Laboratory Manager - General Lab

CHRISTUS Health; Santa Fe (NM); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

CHRISTUS Health is seeking a Laboratory Manager to oversee hospital laboratory operations, ensuring high-quality data and timely results. You will supervise supervisors, technologists and staff, monitor quality, and drive accreditation compliance across CLIA, CAP and TJC standards.

You will mentor associates, manage staffing, and collaborate with hospital leadership to maintain patient satisfaction while advancing process improvements and education of students in the lab.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in MLS or equivalent.
• Ability to manage operations in a clinical laboratory.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Exceptional customer service skills.
• Strong technical background.
• Demonstrated willingness to accept risk.
• Financial management skills.
• Successful in meeting accreditation requirements.
• Excellent team builder and interdepartmental facilitator.
• Excellent problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• The Laboratory Manager supervises clinical Laboratory Section Supervisors, Medical Technologists, Medical Laboratory Technicians, Phlebotomists, Histology Technicians, and clerical staff.
• Applies skills in laboratory science, testing, instrument operation, regulations, critical values, and quality control principles/procedures.
• Applies skills in Laboratory Information Systems to include computers, interfaces and middleware.
• Applies skills in operating common software programs (MS Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, etc.)
• Applies knowledge of accreditation requirements (CLIA, CAP, TJC, etc.).
• Interacts with patients, visitors and medical staff to address and resolve concerns regarding laboratory services while maintaining patient and associate satisfaction.
• The Laboratory Manager serves as an advocate for patients/families and ensures rights and satisfaction.
• Counsels, guides and disciplines associates to enhance patient care through policies.
• Conducts regularly scheduled staff meetings addressing lab issues, process improvement, safety and compliance.
• Evaluates associates' performance and facilitates professional development.
• Confronts and resolves conflicts involving lab staff.
• Participates in performance improvement and change activities.
• Contributes to the learning experience of students and new associates.
• Monitors workload and collaborates with leadership to meet patient care needs.
• Monitors operations and measures progress toward goals, taking corrective action.
• Participates in developing the lab mission and strategic plan.
• Champions collaboration and a team-driven culture.

Skills

Operations management

Communication skills

Customer service

Technical background

Risk awareness

Financial management

Accreditation knowledge

Team building

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Medical Laboratory Science or equivalent

Tools

MS Word

MS Excel

MS Access

Outlook

Job description

Summary:

• Responsible for managing the operation of the hospital laboratory. Ensures a steady production of high quality laboratory data through defining associate expectations and actively monitoring operations. The Laboratory Manager will ensure that staff is focused on processing and testing of specimens with a minimization of test turn‑around times. Specific areas of responsibility include: effective staffing, associate orientation, quality monitoring, quality reporting, quality improvements, proficiency testing, staff performance evaluation, mentoring associates, consistent application of hospital and departmental policies, meeting accreditation standards and education of laboratory science students. Works in the lab area as necessary. Assesses, implements or delegates, plans and evaluates lab testing in accordance with state and national accreditation guidelines. Responsible for orientation, training and management of lab personnel. Ensures adequate, cost-effective staffing is maintained to deliver timely lab results. Communicates effectively with all shifts for continuity of lab testing. Maintains good relations with other departments, medical staff and nursing units. Participates in all phases of education, maintenance of records and upgrading of policies, procedures and skills of personnel.

Responsibilities:

• The Laboratory Manager supervises clinical Laboratory Section Supervisors, Medical Technologists, Medical Laboratory Technicians, Phlebotomists, Histology Technicians, and clerical staff.
• Applies skills in laboratory science, testing, instrument operation, regulations, critical values, and quality control principles/procedures.
• Applies skills in Laboratory Information Systems to include computers, interfaces and middleware.
• Applies skills in operating common software programs (MS Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, etc.)
• Applies knowledge of accreditation requirements (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act-CLIA, College of American Pathologists-CAP, The Joint Commission-TJC, etc.) as the situation dictates.
• Interacts with patients, visitors and medical staff as needed to address and resolve concerns regarding laboratory services while maintaining good patient and associate satisfaction levels.
• The Laboratory Manager serves as an advocate for patients/families of behalf of the laboratory, assuring that patient/family rights are respected, patient satisfaction issues are addressed and associates adhere to the Core Values of the organization.
• Counsels, guides and disciplines associates (including termination of associates if necessary) to enhance patient care through compliance with established hospital policies and procedures.
• Conducts regularly scheduled staff meetings which address laboratory issues, process improvement, patient satisfaction, safety and compliance. Ensure staff meeting minutes are available on a timely basis.
• Evaluates associates' job performance on a timely basis and in a manner that recognizes associates' accomplishments, enhances performance and facilitates professional development.
• Confronts and resolves conflicts involving lab associates, whether as interdepartmental or intradepartmental issues.
• Participates in implementing performance improvement and change activities.
• Contributes to the learning experience of students and new associates.
• Monitors intensity of work load and collaborates with lab staff and hospital leadership to meet patient care needs and laboratory activity.
• Monitors operations of the laboratory and measures progress towards goals, identifying problems and taking corrective action.
• Participates in the development of a laboratory mission, vision, strategic plan priorities and annual goals/objectives that are consistent with those of the organization.
• Champions collaboration and a team spirit, builds commitment to the team's success, holds associates accountable for their work, creates an atmosphere which encourages trust, and the open exchange of ideas and opinions.

A. Education/Skills

• Bachelor's Degree in Medical Laboratory Science or equivalent degree
• Ability to manage operations in a clinical laboratory
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Exceptional customer service skills
• Strong technical background
• Demonstrated willingness to accept risk
• Financial management skills
• Successful in meeting accreditation requirements
• Excellent team builder and interdepartmental facilitator
• Excellent problem-solving skills a must

B. Experience

• Minimum of 4+ years’ experience as a Clinical Laboratory Supervisor preferred.
  

C. Licenses, Registrations, or Certifications

• Certification as a Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS), Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS), Medical Technologist (MT), or equivalent. Proof of current certification by a certifying agency (ASCP, AAB, AMT) is required.

Work Schedule:

5 Days - 8 Hours

Work Type:

Full Time