Clinical Lab Director

UVA Health; Charlottesville (VA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid time off

Retirement plan

Disability coverage

HSA/FSA available

Education support

Job summary

UVA Health seeks a Director of Medical Laboratories to provide strategic and operational leadership for laboratory services within a complex academic health system. You will collaborate with pathologists, faculty, IT partners, and hospital leadership to deliver efficient, high-quality lab and pathology services.

The role combines visible leadership with disciplined oversight—reviewing performance, driving automation, evaluating investments, and advancing system-wide initiatives to support

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with NAACLS-approved MLS/CLS/HTL or equivalent.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible management and leadership in a complex healthcare environment.
• MLS/CLS or categorical certification, or CT, HTL, PA, ASCP or equivalent.
• Master’s degree in business or related field preferred.

Responsibilities

• Translate organizational priorities into clear laboratory strategies, operating plans, and measurable results.
• Promote a culture of support, accountability, and alignment with the laboratory’s clinical mission.
• Build and sustain high-performing leadership teams through workforce planning and development.
• Oversee complex laboratory operations focusing on capacity, workflow, turnaround times, and service.
• Partner with clinical leaders to standardize best practices and align services with patient care needs.
• Lead quality improvement, patient safety, regulatory readiness, and compliance.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Operations management

Communication

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s Degree with MLS/CLS/HTL (NAACLS-approved)

Master’s Degree in Business or related field (preferred)

Tools

Laboratory Information Systems (LIS)

Job description

Lead at the intersection of clinical excellence, operational performance, and workforce engagement at UVA Health. The Director, Medical Laboratories will help shape laboratory services that clinicians and patients rely on every day, while fostering a department culture grounded in collaboration, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.

As one of four Administrative Directors reporting to the Associate Chief of Medical Labs, you will share oversight of clinical laboratory operations and serve as a key member of the Medical Laboratories leadership team. This is an opportunity for an experienced laboratory leader to influence strategy, strengthen teams, advance technology and automation, and ensure that laboratory capabilities remain aligned with evolving clinical needs.

The Role

The Director provides strategic and operational leadership for laboratory departments serving a complex academic health system. You will collaborate closely with pathologists, faculty, operational leaders, information technology partners, and community hospital leadership to deliver efficient, high-quality laboratory and pathology services.

Your work will combine visible leadership with disciplined operational oversight. On an average day, you may review quality and financial performance, engage with laboratory leaders and team members, resolve barriers affecting service delivery, evaluate an automation or capital investment, and advance a system-wide initiative.

Key responsibilities include:

• Translate organizational priorities into clear laboratory strategies, operating plans, and measurable results.
• Promote a culture in which team members feel supported, informed, accountable, and connected to the laboratory’s clinical mission.
• Build and sustain high-performing leadership teams through workforce planning, coaching, succession planning, and professional development.
• Oversee complex laboratory operations with a focus on capacity, workflow, access, turnaround times, continuity, and exceptional service.
• Partner with clinical leaders and faculty to standardize best practices and align laboratory services with patient care needs.
• Lead quality improvement, patient safety, regulatory readiness, and compliance with applicable federal, state, and accrediting requirements.
• Direct financial performance, resource utilization, capital planning, productivity, and business cases for technology or service expansion.
• Advance innovation, automation, interoperability, and data-informed decision-making across laboratory operations.
• Partner with Laboratory Information Systems, information technology teams, and vendors to ensure systems support clinical and operational performance.
• Guide organizational change by communicating a clear vision, building stakeholder alignment, and helping teams successfully adopt new practices.
• Support the integration of laboratory services and collaborate with community hospital leadership to strengthen pathology and interlaboratory service delivery.
• Represent Medical Laboratories with credibility in executive, system-wide, and community settings.

Qualified candidates will have a bachelor’s degree with completion of a NAACLS-approved MLS, CLS, HTL, or equivalent program and at least five years of progressively responsible management and leadership experience in a complex healthcare environment. MLS, CLS, or categorical certification, or CT, HTL, PA, ASCP, or equivalent certification, is required. A master’s degree in business or a related field is preferred.

At UVA Health, laboratory leadership is integral to the delivery of safe, timely, evidence-based care. You will work within an academic health environment where clinical care, education, discovery, and operational innovation come together to improve outcomes for patients and communities.

This position offers the opportunity to:

• Have a meaningful leadership impact across complex and highly specialized laboratory operations.
• Collaborate with accomplished pathologists, faculty, healthcare executives, technical experts, and laboratory professionals.
• Help shape a department culture that values trust, transparency, professional growth, inclusion, and shared accountability .
• Lead strategic planning, service growth, technology adoption, and operational transformation.
• Influence laboratory quality, financial sustainability, workforce engagement, and the effective integration of services.
• Support an environment that encourages continuous learning, improvement, and innovation.
• Contribute to an organization committed to ethical leadership, equitable care, and decisions centered on patient and community impact.

Relocation assistance may be available for qualified candidates.

Why People Love Living in Charlottesville

Charlottesville offers an appealing combination of professional opportunity and quality of life. Located near the Blue Ridge Mountains, the community provides convenient access to hiking, cycling, parks, and scenic outdoor destinations, along with a vibrant local food, arts, music, and cultural scene. Healthcare professionals and their families value the area’s welcoming communities, educational resources, and balance of small-city accessibility with the energy and amenities of a university town.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Education

Education: Bachelor’s Degree with completion of a NAACLS approved MLS/CLS/HTL or equivalent program required. Master’s Degree in Business or related field, preferred.

Experience

Experience: Minimum of 5 years of increasing managerial and leadership experience in a complex health care environment required.

Licensure

Licensure: MLS/CLS or categorical, CT, HTL, PA, ASCP or equivalent. May require a valid Virginia Driver’s License.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. The job does occasionally require traveling some distance to attend meetings, and programs.

The pay range for this role is $130,000.00 - $209,817.00 annually. Individual compensation will be determined by the selected candidate's qualifications, previous work experience, and/or education.

Benefits

• Comprehensive Benefits Package: Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Generous Paid Time Off
• Retirement Savings
• Long-term and Short-term Disability
• Health Saving Plans, and Flexible Spending Accounts
• Certification and Education Support

UVA Health is a world-class Magnet Recognized academic medical center and health system with a level 1 trauma center. 2023-2024 U.S. News & World Report “Best Hospitals” guide rates UVA Health University Medical Center as “High Performing” in 5 adult specialties and 14 conditions/procedures. We are one of 70 National Cancer Institute designated cancer centers. UVA Health Children’s is named by 2023-2024 U.S. News & World Report as the best children's hospital in Virginia with 9 specialties ranked among the best in the nation. Our footprint also encompasses 3 community hospitals and an integrated network of primary and specialty care clinics throughout Charlottesville, Culpeper, Northern Virginia, and beyond.

The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Learn more about UVA’s commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment.