Director, Clinical Laboratory and Pathology

Beth Israel Lahey Health•Gloucester, MA

2d•$155,000 - $185,000

About The Position

When you join the growing BILH team, you're not just taking a job, you’re making a difference in people’s lives. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer (COO), and in collaboration with the Laboratory Department Chairs, the Director plans, directs, and administers all operational, fiscal, administrative, and technical aspects of the Clinical Laboratory and Anatomic Pathology services in accordance with established policies, regulatory requirements, and organizational priorities. The Director ensures effective integration of laboratory services within the primary functions of the hospitals and the Beth Israel Lahey Health (BILH) system. This leadership role provides strategic, operational, and financial oversight for multi-site laboratory operations including clinical chemistry, immunology, toxicology, molecular diagnostics, serology, hematology, blood bank, urinalysis, pathology, point-of-care testing (POC), coagulation, and phlebotomy services. The Laboratory performs approximately 1.7 million tests annually with an operating budget of approximately $16 million and a workforce of approximately 80 FTEs. The Director provides leadership, operational analysis, financial stewardship, and strategic planning to support high-quality patient care, regulatory compliance, operational efficiency, and service growth.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science degree required. Master’s degree or Medical Technology degree from an accredited institution preferred.
Eight to ten years of experience in a hospital laboratory environment with at least five years in a progressive supervisory or management role.
Demonstrated leadership capabilities in healthcare operations, change management, and team development.
Knowledge of financial management, healthcare economics, laboratory informatics, regulatory requirements, strategic planning, and quality management.
Ability to plan, organize, and prioritize work to meet established deadlines.
Ability to exercise independent judgment and make sound operational decisions.
Strong analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Proficiency with computer applications including Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, and laboratory information systems.
Ability to educate and mentor staff and support professional development.
Ability to evaluate laboratory results for accuracy, acceptability, and critical limits.
Ability to interact effectively with patients, families, and healthcare professionals across diverse populations.
Completes work within established timeframes.
Successfully maintains regulatory compliance and passes accreditation surveys and inspections.

Responsibilities

Directs, oversees, and coordinates the technical and support services of all sections of the laboratory departments to promote operational efficiency, quality outcomes, and effective utilization of personnel.
Develops and implements approved business plans aligned with hospital and BILH system strategic priorities.
In conjunction with laboratory managers, develops and proactively monitors the operating budget, Laborlytics productivity metrics, and related operational reports (key drivers, cost per unit, Workday, Epic reports). Provides variance analysis and corrective action plans as appropriate.
Develops and manages the laboratory capital budget, including preparation of financial analyses and justification for capital requests. Enters and tracks capital requests in the Axiom system.
Collaborates with Supply Chain to conduct cost analyses on equipment purchases, reagents, rental agreements, lease purchases, and service agreements.
Ensures laboratory policies and procedures are developed, maintained, and updated in accordance with regulatory requirements and current best practices, including CAP, TJC, FDA, DPH, and CLIA requirements.
Ensures the recruitment, hiring, and retention of qualified laboratory personnel and maintains documentation required by regulatory agencies and hospital policies.
In partnership with the Department Chair, leads CAP survey preparation and activities. Serves as Laboratory Technical Director or assigns this responsibility to a qualified laboratory leader in accordance with CAP requirements.
Utilizes MediaLab for laboratory policy management, staff competency documentation, and proficiency testing oversight.
Collaborates with Section Chairs and Pathology leadership to evaluate diagnostic testing needs and recommend new programs, methodologies, instrumentation, and services.
Establishes and implements departmental strategic goals and performance improvement initiatives.
Analyzes operational and quality metrics to support continuous improvement initiatives and regulatory readiness.
Maintains strong working relationships with Laboratory Department Chairs, physicians, and interdisciplinary leaders across the organization.
Meets regularly with department Chairs and laboratory managers to ensure leadership visibility, communication, and operational alignment.
Participates in BILH system Laboratory Director meetings and collaborates with the BILH Vice President of Laboratory Services on system initiatives.
Communicates operational issues and risks to senior leadership and participates in development of mitigation and resolution strategies.
Collaborates with clinical departments including patient care services, surgical services, finance, performance improvement, risk management, and human resources to ensure high-quality laboratory services and patient care delivery.
Represents laboratory services in hospital and system committees including Infection Control, Microbial Subcommittee, Stroke, Trauma, Daily Huddle, Leaders Meetings, Laboratory Quality Improvement, CAP readiness activities, Performance Improvement and Patient Satisfaction Committee (PIPS), reference laboratory business reviews, BILH Laboratory meetings, and Revenue Integrity.
Serves as Contract Manager for laboratory-related contracts in accordance with Lahey Legal and financial approval processes, in collaboration with Supply Chain.
Conducts annual performance evaluations for direct reports and provides ongoing coaching and feedback to support professional development.
Delegates responsibility and authority appropriately to laboratory managers while maintaining overall accountability for departmental performance.
Reviews and approves invoices related to reference laboratory testing including external and BILH interfacility testing.
Resolves operational and clinical issues through collaboration with laboratory managers, pathologists, physicians, and healthcare professionals.
Participates in Epic Beaker and Revenue Integrity operational meetings.
Oversees the laboratory manager on-call schedule.
Maintains equipment inventory and service contracts.
Meets with vendors to evaluate new laboratory technologies, instrumentation, and service offerings.
Approves supply purchases and resource allocation requests as needed.
Serves as a liaison for laboratory services across hospital departments and affiliated laboratories.
Maintains effective communication with medical staff, nursing leadership, administrative leaders, and ancillary departments to promote safe, high-quality patient care.
Ensures a culture focused on patient safety, quality outcomes, and service excellence. Follows the BILH “We Care” core values (Wellbeing, Empathy, Collaboration, Accountability, Respect and Equity).
Coordinates efforts to maintain and improve patient satisfaction.
Supports clinical education by coordinating placement of students from affiliated academic institutions in accordance with approved agreements.