Director, Immunohematology Reference Laboratory

Responsibilities

This position is responsible for providing leadership and direction for the operations of NYBC’s Immunohematology Reference Laboratories.

This leadership role oversees clinical laboratory operations with a focus on technical excellence, timely result delivery, client satisfaction, quality assurance, and operational efficiency. The role ensures proactive communication with clients and stakeholders, addresses concerns promptly, and promotes a service-oriented culture. It also ensures ongoing compliance with CLIA, NYS-DOH, AABB, and FDA standards, leads proficiency testing, and implements corrective actions. Operational duties include managing staffing, budgets, SOPs, equipment, and safety while fostering staff engagement and development. The position also supports standardization efforts across NYBCe through collaboration on policies, procedures, and training materials, along with other duties as assigned.

Result Delivery and Turnaround Time (TAT). Ensures timely delivery of accurate and clinically relevant lab results.

• Select, validate, implement, and maintain test methods appropriate for the clinical use of the test results.
• Ensure the quality of test performance against specifications in preanalytical, analytic, and postanalytical phases of testing.
• Ensure that any technical issues and deviations are resolved prior to reporting of test results.
• Develop and implement strategies to optimize turnaround time without compromising accuracy.
• Monitor TAT metrics and analyze delays or bottlenecks in workflows.
• Implement automation or process improvements where indicated to reduce delays or improve result delivery.

Customer Service & Client Satisfaction. Includes both internal stakeholders (Hospital Services, Physician Services) and external clients:

• Maintain proactive and timely communication with clients regarding clinical lab services.
• Respond promptly and professionally to client concerns, complaints, or inquiries.
• Conduct regular business reviews and implement changes based on feedback.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with key clients or vendors.
• Ensure all lab staff understand their role in customer service and support a service-oriented culture.

Quality Assurance and Compliance. Ensures laboratory reliability, accuracy, and accreditation compliance:

• Oversee quality assurance activities aligned with NYBCe’s quality management system (QMS) and ensure adherence to regulatory and accreditation standards (CLIA, NYS-DOH, AABB, FDA).
• Establish and maintain a quality control program appropriate for the testing performed.
• Responsible for proficiency testing and quality improvement initiatives. Act and investigate and resolve non-conformances and implement corrective/preventive actions (CAPAs).
• Promote a culture of continuous quality improvement and accountability among staff.

Operational Management. Ensures day-to-day lab activities are efficient, and staff engaged:

• Oversee laboratory workflows, staffing, equipment maintenance, and safety compliance.
• Oversee SOPs, workflow protocols, and risk management strategies.
• Supervise and mentor laboratory managers, supervisors, and laboratory staff.
• Foster a highly engaged, motivated workforce with clear communication, professional development, and staff recognition and retention.
• Ensure adequately trained and competent staffing to maintain smooth operations and operational coverage.
• Develop and manage the lab’s annual operating and capital budgets and identify opportunities for growth or efficiency.
• Collaborate with NYBCe IRL leaders and subject matter experts to develop NYBCe standardized SOPs, documents, policies, and training materials.
• Provide input on key standardization decisions research based on industry best practices, workflow and efficiency.
• Contribute to research initiatives in immunohematology, including complex serologic investigations and genomics studies; publish findings in peer-reviewed journals and present at national and regional conferences to advance transfusion medicine and promote NYBCe expertise.
• Any related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, Medical Technologist, Immunology or a related field.

Experience:

• Ten or more years of relevant technical and service-related industry experience in a high-complexity laboratory or blood bank setting that has supplied the necessary knowledge, skills, and experience to perform the essential functions of the job.
• Four or more years of supervisory or managerial experience in an Immunohematology Reference Laboratory setting.

Licenses / Certification:

• Current clinical laboratory technologist license if required by the State where the laboratory is located.
• SBB certification is required. Consideration without SBB is limited to internal staff with extensive, demonstrated SBB-equivalent expertise and leadership experience.

Knowledge:

• Expert knowledge of Immunohematology / Transfusion Medicine laboratory science and practices.
• Advanced knowledge of current laboratory techniques and technology relevant to an immunohematology reference laboratory.
• Knowledge of basic statistical approaches to evaluate quality control and quality assurance trend data.
• Working knowledge of a business productivity software applications (Microsoft Office Suite).
• Working knowledge of FDA, CLIA, NY State CLEP and AABB regulations and standards.

Skills:

• Cultural competency and the ability to communicate effectively in a culturally sensitive manner with both individuals and groups from diverse backgrounds.
• High level of interpersonal skills to handle a variety of complex issues and situations. Position requires demonstrated poise, tact and diplomacy in dealing with a variety of staff up to and including executive leadership.
• Strong management, leadership, and supervisory skills.

Abilities:

• Demonstrable ability to mentor, teach and train technical staff.
• Ability to work collaboratively and foster a team environment.
• Ability to identify complex problems in a timely manner, decipher information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Ability to effectively solicit, cultivate, and build relationships with constituents and organizations locally and nationally.
• Ability to identify complex problems in a timely manner, decipher information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Ability to use logic and reasoning to identify and analyze strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems within established policies and procedures.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Ability to handle confidential information and maintain confidentiality.

All candidates must meet the New York State Training, Regulations and Codes listed below:

• Education and training sufficient to qualify for licensure as a Clinical Laboratory Technologist prior to 2009 as specified in NYS-ED Regulation 79-13.4."
• Pursuant to New York Codes, Rules and Regulations, Title 10 Section 58-1.4 Qualifications of Laboratory Supervisor (c), there is no substitute for the experience criteria.

Any combination of education, training and experience that has supplied the necessary knowledge, skills and experience to perform the essential functions of the job.

For applicants who will perform this position in New York City or Westchester County, the proposed annual salary is $197,000.00p/yr. to $207,000.00p/yr. For applicants who will perform this position outside of New York City or Westchester County, salary will reflect local market rates and be commensurate with the applicant’s skills, job-related knowledge, and experience.

Unless otherwise specified, all posted opportunities are located in the New York or Greater Tri-State office locations.

Overview

Founded in 1964, New York Blood Center (NYBC) has served the tri-state area for more than 60 years, delivering 500,000 lifesaving blood products annually to 150+ hospitals, EMS and healthcare partners. NYBC is part of New York Blood Center Enterprises (NYBCe), which spans 17+ states and delivers one million blood products to 400+ U.S. hospitals annually. NYBCe additionally delivers cellular therapies, specialty pharmacy, and medical services to 200+ research, academic and biopharmaceutical organizations. NYBCe’s Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute is a leader in hematology and transfusion medicine research, dedicated to the study, prevention, treatment and cure of bloodborne and blood-related diseases. NYBC serves as a vital community lifeline dedicated to helping patients and advancing global public health. To learn more, visit nybc.org. Connect with us on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

NYBCe is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. It is the policy of the Company to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, disabled status, or genetic information.