Director - Fertility Laboratory

Stanford-Medicine-Children; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 143,000 - 186,000; Full time

Job summary

The Director - Fertility Laboratory at Stanford Medicine Children's Health leads ART/embryology, endocrinology and andrology lab operations, aligning with REI program goals and patient care standards. You will ensure safety, regulatory compliance, and high-quality outcomes for gametes and embryos.

You will supervise embryologists, manage budgets, and mentor staff, partnering with clinicians to advance IVF/ART, PGT workflows, and cryopreservation while upholding the institution's mission and

Qualifications

• Ph.D./Sc.D./DCLS with biology/chemistry coursework; MD/DO also qualifying.
• Minimum seven years of clinical lab training/experience with high‑complexity testing.
• Experience supervising lab staff and ART procedures.
• CDPH/LFS director qualifications preferred (within one year).

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and scientific leadership for ART/embryology, endocrinology and andrology labs.
• Ensure regulatory compliance and quality with CLIA, CDPH, CAP standards.
• Recruit, develop and supervise embryologists and lab staff; mentor teams.
• Oversee budgeting, staffing and equipment planning; drive innovation in IVF/ART.

Skills

Embryology expertise

Micromanipulation (ICSI)

Cryopreservation

Quality leadership

Strategic planning

Education

Ph.D./Sc.D./DCLS

MD/DO degrees

Biology/chemistry coursework (32 sem hrs)

Tools

Laboratory information system (LIS)

Cryostorage systems

Job description

At Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford, we know world-renowned care begins with world-class caring. That's why we combine advanced technologies and breakthrough discoveries with family-centered care. It's why we provide our caregivers with continuing education and state-of-the-art facilities, like the newly remodeled Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford. And it's why we need caring, committed people on our team - like you. Join us on our mission to heal humanity, one child and family at a time. Job ID: P147274-3442

Job Description

JOB SUMMARY

This paragraph summarizes the general nature, level and purpose of the job.

Reporting to the Vice President of Ambulatory Services, the Director - Fertility Laboratory provides strategic, scientific, technical, operational, and quality leadership for the assisted reproductive technology (ART)/embryology, endocrinology, and andrology laboratory functions within the assigned Stanford Medicine Children's Health (SMCH) Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI) program. In close partnership with the REI Medical Director, physicians, nursing, program operations, and institutional leaders, the Director is accountable for reliable laboratory operations; the safety, identity, integrity, and traceability of gametes and embryos; regulatory readiness and compliance; appropriate staffing and competency; prudent financial stewardship; and quality and continuous improvement of clinical and patient/family outcomes.

The Director establishes and maintains evidence-based laboratory policies, supervises qualified personnel, provides clinical and scientific consultation, leads laboratory planning and innovation, and supports the clinical, teaching, and research mission of Stanford Medicine. The Director shall perform legally designated laboratory director functions for applicable clinical laboratory testing and treatment only when individually qualified, licensed, and designated under California and federal requirements; institutional assignment of this title alone does not confer statutory director authority.

Key areas of responsibility include embryology/IVF, diagnostic and therapeutic andrology, endocrine testing, cryopreservation and cryorepository management, laboratory quality and safety, staff leadership, regulatory compliance, equipment and facility oversight, data integrity and reporting, financial management, and academic partnership.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Employees must abide by all Joint Commission requirements, including but not limited to sensitivity to cultural diversity, patient care, patient rights and ethical treatment, safety and security of physical environments, emergency management, teamwork, respect for others, participation in ongoing education and training, communication, adherence to safety and quality programs, sustaining compliance with National Patient Safety Goals, and applicable licensure and health screenings.

Must perform all duties and responsibilities in accordance with the hospital's policies and procedures, including its Service Standards and Code of Conduct.

Strategic and Scientific Leadership

• Lead strategic and annual operational planning for assigned REI laboratories in alignment with clinical demand, institutional goals, patient safety and available resources.
• Partner with the REI Medical Director and clinical leadership on laboratory practice, patient care pathways, new technologies, complex fertility treatment, third-party reproduction, fertility preservation and preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) workflows when offered.
• Establish, review and approve scientifically sound standard operating procedures, validation and verification plans, performance thresholds and change controls appropriate to the Director’s regulatory authority; ensure methods are clinically relevant and laboratory results are reliable and timely.
• Provide laboratory consultation to REI clinicians, nursing teams and other stakeholders; foster respectful interprofessional decision‑making and transparent communication.

Laboratory Operations, Quality and Patient Safety

• Direct and evaluate daily embryology, endocrinology, and andrology laboratory operations, including appropriate laboratory support for IVF/ART procedures, gamete and embryo assessment, culture, micromanipulation, cryopreservation and warming, specimen preparation/testing, endocrine testing, and coordination with external reference laboratories, as applicable.
• Maintain validated witnessing, patient/specimen identification, labeling, chain‑of‑custody, traceability, storage monitoring and disaster‑recovery processes for gametes, embryos and reproductive specimens.
• Own an integrated quality management system encompassing quality control, quality assurance, equipment and environmental monitoring, competency assessments, proficiency testing or approved alternatives where applicable, occurrence reporting, root‑cause analysis, corrective/preventive actions and periodic management review.
• Establish dashboards and review performance indicators (e.g., identification/witnessing compliance, incident trends, turnaround times, fertilization, embryo development, cryosurvival, environmental excursions and laboratory contributions to ART outcomes), adjusting for case mix and clinical context.
• Oversee documentation, data integrity, electronic records, consent‑related workflow controls, confidentiality, laboratory inventory, specimen disposition, and secure retention consistent with law and SMCH policy.
• Ensure safe physical facilities and appropriate maintenance, calibration, qualification and replacement planning for instruments, incubators, air‑handing systems, cryostorage systems and consumables.
• Maintain emergency preparedness, after‑hours coverage and business continuity plans for equipment failure, power loss, cryogenic hazards, environmental incidents and laboratory interruptions.

Regulatory Compliance and Accreditation

• Ensure assigned clinical laboratory activities operate in conformity with applicable California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Laboratory Field Services requirements, federal CLIA and FDA provisions for covered testing, applicable accreditation standards, and institutional policies; document distinct regulatory scope for ART activities and diagnostic clinical laboratory testing.
• Maintain the appropriate active California director‑level credential and federal CLIA laboratory‑director qualifications when personally serving as the designated director; verify licensure, scope of practice and supervision requirements for all personnel performing regulated work.
• Lead internal audits, inspection readiness, onsite surveys, deficiency remediation and regulatory communication in coordination with compliance and institutional leadership.
• Ensure accurate and timely ART outcome and cycle data submissions to SART and/or CDC when required for the program, with documented quality checks and responsible physician collaboration.
• Oversee biosafety, infection prevention, occupational health, privacy and laboratory risk‑management programs within institutional accountability structures and federal CLIA and FDA standards.

People Leadership and Organizational Culture

• Recruit, develop, supervise and evaluate embryologists, andrology and endocrine personnel and designated laboratory managers/supervisors; maintain role descriptions, staffing coverage plans, documented training. , competency and continued education.
• Assign laboratory duties only to appropriately credentialed and qualified personnel, with supervision and escalation consistent with California law, CLIA and institutional policy.
• Develop a culture of psychological safety, accountability, constructive error reporting, inclusion, mentorship, professional growth and continuous improvement.
• Provide training and scientific oversight of evolving procedures; participate in hands‑on laboratory work when needed and are appropriately qualified without compromising leadership and oversight responsibilities.

Financial Strength, Technology and Innovation

• Develop and manage the laboratory budget, staffing models, capital equipment plans, supply agreements and expense controls; investigate variances and steward resources without compromising quality or safety.
• Collaborate with Finance, Supply Chain, facilities and information services on vendor qualification, contracting, service agreements, validated technology adoption, laboratory information systems, data management and cybersecurity.
• Lead process improvements that optimize service reliability, capacity and operational efficiency; assess new methods through appropriate risk assessment, validation, clinical governance and regulatory review.

Education

• Support the academic mission through teaching, trainee supervision as authorized, scientific presentations, interdisciplinary case review and collaborative research consistent with clinical obligations and approved protocols.
• Establish collaborative relationships with Stanford School of Medicine, medical genetics, reproductive medicine and other internal or external scientific partners; evaluate research‑to‑practice translation under established institutional review and validation processes.

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities as well as possession of any required licenses or certifications is qualifying.

Education:Ph.D., Sc.D., or DCLS from an accredited institution in a chemical, physical, biological, or medical laboratory science as the major subject. Must include a minimum of 32 semester hours of undergraduate or graduate coursework in biology, chemistry, or medical laboratory science. M.D. or D.O. degrees from an accredited institution are also qualifying with matching laboratory criteria.

Experience: Minimum of seven (7+) years of clinical laboratory training or experience on human specimens within the last 10 years. Minimum of seven (7+) years of direct experience managing, supervising, and directing high‑complexity testing and laboratory staff; may be concurrent with clinical laboratory experience. Documented log of at least 60 human assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedures, including follicular aspirate examination, insemination/ICSI, fertilization assessment, and embryo transfer preparation, completed under supervision and verified by a training Laboratory Director. Documentation of at least 24 hours of accredited continuing education in ART or clinical laboratory practice completed every two years.

License/Certification: Current, valid Clinical Reproductive Biologist Director License issued by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), Laboratory Field Services (LFS) (preferred, but must be obtained within one year of hire). Active certification as a High‑Complexity Clinical Laboratory Director (HCLD) from the American Board of Bioanalysis (ABB).

KNOWLEDGE

• Advanced embryology expertise, including expert technical knowledge of human cell culture, micromanipulation (ICSI, assisted hatching), cryopreservation (vitrification), and preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) biopsy protocols.
• Deep familiarity with California laboratory law, tissue banking regulations, OSHA requirements, and CAP inspection checklists.
• Proficiency in experimental design, statistics, data analytics, and troubleshooting embryonic culture systems.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills to consult effectively with medical professionals, manage diverse team dynamics, represent the laboratory to patients, and handle sensitive, confidential information with discretion.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The Physical Requirements and Working Conditions in which the job is typically performed are available from the Occupational Health Department. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Additional Information

Pay Range
Compensation is based on the level and requirements of the role.
Salary within our ranges may also be determined by your education, experience, knowledge, skills, location, and abilities, as required by the role, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.
Typically, new team members join at the minimum to mid salary range.
Minimum to Midpoint Range (Hourly): $103.95 to $135.13

Stanford Medicine Children's Health (SMCH) strongly values diversity and is committed to equal opportunity and non‑discrimination in all of its policies and practices, including the area of employment. Accordingly, SMCH does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, religion, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, marital status, medical condition, genetic information, veteran status, or disability, or the perception of any of the above. People of all genders, members of all racial and ethnic groups, people with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Qualified applicants with criminal convictions will be considered after an individualized assessment of the conviction and the job requirements, and where applicable, in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.