Director, Hospital Laboratory Operations

Lighthouse Lab Services; Honolulu (HI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Health, Vision, Dental

PTO /Paid Holidays

Job summary

Lighthouse Lab Services seeks a Director of Hospital Laboratory Operations in Honolulu to lead operations across multiple hospital laboratories. You will shape strategy, coach managers, ensure regulatory compliance, and drive quality and financial performance in a fast-paced clinical setting.

The role requires 8+ years in clinical labs, including hospital experience, strong budgeting and change-management skills, and the ability to partner with Medical Directors and executives while traveling

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in chemical, biological, clinical or medical laboratory science.
• At least 8 years of clinical laboratory experience, including 3+ years in a hospital setting.
• At least 5 years of management experience, including 2+ years at manager level.
• Current MT or MLS certification through a Hawaii DOH-recognized agency.
• Current Hawaii State license as a Technologist.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and strategic direction across assigned hospital laboratories.
• Lead, coach, and develop laboratory management teams across locations.
• Establish and monitor KPIs, goals, quality measures, and standardized processes.
• Oversee regulatory and accreditation compliance, inspection readiness, QA/QC programs.
• Partner with hospital departments, Medical Directors, executives, and stakeholders to improve services.
• Lead operational planning across staffing, equipment, supplies, LIS initiatives, and resources.
• Develop and manage operating and capital budgets; monitor financial performance.
• Oversee contract strategy, pricing discussions, risk assessment, and cost analysis.
• Advise executive and medical leadership on strategic planning and business development.
• Lead process improvement, quality, and change-management initiatives across locations.
• Provide operational coverage and travel between locations.

Skills

Leadership

Regulatory compliance

Budgeting

Operational strategy

Executive communication

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in clinical lab science

MLS/MT certification

Hawaii state technologist license

Job description

Director, Hospital Laboratory Operations

Location: Honolulu, HI

Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM-4:30 PM, Occasional nights and weekends, Flexibility based on operational needs

Lighthouse Lab Services is partnering with a leading clinical and anatomic pathology laboratory in Hawaii seeking a Director of Hospital Laboratory Operations to provide leadership across multiple hospital laboratory locations. This is a senior-level operational leadership role responsible for laboratory strategy, people leadership, regulatory compliance, financial performance, and the delivery of high-quality laboratory services.

The ideal candidate is an experienced laboratory leader with a strong hospital laboratory background and demonstrated success managing managers, complex operations, budgets, regulatory requirements, and organizational change. We're looking for someone who can operate strategically while remaining close enough to laboratory operations to coach teams, solve problems, drive process improvements, and partner effectively with hospital leadership, Medical Directors, executives, and other stakeholders.

The Role You’ll Play:

• Provide leadership and strategic direction across assigned hospital laboratories, ensuring operations align with organizational goals and patient care needs.
• Lead, coach, and develop laboratory management teams while building strong succession plans and a collaborative, accountable culture.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators, operational goals, quality measures, and standardized processes across laboratory locations.
• Oversee regulatory and accreditation compliance, inspection readiness, quality control, and quality assurance programs.
• Partner with hospital departments, outreach clients, Medical Directors, executives, and other stakeholders to continuously improve laboratory services.
• Lead operational planning across staffing, equipment, supplies, technology, test menus, LIS initiatives, and other laboratory resources.
• Develop and manage operating and capital budgets, monitor financial performance, and identify opportunities to improve quality and cost effectiveness.
• Oversee contract strategy, including pricing discussions, risk assessment, stakeholder alignment, and cost analysis for new testing systems and assays.
• Advise executive and medical leadership on strategic planning, business development, technical operations, and future laboratory opportunities.
• Lead process improvement, quality, and change-management initiatives across multiple laboratory locations.
• Provide operational and managerial coverage as needed and travel between assigned business locations.

What You’ll Bring:

• Bachelor's degree in chemical, biological, clinical or medical laboratory science, medical technology, or a related field from an accredited institution.
• At least 8 years of clinical laboratory experience, including a minimum of 3 years in a hospital setting.
• At least 5 years of management experience, including a minimum of 2 years at the Manager level or above.
• Current Medical Technologist (MT) or Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) certification through an agency recognized by the Hawaii Department of Health State Laboratories Division.
• Current Hawaii State license as a Technologist.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex laboratory operations and developing laboratory management teams.
• Strong knowledge of regulatory compliance, accreditation, quality assurance, and process improvement.
• Experience with budgeting, resource planning, performance management, and operational strategy.
• Strong executive communication, coaching, decision-making, and cross-functional leadership skills.
• Ability to travel between business locations.
• Independent/outreach laboratory experience is preferred.

Salary & Benefits:

• $120,000-$145,000 annually
• Relocation assistance
• Health, Vision, Dental
• PTO /Paid Holidays

At Lighthouse Lab Services, we offer solutions to help start, grow, and run clinical laboratories. Our recruiting team has over 22 years of proven success placing job seekers in positions ranging from entry level Medical Technologists to seasoned Laboratory Directors. We recruit nationwide, for permanent and travel positions with clients ranging from small hospitals to large reference laboratories.

It is the policy of Lighthouse Lab Services to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Lighthouse Lab Services is committed to working and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals of all abilities, including persons with disabilities. If at any time during the application process, you need an accommodation, please contact [e-mail] for assistance.

Lighthouse Lab Services | 844-334-1658 | lighthouselabservices.com#LLS3