Vice President of Laboratory Services

IO Management Company LLC•Seattle, WA

4d•Remote

About The Position

The Vice President of Laboratory Services provides strategic, operational, clinical, and regulatory leadership for the organization's centralized laboratory serving a nationwide network of outpatient substance use disorder treatment clinics. This executive leader is responsible for ensuring that the laboratory delivers high-quality, compliant, timely, and cost-effective diagnostic testing that supports patient care, regulatory compliance, and organizational growth. The Vice President oversees all aspects of laboratory operations, including strategic planning, regulatory compliance, quality management, financial performance, laboratory technology, workforce development, client service, and business continuity. This position serves as the executive responsible for laboratory accreditation, operational excellence, innovation, and long-term strategic planning.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Medical Laboratory Science, Clinical Laboratory Science, Biology, Chemistry, Microbiology, or a related scientific field.
10+ years of progressive laboratory leadership experience.
7+ years leading high-complexity clinical laboratory operations.
Experience managing laboratory budgets exceeding several million dollars.
Experience leading laboratory accreditation and regulatory inspections.
Experience implementing laboratory technologies and automation.
Experience leading large multidisciplinary teams.
Experience supporting geographically dispersed healthcare operations.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office products, including Outlook, Teams, and Excel.
Demonstrated expertise in clinical laboratory operations, toxicology testing, laboratory regulations and CLIA requirements, CAP or The Joint Commission accreditation, quality management systems, financial management, strategic planning, executive leadership, change management, Lean process improvement, Laboratory Information Systems (LIS), data analytics, operational excellence, healthcare compliance, risk management, vendor negotiations, talent development, healthcare reimbursement, and project management.
Strong ability to influence executive leaders, build and maintain cross-functional partnerships, lead organizational change, analyze complex operational and financial data, develop and execute long-term strategies, communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences, solve complex operational challenges, and make informed, data-driven decisions.
Must meet qualifications necessary to oversee a high-complexity laboratory under applicable federal and state regulations.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, Public Health, Clinical Laboratory Science, or a related field.
ASCP Certification (MLS, MT, or equivalent)
State Laboratory Director qualifications where applicable
CLIA Laboratory Director qualifications
Lean Six Sigma certification
Project Management Professional (PMP)

Responsibilities

Develop and execute the strategic vision for laboratory services aligned with organizational goals.
Serve as the executive leader responsible for laboratory performance nationwide.
Participate as a member of executive leadership committees.
Develop annual strategic initiatives, capital plans, and operational goals.
Lead organizational planning related to laboratory growth, expansion, automation, and technology.
Provide executive reporting on laboratory performance, quality metrics, regulatory compliance, financial results, and operational risks.
Build collaborative relationships across all departments supporting enterprise initiatives.
Promote a culture centered on patient safety, quality, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Provide executive oversight and strategic leadership for all laboratory operations, including toxicology and clinical testing, specimen accessioning, processing, chain of custody, confirmation testing, result reporting, and laboratory customer service.
Oversee courier and logistics operations, inventory and supply chain management, equipment maintenance, and vendor relationships to ensure efficient and reliable laboratory services.
Ensure laboratory operations consistently meet performance expectations related to turnaround times, specimen integrity, testing accuracy, productivity, capacity management, service level agreements, and client satisfaction.
Develop and implement scalable operational models, processes, and resources that support continued organizational growth while maintaining quality, efficiency, compliance, and service excellence.
Maintain organizational compliance with all applicable federal, state, and industry regulations and standards, including CLIA, The Joint Commission, COLA (if applicable), state laboratory licensing requirements, DEA, OSHA, HIPAA, CMS, and FDA requirements where applicable.
Lead and ensure successful completion of federal and state inspections, accreditation surveys, internal audits, and external audits.
Develop proactive compliance monitoring systems to identify regulatory risks, address deficiencies, and implement timely corrective actions to maintain ongoing compliance and operational readiness.
Provide executive oversight and leadership for laboratory quality management, including continuous quality improvement, quality assurance and control, proficiency testing, root cause investigations, incident reporting, document control, validation programs, and competency assessments.
Monitor key laboratory quality indicators, including error rates, specimen rejection, turnaround times, provider leadership concerns, corrective actions, and patient safety events.
Lead efforts to identify and resolve quality issues while promoting continuous improvement, operational excellence, and patient safety.
Represent laboratory operations in enterprise-wide quality improvement initiatives.
Develop, manage, and provide strategic oversight of laboratory operating and capital budgets, including financial forecasting, cost management, productivity analysis, supply expense management, vendor negotiations, capital equipment planning, and contract management.
Monitor key financial metrics, including cost per test, cost per accession, labor productivity, and equipment utilization.
Identify and implement opportunities to improve operational efficiency and reduce costs while maintaining laboratory quality, service, and patient safety.
Provide strategic leadership and oversight of laboratory technology, including the Laboratory Information System (LIS), laboratory automation, instrumentation, interface management, electronic ordering and reporting, middleware, and data analytics.
Partner with Information Technology to ensure laboratory systems remain secure, reliable, integrated, and scalable.
Lead the evaluation, selection, and implementation of emerging technologies that enhance laboratory operations, quality, efficiency, and organizational growth.
Collaborate with the Medical Director, providers, and clinical operations leadership to ensure laboratory services effectively support medication-assisted treatment (MAT), urine drug testing, confirmation testing, clinical decision-making, patient safety, and evidence-based treatment.
Provide laboratory expertise and guidance in the development and implementation of clinical protocols and practices.
Support organizational expansion and business development initiatives by assessing laboratory capacity, developing scalable workflows, planning staffing models, evaluating new testing capabilities, and supporting new clinic openings, mergers and acquisitions, and due diligence for laboratory integration opportunities.
Evaluate opportunities to expand testing services and establish strategic partnerships that support organizational growth and laboratory capabilities.
Provide strategic leadership and oversight for laboratory management, including the Laboratory Director, three Laboratory Managers, and Procurement Specialist.
Lead organizational design, workforce and succession planning, leadership development, employee engagement, performance management, recruitment, retention, coaching, and mentoring.
Foster an inclusive, collaborative, and high-performance culture focused on accountability, professional development, operational excellence, and employee success.
Identify, assess, and mitigate operational risks related to testing quality, regulatory compliance, business continuity, staffing, information security, disaster recovery, equipment failures, supply shortages, and patient safety.
Develop, maintain, and implement laboratory emergency preparedness and business continuity plans to support operational resilience and uninterrupted services.
Provide strategic oversight of laboratory vendor relationships, including instrument manufacturers, reference laboratories, supply vendors, technology partners, courier services, and maintenance providers.
Negotiate and manage contracts, establish performance expectations, and monitor vendor performance to ensure quality, reliability, cost-effectiveness, and alignment with laboratory and organizational needs.
Develop and maintain executive dashboards and performance reporting for key laboratory metrics, including turnaround time, test volumes, productivity, financial performance, quality indicators, regulatory findings, customer satisfaction, staffing metrics, equipment utilization, and growth metrics.
Analyze performance trends, identify opportunities for improvement, and present laboratory performance reports to executive leadership and Board committees, as appropriate.
Maintain compliance with national Protected Health Information (PHI) requirements, including HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2, and protect the confidentiality of sensitive organizational information.
Maintain consistent and reliable attendance, work cooperatively with others as part of the Ideal Option team, and perform other projects and duties as assigned.