Associate Director - Mass Spec Production

Kcas, Llc; Kansas City (KS); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock ownership program

KCAS University training

Company-sponsored events

Volunteer PTO

Job summary

KCAS Bio, a fast-growing contract research organization, seeks an Associate Director for LC-MS/MS Bioanalysis (Sample Analysis) in Kansas City. This role leads MSB Production teams, ensuring regulated studies are delivered with scientific excellence and process improvements.

You will drive capacity planning, data integrity, and collaboration across QA, PM, and other groups, shaping study execution and client commitments while supporting KCAS Bio's mission and values.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, biochemistry, or a related scientific field (advanced degree preferred).
• Strong knowledge of quantitative LC-MS/MS bioanalysis and regulated study execution.
• Extensive experience in GLP/GxP-regulated laboratory environments.
• Proven leadership in scientific or laboratory teams with performance accountability.
• Experience improving laboratory operations, workflows, and productivity.

Responsibilities

• Provide operational and scientific leadership across MSB Production and ensure timely, high-quality work compliant with regulations.
• Lead, develop, and coach staff; set expectations and build accountability for performance, quality, and delivery.
• Evaluate and improve production workflows by identifying bottlenecks and implementing sustainable improvements.
• Drive harmonization and standardization across teams while maintaining data integrity and GLP compliance.
• Collaborate with leadership to manage capacity, resources, staffing, instrumentation, and priorities.
• Monitor performance using metrics, trends, and root-cause analysis to enhance productivity and decision-making.
• Provide escalation support for complex scientific and operational issues in partnership with QA and other functions.
• Identify opportunities to improve laboratory operations through automation and training.

Skills

Leadership experience

Problem-solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Regulatory compliance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, biochemistry, or a related scientific field

Tools

LC-MS/MS instrumentation

Job description

Associate Director - LC-MS/MS Bioanalysis (Sample Analysis)

Commitment:

Regular - Full Time

Department:

Mass Spectrometry Bioanalysis

Location:

Kansas City - US

Team:

KC - Mass Spectrometry Bioanalysis - Prod

Performing critical work that impacts our industry and our world's health while problem solving and innovating in the field - that is what an Associate Director at KCAS Bio get to do every day. If that gets you excited too, then maybe working as an Associate Director at KCAS Bio is the role for you.

When you work as an Associate Director in the Mass Spectrometry Bioanalysis Production group at KCAS, you get to further our mission by providing operational and scientific leadership across the MSB Production organization. You will lead teams responsible for the execution of regulated bioanalytical studies while driving process harmonization, operational efficiency, quality, capacity, and continuous improvement across the group.

Our Mass Spec Bioanalysis Development team uses LC-MS/MS (Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry) techniques and sophisticated sample preparation methods to meet bioanalytical needs for drug discovery, preclinical, and clinical studies, including the bioanalysis of drugs and metabolites, biomarkers, and active endogenous compounds in biological fluids and tissues.

In this role, we will rely on you to:

• Provide operational and scientific leadership across MSB Production, ensuring teams consistently deliver high-quality work on time and in compliance with applicable regulatory requirements
• Lead, develop, and coach scientific staff while establishing clear expectations, strengthening team capabilities, and building accountability for performance, quality, and delivery
• Evaluate and improve production workflows by identifying bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and process variation and implementing sustainable improvements that increase throughput, consistency, and capacity
• Drive process harmonization and standardization across teams, studies, and workflows while maintaining scientific quality, data integrity, and GLP compliance
• Partner with MSB leadership to manage capacity, resource utilization, staffing, instrumentation, and workflow priorities based on current and anticipated business needs
• Monitor operational performance and use metrics, trends, and root-cause analysis to identify risks, improve productivity, and support informed decision-making
• Provide leadership and escalation support for complex scientific, operational, quality, client, and study-related issues, partnering with Quality Assurance and other functions as appropriate
• Identify and implement opportunities to improve laboratory operations through automation, technology, standardized tools, training, and continuous improvement initiatives
• Collaborate across scientific, Quality Assurance, Program Management, and other teams to support study execution, client commitments, organizational priorities, and continued growth
• Perform all aspects of the job in a way that supports company brand and supports company mission, vision, and values

To qualify specifically for this role, you will have:

• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, biochemistry, or a related scientific field with at least 7 years of experience in a bioanalytical laboratory environment; advanced degree preferred
• Strong knowledge of quantitative LC-MS/MS bioanalysis, including bioanalytical sample preparation, instrumentation, data workflows, and regulated study execution
• Extensive experience working in a GLP/GxP-regulated laboratory environment
• Demonstrated leadership experience within a scientific or laboratory organization, including developing teams, managing performance, and establishing accountability
• Demonstrated experience improving laboratory operations, workflows, processes, or productivity within a scientific environment
• Experience identifying operational bottlenecks, conducting root-cause analysis, and implementing sustainable process improvements
• Experience with capacity planning, resource utilization, workflow management, and prioritization within a laboratory environment
• Strong understanding of data integrity, quality systems, SOPs, audit readiness, and regulatory requirements associated with regulated bioanalytical studies
• Experience working with Quality Assurance and supporting client and/or regulatory audits and inspections
• Strong problem-solving, decision-making, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills
• Ability to lead changes, influence others, and balance operational efficiency with scientific quality and regulatory compliance

(Please note this is a representative summary of responsibilities, not a comprehensive or exclusive list of the duties to be performed in any position. Employees must follow instructions and perform additional duties as requested.)

WHO YOU ARE

You will thrive at KCAS Bio if you enjoy a relational environment, are purpose- and values-driven, embrace constant development and supportive leadership, and enjoy being part of innovative work.

WHAT YOU'LL GET

Our benefits include, and extend beyond, the traditional package.

• At KCAS Bio, you will enjoy company sponsored events like food trucks, family days and spirit days.
• You will grow in your career with KCAS University.
• You will be able to connect with like-minded employees to further KCAS Bio's approach to key areas such as wellness, inclusion, and community outreach.
• You will engage as an owner in our stock ownership program.
• You will have access to the latest technology.
• And you will be able to invest in the community with paid time off to volunteer.

We are a fast-growing contract research organization (CRO) headquartered in Kansas City, pioneering the latest drug development in both human and animal health fields.Demand for our expertise is growing and so is our need for great people to work in nimble, empowered teams committed to one another's growth. At KCAS Bio, we advance both great science AND great people.

KCAS Bio is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Among other things, we provide equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, age, disability, pregnancy, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other legally protected category; we recruit qualified candidates without regard to citizenship status based on internal processes that enable us to hire the right candidates consistent with the appropriate U.S. Immigration framework; and (3) we work with and provide reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities and for sincerely held religious beliefs, observances, and practices. Anyone who needs reasonable accommodation may send an email to [e-mail] or call 913-248-3000 (for TTY assistance call 711) and ask for Human Resources.