Senior Director, Laboratory Operations - Lenexa, KS

The Senior Director, Laboratory Operations will oversee technical lab operations for units with over $400mm in revenue and over 1,000 employees. The successful candidate will be responsible through lab managers for quality and timeliness of technical procedures, compliance, and the overall lab budget.

The Senior Director will ensure the overall success of laboratory operations as measured by service metrics, meeting/maintaining budget projections; client satisfaction; professional staff development and overall communications within/between laboratories, as well as with Patient Services, Logistics, Customer Operations, R&D, Sales/Marketing, Finance, Human Resources, and IT.

This position will be located onsite in Lenexa, KS.

• Develop and implement Lab Ops strategies, plans, and initiatives to improve business operations and drive revenue growth.
• Oversees daily operations, ensuring quality, safety, and regulatory compliance across the Lab Operations.
• Manage resource allocation, scheduling and workflow to optimize throughput and minimize downtime
• Take full P&L responsibility for Lab operations, including budgeting, cost control and financial performance data to drive decisions and enhance profitability.
• Drive a culture of innovation, continuous improvement, and operational excellence throughout the Lab Ops organization.
• Lead the implementation and sustainability of the daily management system across lab departments.
• Provide technical expertise and guidance to cross-functional teams on process flow improvements.
• Partner with NLO, Automation team and vendors to evaluate and implement new technologies, systems, and best practices.
• Work with Human Resources in the areas of hiring, policies and procedure changes, and workman's compensation issues.
• Ensure open and timely communication between laboratories, Specimen Management, patient services, logistics, IT, client services, sales, marketing and other laboratories within Quest Diagnostics.
• Management of a team of ~15 direct reports.
• Monitor turnaround time of all assays by monitoring delivery of samples to the labs and reporting of assays.
• Work with managers and supervisors to establish preventive measures for delayed reports.
• Work with Information Technology for changes in software and coordinate lab requirements.
• Coordinate Quality Assurance activities by reviewing quality measures and survey reports.
• Support and coordinate customer-driven quality activities in reference laboratory operations and Specimen Management.
• Provide and collect information from labs to assist Corporate Safety, Medical Administration, Sales and Marketing, and Human Resources.
• Ensure coordination and implementation of standardization initiatives within the lab.
• Provide operational support for internalizing new assays/methods validated by R&D.

• A Bachelor's degree in Life science or engineering fields is required. A Master’s degree in a Life Science or Business-related field is preferred.
• A minimum of ten years of experience in manufacturing operations management in regulated industries, particularly those under FDA or CLIA oversight, with at least five (5) years of demonstrated overall management and P&L responsibilities.
• Leadership experience in highly automated operations is preferred.
•  Demonstrated success in applying LEAN principles and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment while maintaining attention to details.
• Strong strategic planning and organizational skills, with the ability to manage complex, multi-faceted operations.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with experience leading cross-functional teams and the ability to influence/sell ideas and concepts to peers and senior management.
• Up to 25% travel will be required.

Equal Opportunity Employer: Race/Color/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/Religion/National Origin/Disability/Vets or any other legally protected status.