Core Laboratory Director

Executive Search Associates is partnering with a healthcare organization to identify an experienced Core Laboratory Director to provide administrative, operational, financial, and strategic leadership for a centralized core laboratory in Illinois. This leadership role will oversee high-volume laboratory operations while ensuring efficient, timely, and high-quality diagnostic testing services supporting hospital departments, outreach programs, and affiliated sites.

Description

The Core Laboratory Director will provide comprehensive leadership and oversight of centralized laboratory operations, including high-volume automated testing platforms, workflow optimization, staffing, quality assurance, regulatory compliance, and continuous operational improvement.

This leader will collaborate closely with the Laboratory Medical Director, Technical Supervisors, hospital leadership, and laboratory leadership to ensure operations meet clinical, regulatory, quality, and organizational standards.

The Director will oversee core laboratory disciplines that may include chemistry, immunoassay, hematology, coagulation, pathology, microbiology, molecular, immunology, and other automated testing platforms. The role also includes oversight of analyzer integration, laboratory information systems, middleware, and automation lines.

Responsibilities

Provide administrative, operational, financial, and strategic leadership for centralized core laboratory operations.

Oversee high-volume automated testing platforms and laboratory workflows.

Lead staffing management, quality assurance, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Oversee core laboratory disciplines including chemistry, immunoassay, hematology, coagulation, pathology, microbiology, molecular, and immunology.

Support analyzer integration, laboratory information systems (LIS), middleware, and laboratory automation.

Collaborate with the Laboratory Medical Director, Technical Supervisors, hospital leadership, and laboratory leadership.

Optimize laboratory workflows to support efficient and timely diagnostic testing.

Ensure laboratory operations support timely clinical decision-making and patient safety.

Maintain compliance with applicable regulatory and organizational requirements.

Monitor laboratory operational and financial performance.

Identify opportunities to improve quality, efficiency, workflow, and service delivery.

Support laboratory services across hospital departments, outreach programs, and affiliated sites.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, Medical Technology, Chemical, Biological, or Physical Science from an accredited institution required.

Minimum of five years of clinical laboratory supervisory experience.

Minimum of two years of clinical laboratory director experience, preferably within a high-volume core laboratory environment.

Experience managing high-complexity laboratory testing operations strongly preferred.

Experience with laboratory automation systems, middleware, and LIS platforms preferred.

Strong knowledge of laboratory regulatory compliance and quality standards.

Knowledge of laboratory financial management, budgeting, and operational metrics preferred.

ASCP certification as an MLS or equivalent preferred.

Lean Six Sigma or quality management training preferred.

Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration, Laboratory Management, or a related field preferred.

Contact

Are you an experienced laboratory leader with the technical and operational expertise to lead a high-volume core laboratory? This role offers the opportunity to oversee complex laboratory operations, advance quality and efficiency, and support diagnostic services across a broader healthcare organization.

At Executive Search Associates, our mission and our passion is bringing talented people together. For more information about this position or a confidential conversation about your career goals, CLICK HERE to schedule a meeting or contact Eric Falt : eric@letmeshutmydoor.com or 303-951-6378 .