Supervisor Histology

Roche•Tucson, AZ

2d•$75,000 - $139,400•Onsite

About The Position

As the supervisor of Histology, you will lead the Operations team that generates control slides for internal and external customers. This team sections all tissue used for titering of raw materials, final release testing for instruments and reagent quality control, and all finished goods produced containing tissue. You will be responsible for obtaining procured tissue and ensuring all work is compliant with quality policies and procedures as they apply to material traceability, grossing, processing, embedding, microtomy, and kitting in operations. You will oversee both full-time and contingent Histology professionals ranging from entry-level staff with minimal histology experience to senior Histotechnicians and cell culture technicians across multiple shifts. Your main responsibilities include ensuring employee safety, maintaining quality standards for finished goods, and guaranteeing that all departmental output is completed on time and in full according to organizational demand. Additionally, you will be regarded as the expert in tissue-related processes, including tissue identification and use in design transfer, troubleshooting quality control issues, and providing feedback on tissue quality and availability in operations.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree - BS or BA degree in a Biotech related field with 4 years relevant experience or Master’s Degree - MS or MA degree with 2 years relevant experience
4 years experience as a Histology Professional working Lab
2 years processes, people or project leader experience
Demonstrated ability to develop and lead high-performing teams across all organizational levels, with strong communication, negotiation, and motivational skills aligned with VACC principles.
Advanced technical expertise in Histology, including troubleshooting released challenges, designing transfer protocols, and implementing quality control measures.
Skilled in data-driven decision making, including performance tracking, analytics, situational assessment, and financial metrics/budget planning.
Proven ability to prepare and present information clearly to cross-functional teams and management while influencing stakeholders at all levels.
Proficient with enterprise systems (SAP or similar) and Google Workspace tools (Gmail, Sheets, Docs, Slides).
Commitment to maintaining professional and technical knowledge through continuous education and industry engagement.
Ability to work collaboratively with all levels of employees within the Histology team while managing complex technical and interpersonal dynamics.

Responsibilities

Lead and empower direct reports through coaching, training, and ongoing constructive feedback; applies VACC principles (Visionary, Architect, Catalyst, Coaching) for effective team leadership and development.
Manage team time, attendance, and performance through the annual review process, corrective actions as needed, and ensure compliance with corporate policies and training requirements.
Hire, onboard, train, and develop new team members while optimizing staffing and conducting workforce planning to match current and future production demands.
Assign workload strategically, motivate the team to meet or exceed customer expectations, and provide necessary guidance for career development of direct reports.
Ensure team members operate within corporate policy guidelines by monitoring training, competency, and delivering additional training when needed.
Collaborate with support functions to drive value stream, lean manufacturing improvements, and participate in global projects and initiatives.
Serve as the primary contract for the Histology department and all tissue-related topics within the operations organization, ensuring competence and proficiency in all aspects of GMP-regulated laboratory operations.
Oversee production, testing, maintenance, and release of tissue-related finished goods within established schedules and budget targets while ensuring production factory adherence.
Set daily, weekly, and monthly goals; align deliverables across shifts and processes; and identify scheduling conflicts, production issues, and equipment maintenance needs, collaborating with support functions for resolution.
Interface with other functional groups to gain alignment on new process implementation and problem resolution; identify improvement opportunities and obtain approvals for process changes.
Determine and manage KPIs relevant to departmental performance including resource management, budget/spending, safety, quality, and delivery performance.
Participate as a stakeholder in project-based activities (e.g., new product transfers, inventory reduction, scale-up) and collaborate with Finance and leadership to establish, maintain, and control department budgets, indirect material inventory, tissue inventory, sample processing, and instrumentation/asset management.
Develop, administer, and contribute to continuous improvement of all Histology department policies and procedures to drive consistent, high-quality processes and establish best practices within the manufacturing organization.
Operate with a safety and quality mindset. Address and escalate any potentially unsafe hazards; report and investigate safety hazards, incidents and near misses in a timely manner.
Ensure production area maintains right to operate and participates in internal and external quality and safety audits.
Maintain current process information and documentation per internal and external guidelines.
Lead quality failure, root cause and corrective action investigations with other departments.
Create a lean culture by empowering the workforce to provide and implement ideas to continuously improve and reduce waste.
Act as a change agent and drive a culture of continuous improvement by actively demonstrating the use of lean manufacturing tools in everything the team does.
Own accountability for the manufacturing area’s continuous improvement and lean initiatives.
Prepare presentations and reports to implement process improvements.
Collect data and trends and evaluate metrics (e.g. safety, quality, cost, delivery, people) to support Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
Utilize metrics to recommend manufacturing initiatives and improvement projects.
Host, facilitate and lead continuous improvement activities.