Operations Director, Clinical Laboratory Operations - Clinical Laboratory Administration - Tri State Area (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut) - Full Time/Day Shift

Mount Sinai Health System•New York, NY

27d•Onsite

About The Position

The Director will drive achievement of key performance indicators (KPIs), maintain effective staffing models, and ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and accreditation requirements. This role requires a strong operational leader who can foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, customer service, and employee engagement while supporting the laboratory’s strategic and financial objectives.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Medical Technology, Clinical Laboratory Science, Biology, Chemistry, Healthcare Administration, or a related discipline.
Minimum of 7–10 years of progressive leadership experience in clinical laboratory operations.
Demonstrated experience managing high throughput laboratory operation
Strong knowledge of New York State Department of Health regulations and applicable CLIA, CAP, and OSHA requirements.
Proven ability to lead teams and drive operational excellence in a complex healthcare environment.
Excellent leadership, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, Public Health, Clinical Laboratory Science, or a related field.
Commercial or reference laboratory experience strongly preferred.
ASCP certification or other relevant professional certification
Experience managing multi-site or regional laboratory operations.
Experience with laboratory automation, middleware, and Laboratory Information Systems (LIS).
Lean Six Sigma certification or demonstrated experience leading process improvement initiatives.

Responsibilities

Direct and oversee all aspects of laboratory operations to ensure safe, efficient, and compliant delivery of laboratory services.
Establish, monitor, and achieve operational key performance indicators (KPIs), including turnaround time (TAT), productivity, quality metrics, customer satisfaction, specimen integrity, and financial performance.
Utilize performance dashboards and data analytics to identify trends, bottlenecks, and opportunities for continuous improvement.
Implement process improvement initiatives and Lean methodologies to optimize workflow and enhance operational efficiency.
Develop and execute action plans to address performance gaps and ensure service level commitments are consistently achieved.
Partner with laboratory leadership, physicians, and cross-functional stakeholders to support organizational goals and strategic initiatives.
Maintain accountability for meeting established turnaround time goals across all laboratory departments and testing platforms.
Monitor and manage daily, weekly, and monthly performance metrics, including: Turnaround time compliance, STAT testing performance, Pending and aged workload, Instrument downtime, Specimen rejection rates, Quality indicators and customer complaints, Productivity and labor utilization, Overtime and vacancy rates, Reportable result timeliness, Service and client satisfaction metrics.
Ensure appropriate escalation processes are in place to proactively address service disruptions and minimize impact to patients and clients.
Lead root cause analyses and corrective action initiatives to improve performance and sustain operational targets.
Develop, maintain, and optimize staffing models to ensure appropriate coverage and alignment with testing volumes and workload demand.
Monitor labor productivity, overtime utilization, absenteeism, and vacancy rates to ensure efficient resource management.
Utilize forecasting tools and operational data to support workforce planning and resource allocation.
Recruit, mentor, coach, and develop laboratory leaders and staff while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous learning.
Promote employee engagement and support succession planning initiatives.
Provide oversight for inventory management and supply chain activities to ensure uninterrupted laboratory operations.
Establish inventory control processes and monitor key indicators related to supply utilization, stock levels, and waste reduction.
Collaborate with procurement and vendor partners to maintain appropriate par levels and ensure timely acquisition of reagents, consumables, and laboratory supplies.
Evaluate inventory trends and implement strategies to reduce expired materials and optimize cost management.
Develop contingency plans to mitigate supply shortages and operational disruptions.
Provide operational leadership for laboratory instrumentation, automation systems, and technology platforms to maximize reliability and efficiency.
Partner with Information Technology and Laboratory Information System (LIS) teams to support system implementations, upgrades, interfaces, and workflow enhancements.
Lead the evaluation and adoption of new technologies and automation solutions to improve productivity, quality, and turnaround times.
Maintain familiarity with laboratory information systems, middleware, automation platforms, and digital workflow solutions.
Ensure compliance with cybersecurity, data integrity, and regulatory requirements related to laboratory systems.
Oversee preventive maintenance programs and service contracts for laboratory instrumentation and automation systems.
Monitor equipment performance, utilization, and downtime metrics to ensure operational continuity.
Collaborate with vendors, biomedical engineering, and technical teams to minimize downtime and rapidly resolve equipment issues.
Develop contingency plans to support uninterrupted testing during equipment failures or emergency situations.
Ensure documentation related to maintenance, calibration, and corrective actions complies with applicable regulatory and accreditation requirements.
Maintain comprehensive knowledge of New York State Department of Health regulations, CLIA, CAP, OSHA, and other applicable regulatory and accreditation standards.
Ensure laboratory readiness for inspections and accreditation surveys through ongoing monitoring and audit activities.
Support quality management programs and continuous quality improvement initiatives.
Lead investigations, corrective actions, and performance improvement efforts to ensure regulatory compliance and operational excellence.
Promote a culture of quality, safety, and continuous improvement throughout the organization.
Manage departmental budgets and support efficient utilization of resources.
Identify opportunities for cost savings, operational efficiencies, and revenue enhancement.
Participate in strategic planning and support implementation of new services, technologies, and growth initiatives.
Drive operational excellence while maintaining a strong focus on quality and customer service.
Establish and maintain productive relationships with equipment manufacturers, suppliers, service providers, and other external business partners.
Monitor vendor performance and service-level agreements to ensure timely delivery of products, maintenance services, and technical support.
Partner with procurement and supply chain teams to manage contracts, reagent agreements, and service arrangements.
Coordinate with vendors to address equipment issues, supply shortages, and operational disruptions to minimize impact on testing services.
Participate in vendor selection, validation, and implementation activities for new instrumentation and laboratory technologies.