Laboratory Operations Director

POSITION SUMMARY: The Senior Director, Laboratory Operations is responsible for the management and oversight of all aspects of operations in order to provide the highest quality service including: clinical laboratory and laboratory operations. Knowledge of CAP, CLIA, California, and New York state regulations.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop policies, procedures, and performance standards to ensure efficiency and quality.
• Ensure efficient and customer-friendly service.
• Oversee all clinical and technical functions of laboratory, which includes: day-to-day production, equipment and reagent qualification, and training.
• Lead trouble-shooting teams to address urgent issues.
• Ensure that operations maintain all personnel, equipment and consumable resources necessary to match the demand and projections.
• Maintain and expand laboratory infrastructure, including personnel, equipment, and inventory.
• Ensure efficient and effective use of resources and personnel within laboratory.
• Lead process improvements throughout the laboratory.
• Operationalize and implement new product launches.
• Maintain the resources required for effective turnaround times for all patient testing.
• Organize training and development programs for laboratory and support staff.
• Work with senior leadership to execute on short and long-term strategy. 
• Recruit, retain, train, and develop employees and conduct performance management activities. Develop a team-oriented culture within and between departments.
• This role works with PHI on a regular basis both in paper and electronic form and have an access to various technologies to access PHI (paper and electronic) in order to perform the job.
• Employee must complete training relating to HIPAA/PHI privacy, General Policies and Procedure Compliance training and security training as soon as possible but not later than the first 30 days of hire.
• Must maintain a current status on Natera training requirements.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• BS/BA (or equivalent) in a biological science, similar field of study, or equivalent.  MS is preferred.
• California licensed Clinical Lab Scientist or CGMBS preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in laboratory administration or related field.
• 5+ years of management & leadership experience
• 5+ years of high-complexity-testing, high volume lab operations

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Lean Six Sigma experience; Black Belt certified is a plus.
• GLP, GMP, or FDA experience is strongly preferred.
• Knowledge and experience with clinical and/or public health laboratory laws.
• Demonstrated ability to achieve operational improvement leading to quality and/or efficiency improvements.
• Experience in troubleshooting, process improvement, and workflow analysis.
• Detail-oriented with strong analytical skills.
• Strong organizational, communication and interpersonal skills.
• Must be proficient with excel or other data analysis tools

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Analytical: Synthesizes complex or diverse information; Collects and researches data; Uses intuition and experience to complement data; Designs workflows and procedures.
• Problem Solving: Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; Develops alternative solutions; Works well in group problem solving situations; Uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.
• Technical Skills: Assesses own strengths and weaknesses; Pursues training and development opportunities; Strives to continuously build knowledge and skills; Shares expertise with others.
• Interpersonal Skills: Focuses on solving conflict, not blaming; Maintains confidentiality; Listens to others without interrupting; Keeps emotions under control; Remains open to others' ideas and tries new things.
• Delegation: Delegates work assignments; Matches the responsibility to the person; Gives authority to work independently; Sets expectations and monitors delegated activities; Provides recognition for results.
• Managing People: Includes staff in planning, decision-making, facilitating and process improvement; Takes responsibility for subordinates' activities; Makes self available to staff; Provides regular performance feedback; Develops subordinates' skills and encourages growth; Solicits and applies customer feedback (internal and external); Fosters quality focus in others; Improves processes, products and services.; Continually works to improve supervisory skills.
• Planning/Organizing: Prioritizes and plans work activities; Uses time efficiently; Plans for additional resources; Sets goals and objectives; Organizes or schedules other people and their tasks; Develops realistic action plans.
• Dependability: Follows instructions, responds to management direction; Takes responsibility for own actions; Keeps commitments; Commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals; Completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan.
• Innovation: Displays original thinking and creativity; Meets challenges with resourcefulness; Generates suggestions for improving work; Develops innovative approaches and ideas; Presents ideas and information in a manner that gets others' attention.
• Oral Communication: Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; listens and gets clarification; Responds well to questions; Demonstrates group presentation skills; Participates in meetings.

Compensation & Total Rewards 

This range reflects a good-faith estimate of the base pay we reasonably expect to offer at the time of  hire. Final compensation will vary based on experience, qualifications, and internal equity considerations.

This position is also eligible for additional compensation and benefits through Natera’s robust Total Rewards program, including:

• Annual performance incentive bonus

• Long-term equity awards

• Comprehensive health benefits (medical, dental, vision)

• 401(k) with company match

• Generous paid time off and company holidays

• Additional wellness and work-life benefits

Compensation Range $202,329.60—$252,912 USD

OUR OPPORTUNITY

Natera™ is a global leader in cell-free DNA (cfDNA) testing, dedicated to oncology, women’s health, and organ health. Our aim is to make personalized genetic testing and diagnostics part of the standard of care to protect health and enable earlier and more targeted interventions that lead to longer, healthier lives.

The Natera team consists of highly dedicated statisticians, geneticists, doctors, laboratory scientists, business professionals, software engineers and many other professionals from world-class institutions, who care deeply for our work and each other. When you join Natera, you’ll work hard and grow quickly. Working alongside the elite of the industry, you’ll be stretched and challenged, and take pride in being part of a company that is changing the landscape of genetic disease management.

WHAT WE OFFER

Competitive Benefits - Employee benefits include comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life and disability plans for eligible employees and their dependents. Additionally, Natera employees and their immediate families receive free testing in addition to fertility care benefits. Other benefits include pregnancy and baby bonding leave, 401k benefits, commuter benefits and much more. We also offer a generous employee referral program!

For more information, visit www.natera.com.

Natera is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to ensuring a diverse and inclusive workplace environment, and welcome people of different backgrounds, experiences, abilities and perspectives. Inclusive collaboration benefits our employees, our community and our patients, and is critical to our mission of changing the management of disease worldwide.

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply, and will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, age, veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with applicable laws.

If you are based in California, we encourage you to read this important information for California residents. 

Link: https://www.natera.com/notice-of-data-collection-california-residents/

Please be advised that Natera will reach out to candidates with a @natera.com email domain ONLY. Email communications from all other domain names are not from Natera or its employees and are fraudulent. Natera does not request interviews via text messages and does not ask for personal information until a candidate has engaged with the company and has spoken to a recruiter and the hiring team. Natera takes cyber crimes seriously, and will collaborate with law enforcement authorities to prosecute any related cyber crimes.

For more information:
- BBB announcement on job scams 
- FBI Cyber Crime resource page