Pathology Section Head

Clemson University; Columbia (SC); On-site; USD 103,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Clemson University in Columbia, SC seeks a Section Head of Pathology to provide scientific leadership and oversight of the pathology section, including veterinary student rotations, for timely diagnosis of veterinary and zoonotic diseases. The role includes directing professional activities, ensuring quality, and supporting client service and revenue generation.

The position reports to the CVDC leadership, overseeing necropsy and histopathology workflows, and partnering with CU-CVM for education

Qualifications

• Comprehensive knowledge of theories, concepts and practices and ability to use in complex, difficult and/or unprecedented situations.
• Supervises work of others and may offer recommendations for hiring, termination and pay adjustments but does not have responsibility for making these decisions.
• No fiscal responsibility for the department's budget.

Responsibilities

• Compliance: follows laboratory quality system policies and ISO 17025 standards.
• Liaison and outreach: serves as primary CVDC liaison to CU-CVM and coordinates veterinary student rotations and outreach activities.
• Exams and evaluations: performs diagnostic pathology duties including necropsies and biopsies with complex histopathologic evaluations; interprets results and communicates to regulatory officials as needed.
• Management: administers pathology section operations, supervises staff and may co-supervise residents, manages resources and procurement.
• Revenue generation and professional development: contributes to revenue growth and engages in seminars, conferences, and manuscript authorship.

Job description

Job Summary

Serve as the section head of pathology, providing scientific leadership and oversight of the pathology section, including veterinary student pathology rotations. Directs and conducts professional and scientific activities in pathology in a timely manner to diagnose veterinary and zoonotic diseases. Communicate results, provide customer service and generate revenue as required. Perform other duties as assigned.

Job Summary

Serve as the section head of pathology, providing scientific leadership and oversight of the pathology section, including veterinary student pathology rotations. Directs and conducts professional and scientific activities in pathology in a timely manner to diagnose veterinary and zoonotic diseases. Communicate results, provide customer service and generate revenue as required. Perform other duties as assigned.

Job Duties

• 10% - Compliance: Complies with laboratory quality system policies and procedures. Assists technical, professional and administrative staff in support of quality program activities throughout the laboratory that align with ISO 17025 standards.
• 25% - Liaison and Outreach: Serves as the primary CVDC liaison to the Clemson University Harvey S. Peeler, Jr. College of Veterinary Medicine (CU-CVM) or other external veterinary college, as a pathology instructor. This position orchestrates the integration of veterinary student rotations within the pathology and necropsy departments, ensuring that hands-on clinical training meets the CU-CVM or respective veterinary college standards without compromising the CVDC’s primary diagnostic mission and client service timelines. The incumbent is responsible for aligning student learning objectives with CVDC laboratory workflows and resolving operational needs. Additionally, the role may serve as a subject matter expert for outreach, providing guest lectures/presentations to the CU-CVM and Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AVS) programs, as well as to other external stakeholders.
• 25% - Exams and Evaluations: Perform diagnostic pathology duties, including necropsies and biopsies with complex histopathologic evaluations of tissues and specimens derived from livestock, poultry, and other domestic and wild animals. Requests and interprets results of laboratory diagnostic tests. Assimilates information from varied sources to make timely diagnoses. Prepares clearly written, informative and timely reports of results, diagnoses, and recommendations. Communicate results to appropriate regulatory officials as necessary.
• 30% - Management: Performs administrative duties and management of the pathology section as required for efficient operation of the Clemson Veterinary Diagnostic Center (CVDC), including personnel needs and evaluation, supplies and equipment needs, and procurement. Manage necropsy floor, supervise diagnosticians, pathologists, and necropsy technicians, and may co-supervise residents.
• 10% - Revenue Generation and Professional Development: Increases revenue stream through services. Conducts and collaborates on projects to enhance the economic viability of the lab. Attends seminars/webinars and conferences. Makes presentations at professional conferences and meeting and authors scientific manuscripts for publication. Studies relevant literature to stay abreast of emerging and infectious diseases and latest diagnostic methodologies.

Job Code

UM13

Employee Type

Regular FTE Staff

Responsibilities

JOB KNOWLEDGE

Comprehensive knowledge of theories, concepts and practices and ability to use in complex, difficult and/or unprecedented situations.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Supervises work of others and may offer recommendations for hiring, termination and pay adjustments but does not have responsibility for making these decisions.

Budgetary Responsibilities

No fiscal responsibility for the department's budget.

Physical Requirements

• Perceive, observe, clarity of vision: 100%
• Use taste or smell to detect or determine particular flavors or odors: 100%
• Extends hands or arms in any direction: 100%
• Move, transport, raise or lower 50 lbs or more: 70%
• Recognize or inspect visually: %
• Communicate, converse, give direction, express oneself: 100%
• Position self to accomplish task (i.e. stoop, kneel, crawl): 100%
• Ascend or descend (i.e. stairs, ladder): 80%
• Use hands or feet to operate or handle machinery, equipment, etc.: 100%
• Walk or move about: 100%
• Sit (stationary position) for prolonged period: 100%
• Stand for Prolonged Period: 100%

Working Conditions

• Exposure to bio-hazards (i.e. blood, bodily fluids): 80%
• Overnight travel: 5%
• Burn hazards: %
• Electrical hazards: 20%
• Chemical hazards: 40%
• Mechanical hazards: 30%
• Vibration: 20%
• Noise: 20%
• Wet and/or humid: 30%
• Exposure to dust/fumes: 30%
• Exposure to heat or cold: 15%

Work Schedule

Standard Hours:
37.5

Compensation Information

Expected Salary Range: 103,283 - 160,000

Salary is dependent upon several factors including, but not limited to, a candidate's previous experience, knowledge, skills and performance in accordance with Clemson's compensation guidelines.

Essential Personnel Level

Essential Support - In the event of an emergency closure or modified operations, this position is necessary to maintain/resume essential support functions, deliver direct care services, and/or provide recovery support before normal operations resume. Some positions in this category may be required to work remotely or be on-call.

JOB LOCATION

Columbia, SC

Application Deadline

October 31, 2026

Military And Veteran

Military Equivalency: Clemson University is proud to allow educational equivalency for military technical certifications and trainings that directly relate to the job duties.

Veteran Preference: South Carolina provides employment preference to eligible veterans for qualifying full-time permanent positions. To be considered, applicants must meet the minimum qualifications, have been discharged under honourable conditions, and indicate their veteran status in the application by uploading a DD-214 for confidential review. A request for Veteran Preference can be made via the application process. Please contact [e-mail] with any questions or issues.

Closing Statement

Clemson University is an EEO/AA employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to characteristics protected by applicable law including disability and protected veteran status.