Director, Lab Services - AMC - F/T - Days

UC Irvine; California (MO); On-site; USD 180,000 - 270,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Paid time off

Retirement savings plans

Employee discounts

Job summary

UCI Health is seeking a Director of Laboratory Services to lead all clinical laboratory operations, assuring quality, regulatory compliance, and financial integrity. The role requires close collaboration with clinical and administrative teams to shape workforce development, LIS upgrades, and strategic capital planning.

The position emphasizes accountability for performance across the laboratory, with authority to oversee area-wide operations and drive continuous improvement in patient care and

Qualifications

• 3 years of management experience in a complex healthcare setting.
• Experience in business development.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Current CA CLS License or PA Certification.
• CA Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) or PA Certification in Anatomic Pathology or ASCP MLS Certification.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Life Sciences, or related field.

Responsibilities

• Provide operational leadership and technical oversight of all clinical laboratory services in assigned area.
• Ensure clinical quality, regulatory and accreditation compliance, and financial management.
• Direct activities to ensure services are accurate, efficient, and aligned with system standards.
• Collaborate with clinical, medical, and administrative leadership on workforce development, LIS, capital planning, and performance improvement.
• Maintain accountability for departmental performance and financial integrity; exercise wide latitude of authority.

Skills

Management experience

Analytical skills

Communication skills

English proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or Life Sciences

Master's degree in a related field

Job description

UCI Health is one of California’s largest academic health systems and the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine. Established on July 1, 1976, UCI Health has grown into a 1,461-bed health system that includes UCI Health — Orange, UCI Health — Irvine, four Community Network hospitals and a growing network of ambulatory care centers across Orange and Los Angeles counties. As Orange County’s only academic health system, UCI Health is home to the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center based in the county, the region’s only American College of Surgeons-verified Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center, American College of Emergency Physicians Gold Level 1 Geriatric Emergency Department and a nationally recognized regional burn center verified by the American Burn Association. Powered by UC Irvine, UCI Health serves 5.6 million people across Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County through excellence in patient care, research and medical education.

Position Summary

The Director, Laboratory Services is responsible for the operational leadership, technical oversight, and management of all clinical laboratory services of their assigned area or facility. The incumbent is accountable for the clinical quality, operational performance, regulatory and accreditation compliance, and financial management of laboratory services. This role directs activities to ensure laboratory services are performed accurately, efficiently, and in alignment with health system standards and organizational objectives. The Director collaborates with clinical, medical, and administrative leadership on workforce development, laboratory information systems, capital and technology planning, and performance improvement initiatives. This position provides direct oversight and maintains accountability for departmental performance and the financial integrity of laboratory operations. The Director exercises wide latitude of authority in managing specified area or facility-level laboratory operations with limited oversight.

Required Qualifications

• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to interpret data and market trends to make strategic business decisions.
• Must possess the skill, knowledge and ability essential to the successful performance of assigned duties.
• Must demonstrate customer service skills appropriate to the job.
• Must be willing to testify in court regarding testing activities if subpoenaed.
• 3 years of management experience within a complex healthcare setting.
• Experience in business development.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, adept at building and maintaining relationships at all levels.
• Current CA CLS License or PA Certification.
• CA Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) or PA Certification in Anatomic Pathology or ASCP MLS Certification.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Life Sciences, or related field.
• Ability to maintain a work pace appropriate to the workload.

Preferred Qualifications

• Understanding of Pathology and Clinical Laboratory operations, industry trends, regulatory compliance, and healthcare landscape.
• Master’s Degree in a related field.
• Management experience in a healthcare, academic and laboratory setting.
• Knowledge of University and medical center organizations, policies, procedures and forms.

Total Rewards

We offer a wealth of benefits to make working at UCI even more rewarding. These benefits may include medical insurance, sick and vacation time, retirement savings plans, and access to a number of discounts and perks. Please utilize the links listed here to learn more about our compensation practices and benefits.

Conditions of Employment

• Background Check and Live Scan.
• Employment Misconduct.
• Legal Right to Work in the United States.
• Vaccination Policies.
• Smoking and Tobacco Policy.
• Drug Free Environment.
• Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.
• California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act.
• E-Verify.
• Pre-Placement Health Evaluation.
• Details of each policy may be reviewed by visiting the following page: https://hr.uci.edu/new-hire/conditions-of-employment.php

Closing Statement

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC Anti-Discrimination Policy.

We are committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce along with honoring unique experiences, perspectives, and identities. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable, and welcoming.

UCI provides reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities upon request. For more information, please contact UCI's Employee Experience Center (EEC) at [e-mail] or at [phone], Monday - Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Consideration for Work Authorization Sponsorship

Must be able to provide proof of work authorization.