Histology Lead

CBSET; Lexington, Northern (MA, KY); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

CBSET is seeking a Histology Lead to provide senior bench leadership, daily workflow coordination, technical troubleshooting, QC, and training support under the Histology Supervisor. This on-site role requires independent bench capability and collaboration across Pathology and other departments to protect study quality in a GLP CRO setting.

Salary range is $60,000 to $95,000 per year, with variation based on experience, skills, and certifications.

Qualifications

• Experience leading histology teams in GLP/CRO settings.
• Strong documentation and SOP compliance mindset.
• Ability to coordinate staffing, training, and QA activities.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior bench leadership and daily workflow coordination.
• Troubleshoot technical issues and support QA/QC processes.
• Train staff and ensure timely, accurate slide processing.
• Coordinate handoffs and interdepartmental communications.

Skills

Histology leadership

Staff coaching

SOP adherence

QA/QC knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Biology

HT/HTL certification (preferred)

Job description

LOCATION: Lexington, MA/moving to Waltham, MA Q3 2026 (on-site)

POSITION SUMMARY

CBSET is seeking a Histology Lead to provide senior bench leadership, daily workflow coordination, technical troubleshooting, quality control (QC), and training support under the Histology Supervisor. This is an experienced technical team-lead role with an expectation of independent bench capability. The Histology Lead works collaboratively across Pathology and other departments to protect study quality, meet timelines, maintain accurate documentation, and support consistent handoffs and business growth in a contract research organization (CRO) and Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) environment.

Salary Range: $60,000 to $95,000/year. (Please note, salaries vary within the range based on factors including, but not limited to, experience, skills, education, and certifications.)

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Technical:

• Understand protocol and SOP needs and applying to given work. Lead role in Pathology Dept. meetings and Study pre-initiation meetings (PIMs), and in technical discussions with Sponsors.
• Ensure proper preparation for projects, including staffing, training, material. Work interdepartmentally with Supervisors, Managers, Data Analysts and Study Directors, etc. to identify needs.
• Identify project components that require method development or training prior to initiation of work.
• Coordinate and oversee necessary training sessions to ensure technician capacity/skills in relevant areas.
• Coordinate daily bench assignments, slide production, rework, and handoffs under the Histology Supervisor, using the department’s agreed schedule and priorities.
• Provide senior technical support for processing, embedding, microtomy, staining, coverslipping, slide QC, boxing, scanning, and DSU preparation.
• Support the Histology Supervisor in documenting and maintaining slide QC methods, acceptance criteria, slide box order, and handoff requirements.
• Coordinate same-day checks of labels, raw data, study records, QA/QC findings, and binders with technicians and appropriate staff; promptly escalates discrepancies and support correction before downstream handoffs.
• Review and elevate technical defects, failed slides, tissue issues, and equipment problems.
• Assist in reviewing raw data and technical activities and preparing responses to QA findings.
• Provide input regarding scheduling of pathology projects and to those involved in the tracking of deliverables and timelines.
• Assess recut, restain, re-embedding, processing, and priority requests; determine the next technical steps with the Histology Supervisor and communicate the plan to affected colleagues.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Interpersonal:

• Coordinate with Necropsy, Pathology, Digital Pathology, Quality Assurance (QA), Medical Writing and Operations on timing and deliverables.
• Work effectively as a team member and technical lead to achieve departmental goals.

Technical Consultation & Capability Development:

• Provide role-specific input to study planning and workflow improvement; elevate technical or operational questions to the appropriate supervisor or functional leader.
• Support training, competency sign-off, standard operating procedure (SOP) adherence and development, and workflow improvement.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required:

• High school diploma or GED.
• Advanced histology technical experience across multiple workflows.
• Ability to coordinate work, train staff, and troubleshoot technical issues.
• Strong SOP, documentation, and quality mindset.

Preferred:

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Animal Science, Pathology, or a related life science discipline preferred.
• HT/HTL certification, GLP/CRO experience, senior/lead experience, special stains, IHC, resin, or digital pathology workflow experience.

CORE COMPETENCIES:

• Ability to organize daily work, guide colleagues, and coordinate priorities without losing hands-on technical focus.
• Technical accuracy and attention to detail in a controlled laboratory environment.
• Clear communication and dependable collaboration across Pathology functions and departments.
• Strong organization, documentation discipline, and sound judgment when escalating risks or deviations.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Must be able to perform laboratory procedures, which require talking, hearing, standing or sitting for long periods of time, entering data into a computer, using appropriate instruments, reaching with hands and arms, working in narrow spaces, and wearing safety equipment (Personal Protective Equipment) according to OSHA regulations and company standards.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Ability to consistently lift and move at least 50 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Preclinical Pathology laboratories and related study-support areas.
• Animal facility and laboratories with moderate noise possible and exposure to hazardous/noxious devices (e.g., needles, scalpel blades, etc.) and chemicals (e.g., anesthetic gases, formalin, alcohols, xylenes, etc.).
• General office working conditions, with generally quiet noise conditions.

COMMENTS:

• May require occasional duties on weekends and/or holidays.
• May require occasional travel.
• The opportunity to contribute to the Pathology team and support CBSET’s growth and development.

All employees are required to satisfactorily perform the essential duties and responsibilities of their position. The essential duties and responsibilities listed above are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.