Director of Laboratory Operations, East Region

Hartford HealthCare; Norwich (CT); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Hartford HealthCare is seeking a Director of Laboratory Operations to oversee the East Region laboratories (Backus, Windham, Plainfield). The role ensures compliance with CLIA, Joint Commission, DPH and CAP standards, and applies a quality system approach for accurate, reliable, and timely test services.

The candidate will lead policy development, strategic growth, staffing, budgeting, and cross-department collaboration to deliver high-quality patient care across the network.

Qualifications

• Six plus years of progressive operations experience in a clinical laboratory environment.
• Three plus years clinical laboratory management experience.
• ASCP certification or meeting criteria for certification; MT(ASCP) preferred.
• Detail oriented with strong leadership and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Develops policies and procedures centered on quality patient care and efficient resource use.
• Leads growth strategies and manages organizational change with minimal resistance.
• Collaborates to define laboratory standards and translates them into care patterns.
• Partners with Pathology and Medical Directors to deliver quality services.
• Reviews the quality assessment plan and ensures proper lab conditions and timely results.
• Develops department budget and works with Revenue cycle for accurate billing.
• Ensures staffing and competencies; models Hartford HealthCare core values.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Analytical thinking

Business acumen

Multi-tasking

Change management

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Medical Technology or biological sciences

ASCP MT(ASCP) certification

Job description

Location

Backus Hospital (10309)

Position Summary

Director of Laboratory Operations is responsible for overall operations, leadership and administration of the East Region’s laboratories at Backus Hospital, Windham Hospital and the Plainfield campus. The Director will assure the laboratories are compliant with Federal (CLIA) and State regulatory requirements and accreditation standards such as Joint Commission, DPH and College of American Pathologists (CAP) and utilize a quality system approach focusing on providing accurate, reliable and timely test services.

Key Accountabilities

• Develops policies and procedures which are customer, patient, client and staff centric; plans and implements services which efficiently utilizes resources within budgetary constraints while supporting the commitment to high quality patient care.
• Leads and directs the development and communication of effective growth strategies and processes, manages changes or shifts in organization from current state to future state in a manner that minimizes resistance and maximizes engagement.
• Collaborates with external workgroups and consults with peers and colleagues to define laboratory standards and translates them into usable applications and/or care patterns. Through negotiation with peers and colleagues develops mutually workable solutions in order to ensure consistency and continuity of functional application across the organization and systems.
• Proactively addresses and provides solutions for physician issues. Collaborates with Pathology and Medical Directors as a dyad partnership to deliver quality laboratory services.
• Reviews and evaluates the laboratory’s quality assessment plan, indicators and monitor. Ensures that the physical and environmental conditions of the laboratory are adequate and appropriate for the testing performed, protect the integrity of the specimen and the laboratory personnel while delivering high quality test results in a timely manner.
• Develops a department budget which seeks ways to control or lower cost while achieving overall quality and service goals. Establishes operational standards for cost control and works collaboratively with Revenue cycle to ensure accurate billing processes.
• Ensures adequate staffing, and all staff competencies are current by means of valid certification or competency reviews. Serves as a role model to staff by continuously demonstrating Hartford HealthCare core values, creating employee ownership for their careers and success, and providing staff with positive and actionable feedback.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Technology, Chemical, Physical, or Biological Science is required.
• Six plus years of progressive operations experience in a clinical laboratory environment is required.
• Three plus years clinical laboratory management experience is required.
• ASCP certification or meeting criteria for certification is required. MT(ASCP) is preferred.
• Detail oriented, reliable and able to multi-task in a fast‑paced, high‑volume work environment.
• Strong leadership and communication skills, with the ability to build relationships with peers and leadership.
• Demonstrated ability to bring exceptional business acumen and creativity to the management of the lab.
• Demonstrated ability to function as a strong member of highly motivated and integrated leadership and operations teams.
• Demonstrated ability to recruit, develop, and lead a high performing team and build and maintain a positive and energetic culture within an organization.
• Demonstrated ability to develop short and long term operational and strategic plans.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills; strong presentation skills.
• Excellent analytical skills and the ability to manage for results.
• Expert level knowledge of Laboratory services operations.