Director of Laboratory Quality Assurance and Education

Director of Laboratory Quality Assurance and Education

The University of Illinois Hospital & Clinics (UI Health) is seeking a full-time Director of Laboratory Quality Assurance and Education to join their team. The Director of Laboratory Quality Assurance and Education, under the direction of the Senior Director Hospital Pathology/Laboratory Services insures the Clinical Laboratory that serves the patients of the UI Health and the community meets the regulatory standards issued by CLIA, The Joint Commission, CAP, FDA, OSHA, AABB, and other regulatory bodies through a robust quality program to include safe and quality results in the pre-analytical, analytical, and post analytical phases of testing. The laboratories included in the Pathology Department are Chemistry, Hematology, Microbiology, Anatomical Pathology, Tissue Typing, Specimen Processing, Molecular Pathology, Biochemical Genetics, Clinical Genomics, Point-of-Care Testing, Phlebotomy, and Reference Laboratories. Works collaboratively with Pathology/Laboratory leadership, including faculty, and key stakeholders to encourage an innovative and patient centric quality program.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Ensures regulatory compliance and accreditation readiness by maintaining up-to-date knowledge of requirements and coordinating activities to fulfill requirements.
• Maintains and continually improves the Laboratory Quality Management Program (QMP), managing and coordinating related activities and completing tasks to ensure effective support of Laboratory operations.
• Organizes, plans, and operationalizes the Quality Indicator Metric Reporting Committee, at least quarterly.
• Prepares the institutional Department Reports as appropriate for submission.
• Participates in the investigation and fact-finding related to RCAs (root-cause-analysis).
• Collaborates with Clinical Laboratory Directors, and operational laboratory leadership in developing a Culture of Safety and Just Culture.
• Functions as the Laboratory Internal Audit Coordinator, planning and coordinating internal audits to ensure ongoing excellence in quality and service.
• Assists in investigations into internal and external deviations, develops corrective action plan and coordinates development of any resultant Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) changes and staff training.
• Coordinates the monitoring, reporting and assessment of performance-related information through information collected by Laboratory Quality Supervisors/managers/technologists.
• Coordinates the quality review activities of the Operations Management team to ensure continual improvement of quality and service.
• Facilitates the design and validation of efficient workflow processes, conducts quality-related meetings, and develops documents (process maps/tables, procedures, and forms).
• Assists Educational Coordinator in promoting a culture of quality by providing education to others on the science of laboratory testing, human health, and preventive health strategies.
• Encourages professional credentialing and continued yearly education by providing educational sessions/seminars.
• Supports the resident/fellows’ programs in training quality and regulatory requirements.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Perform other related duties and participate in special projects as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in medical technology, Biological Science, Chemical Science or Physical Science.
• Minimum five (5) years of experience in a high complexity Clinical Laboratory.
• Must have the education and experience equivalent to the guidelines mandated by CLIA/CLIS and/or NYS requirements for General Supervisor.
• Prior demonstrated successful experience in a multi structured health care institution, academic or larger commercial laboratory is required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Graduate Degree in MBA, Health Services or Related Field.
• Bachelor’s degree(s) in Molecular Biology, Molecular genetics, or related science field.
• Certification in one of the following certifications:
• Certified as Medical Technologist, Clinical Laboratory Scientist, Medical Laboratory Scientist, Histotechnologist (HTL), or categorical certification by Board of Certification. (ASCP).
• Certified as a Medical Technologist by American Medical Technologists (AMT).
• Certified as Clinical Laboratory Scientist by National Credentialing Agency for Laboratory personnel (NCA).
• Clinical Microbiology registry from American Society for Microbiology, RM(AAM).
• Certified Histocompatibility Technologist (CHT) by the American Board of Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (ABHI).

Salary & Benefits:

Salary: The budgeted salary range for the position is $80,000 140,000.

Final salary offered will be determined by a thorough assessment of available market data, internal salary equity, candidate experience and qualifications, and budget constraints. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the full range for a position.

Benefits eligible positions include a comprehensive benefits package which offers: Health, Dental, Vision, Life, Disability & AD&D insurance; a defined benefit pension plan; paid leaves such as Vacation, Holiday and Sick; tuition waivers for employees and dependents. Click for a complete list of Employee Benefits.

To Apply:

For fullest consideration, please submit a complete application and supplemental resume by March 4, 2025.

uic.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/2/home/requisition/14290?c=uic

The University of Illinois Chicago is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, protected veteran status, or status as an individual with a disability.

Offers of employment by the University of Illinois may be subject to approval by the University’s Board of Trustees and are made contingent upon the candidate’s successful completion of any criminal background checks and other pre-employment assessments that may be required for the position being offered. Additional information regarding such pre-employment checks and assessments may be provided as applicable during the hiring process.

As a qualifying federal contractor, the University of Illinois System uses E-Verify to verify employment eligibility.

The University of Illinois System requires candidates selected for hire to disclose any documented finding of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment and to authorize inquiries to current and former employers regarding findings of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment. For more information, visit here.

University of Illinois faculty, staff and students are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. If you are not able to receive the vaccine for medical or religious reasons, you may seek approval for an exemption in accordance with applicable University processes.