Director, Laboratory Operations

Ascend Clinical; Lenexa (KS); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

401(k) with match

Paid holidays

Job summary

Ascend Clinical, LLC in Lenexa, KS seeks a Director of Laboratory Operations to oversee laboratory activities for Boston Heart Diagnostics. The role focuses on maintaining regulatory compliance, supervising staff, and ensuring accurate testing across chemical, immunoassay, and chromatography methods.

Responsibilities include coordinating with other departments, managing budgets, and driving process improvements while upholding safety and quality standards in a fast-paced lab environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree in Medical Laboratory Science plus five year’s clinical laboratory experience or Masters in chemical, biological, or physical science plus seven years of experience with relevant specialty.
• Strong lab supervision/managerial skills and excellent customer service.
• Knowledge of CLIA, CAP, NYS regulatory requirements and quality control.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily laboratory operations and ensure compliance with regulations.
• Manage supervisory and laboratory staff, including training and scheduling.
• Coordinate with departments to advance projects and manage resources.

Skills

Lab supervision

Regulatory compliance

Communication

Project coordination

Education

Bachelor in Medical Laboratory Science

Masters in chemical/biological/physical science

Tools

Quality control systems

Document Control

Job description

Director, Laboratory Operations

Location: Lenexa, KS

Why Ascend?

Come work for a company that is transforming the industry!

Ascend Clinical, LLC is one of the highest-volume clinical laboratories in the United States, processing millions of tests each month with advanced tools and technology. For over 30 years, we've set the standard for service and excellence in testing.
What sets Ascend apart is our unique combination of clinical and healthcare water testing as we drive innovation across multiple areas of laboratory science. We're growing rapidly and looking for individuals who thrive in a fast-paced environment, embrace new challenges, and want to help shape what's next.

Job Summary:

This role will oversee the laboratory operations of our subsidiary, Boston Heart Diagnostics in Lenexa, KS. As a laboratory dedicated to the detection and management of heart disease, Boston Heart Diagnostics leverages innovative testing solutions to provide precise, actionable insights into cardiovascular health. Boston Heart specializes in various laboratory techniques, including gas chromatography, gel electrophoresis, genetic testing, general chemistry, immunoassay, and high-performance liquid chromatography.
The Director of Laboratory Operations will ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements. The Director will be responsible for the proper performance of all laboratory procedures including supervising technical personnel in reporting findings and performing tests requiring special scientific skills.

Responsibilities:

• Assist in managing and meeting the financial obligations of the laboratoryincluding assisting in managing cost control, expenses and vendor contracts
• Oversee the daily management of the laboratory, implementing standardized management practices to ensure effective operation
• Responsible for communicating/coordinating with other departments to ensure smooth progress of projects
• Directly manage supervisory staff and oversee laboratory staff regarding staffing needs, communication, employee training, professional growth, employee behavior, corrective action, scheduling, and payroll submission
• Support planning, execution, and management of laboratory projects to ensure they are completed according to schedule
• Coordinate R&D activities when production staff support is neededor other resources are required
• Develop and maintain laboratory testing capabilities, quality control, and safety management along with quality team. Maintain laboratory accreditation and implement safety management standards to ensure a safe and orderly laboratory operation
• Responsible for exploring new technologies/methods to continuously optimize existing experimental processes
• Responsible for proactively identifying and independently solving laboratory operational needs
• Collaborate with additional laboratory leadership to ensure that testing systems developed and used for each of the tests performed provide quality laboratory services for pre-analytic, analytic, and post-analytic phases of testing
• Serve as liaison between leadership and laboratory to meet business demand

Qualifications:

• Bachelor degree in Medical Laboratory Science plus five year’s subsequent clinical laboratory experience or Masters degree in chemical, biological, or physical science plus seven years subsequent clinical laboratory experience with the relevant specialty
• Strong lab supervision/managerial skills
• Excellent customer service skills
• Strong communication (written and verbal), interpersonal, and organizational skills
• Membership and participation in professional organizations
• Knowledge of accepted clinical laboratory practice and procedures including handling of potential infectious material and familiarity with state laws relating to the practice of medical technology
• Computer skills, knowledge of quality control, and instrument maintenance
• Analytical problem solving skills, proficiency in performing detailed tasks thoroughly and completely, and the ability to follow complicated instructions with accuracy
• Minimum of 1 year of documented training in each specialty in which the department performs high complexity testing

Preferred Qualifications:

• Working knowledge of Document Control systems
• Thorough understanding of CLIA, CAP, NYS regulatory requirements
• Previous supervisory experience

Benefits:

As an Ascend Clinical employee, you will become part of a company that has received national recognition as a great place to work. We offer excellent full-time benefits including comprehensive medical coverage, life and disability insurance, 401(k) with company match, paid holidays and vacation, personal days, and dental and vision options.

Ascend is an Equal Opportunity Employer - M/F/Disabled/Veteran

Ascend Clinical, LLC is committed to promoting an equal employment opportunity workplace environment and is an equal opportunity employer. It is the policy of the company that all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, citizenship, pregnancy, genetic information (GINA), disability, military and/or veteran status, and/or any other status protected by applicable Federal, state, or local law. The company’s policy is to recruit, hire, train, promote and administer all employment-related matters on the basis of an other.