to longer, healthier lives.

The Natera team consists of highly dedicated statisticians, geneticists, doctors, laboratory scientists, business professionals, software engineers and many other professionals from world‑class institutions, who care deeply for our work and each other. When you join Natera, you’ll work hard and grow quickly. Working alongside the elite of the industry, you’ll be stretched and challenged, and take pride in being part of a company that is changing the landscape of genetic disease management.

What We Offer

Competitive Benefits – Employee benefits include comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life and disability plans for eligible employees and their dependents. Additionally, Natera employees and their immediate families receive free testing in addition to fertility care benefits. Other benefits include pregnancy and baby bonding leave, 401k benefits, commuter benefits and much more. We also offer a generous employee referral program!

Equal Opportunity Employer

Natera is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to ensuring a diverse and inclusive workplace environment, and welcome people of different backgrounds, experiences, abilities and perspectives. Inclusive collaboration benefits our employees, our community and our patients, and is critical to our mission of changing the management of disease worldwide.

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply, and will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, age, veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with applicable laws.

If you are based in California, we encourage you to read this important information for California residents.

Please be advised that Natera will reach out to candidates with a @natera.com email domain ONLY. Email communications from all other domain names are not from Natera or its employees and are fraudulent. Natera does not request interviews via text messages and does not ask for personal information until a candidate has engaged with the company and has spoken to a recruiter and the hiring team. Natera takes cyber crimes seriously, and will collaborate with law enforcement authorities to prosecute any related cyber crimes.