Sr. Director, Diagnostics Lab Operations

Lighthouse Lab Services has partnered with a national health and wellness platform seeking a Sr. Director, Diagnostics Lab Operations. About the Role: The client seeks an accomplished and operationally rigorous Sr. Director, Lab Operations individual to lead the management and growth of our diagnostics and laboratory network across North America. This leader will be accountable for ensuring best-in-class quality, regulatory compliance, operational excellence, and scalability across both internal labs and strategic third-party lab partners. The ideal candidate is a seasoned lab operations executive who has successfully led multi-site lab operations in a high-growth diagnostics or clinical testing environment. You bring deep expertise in operational performance management, workforce leadership, vendor oversight, and regulatory compliance. You know how to build a world-class lab culture rooted in quality, reliability, and innovation while driving measurable improvements in efficiency, throughput, and turnaround times. About the Client: The client is a leading NYSE-traded health and wellness platform dedicated to making personalized, affordable, and accessible care the new standard. By putting customers first and offering end-to-end support, from diagnosis to treatment to delivery, they're redefining healthcare and making better health outcomes easier to achieve. You Will:

• Lead and oversee all lab operations across multiple sites in North America, ensuring consistent excellence in quality, accuracy, efficiency, and compliance.
• Develop and execute the operational strategy for internal and partner lab network, focused on scalability, standardization, and continuous improvement.
• Own operational performance metrics including turnaround time (TAT), cost per test, quality KPIs, and overall customer and patient satisfaction.
• Build and lead a high-performing lab operations team, including lab directors, managers, and technical staff - fostering a culture of accountability, continuous learning, and compliance.
• Drive quality and regulatory excellence by ensuring full adherence to CLIA, CAP, and all applicable federal and state regulatory requirements.
• Partner with third-party lab vendors to manage performance, negotiate service agreements, and ensure alignment with quality and efficiency standards.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with clinical, logistics, product, and finance teams to ensure end-to-end operational alignment and seamless execution.
• Implement process optimization and automation initiatives to enhance efficiency, reduce errors, and scale operational capacity as the diagnostics business grows.
• Oversee capacity planning and site readiness for future lab expansion or consolidation opportunities across geographies.
• Serve as a key voice in diagnostics leadership, contributing to strategic decisions about network design, lab footprint, and long-term operational capability building.

You Have:

• Bachelor's degree in life sciences, medical technology, or related field required; advanced degree (MBA, MPH, or related) preferred.
• 12+ years of experience in diagnostics or clinical laboratory operations, with at least 5 years in a senior multi-site leadership role.
• Proven success managing operations across 5 or more labs within the U.S.; international experience is a plus.
• Deep knowledge of CLIA, CAP, FDA, and state regulatory requirements, with a track record of successfully passing audits and inspections.
• Experience establishing and scaling operational processes, KPIs, and governance frameworks across a distributed lab network.
• Demonstrated ability to hire, develop, and retain top lab operations and technical talent.
• Experience managing relationships with external diagnostic or reference labs, including performance management and quality oversight.
• Strong analytical mindset and operational discipline; experience leveraging data for performance improvement and capacity planning.
• Exceptional leadership and communication skills, with the ability to influence and partner cross-functionally across clinical, business, and technical functions.

Compensation:

• $250K - $270K (depending on Experience)

Benefits to include but not limited to:

• Competitive salary & equity compensation for full-time roles
• Unlimited PTO, company holidays, and quarterly mental health days
• Comprehensive health benefits including medical, dental & vision, and parental leave
• Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP)
• 401k benefits with employer matching contribution
• Offsite team retreats
• Remote workplace with potential for 35% - 50% travel

At Lighthouse Lab Services, we offer solutions to help start, grow, and run clinical laboratories. Our recruiting team has more than 22 years of proven success placing job seekers in positions ranging from entry-level Medical Technologists to seasoned Laboratory Directors. We recruit nationwide for permanent and travel positions with clients ranging from small hospitals to large reference laboratories. It is the policy of Lighthouse Lab Services to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, Lighthouse Lab Services will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. Lighthouse Lab Services|844-914-0785|lighthouselabservices.com #LLS3 Apply tot his job Apply To this Job