Senior Lab Manager

Lighthouse Lab Services has partnered with a rapidly growing, high-throughput wellness laboratory in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, focused on delivering advanced diagnostic testing across molecular, microbiology, immunology, chemistry, and hematology. This CLIA-aligned startup is building scalable, high-quality operations and is seeking a Senior Lab Manager to support and oversee daily laboratory performance.

Position Overview:

We are seeking a strategic and hands-on Senior Laboratory Manager to lead operations within a rapidly growing, high-complexity laboratory. This startup environment is scaling quickly and projected to process ~80,000 tests annually, requiring a leader who thrives in high-volume, fast-paced settings.

This role will oversee multi-disciplinary testing including molecular, immunology, microbiology, chemistry, and hematology, while building scalable processes, optimizing throughput, and ensuring exceptional quality and compliance from day one.

Microbiology & Culture Operations:

• Microbiology is a core pillar of our test menu, and this role carries direct oversight of culture and susceptibility workflows from specimen quality and plating through organism identification and AST interpretation.
• Oversee bacteriology, mycology, and culture workflows (respiratory, wound, urine, sterile site), including specimen handling standards and rejection criteria
• Manage ID and susceptibility platforms (MALDI-TOF, Vitek, Phoenix/Kiestra, MicroScan)—performance verification, QC oversight, and vendor relationships
• Collaborate with medical directors on reporting standards, critical value protocols, and clinician communication
• Develop environmental monitoring programs and biosafety protocols consistent with BSL-2 requirements
• Drive proficiency testing and internal QC performance; evaluate and validate new micro assays and syndromic PCR panels

Key Responsibilities:

Operations, Quality & Compliance:

• Design scalable workflows; optimize sample intake, accessioning, and routing to maintain TAT and quality at volume
• Own capacity planning, shift structures, QA/QC programs, and CLIA/CAP/OSHA compliance as a continuous standard
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective action; build a culture where quality issues become less frequent, not just better documented

Team Leadership:

• Build and lead a multi-disciplinary team across molecular, micro, chemistry, hematology, and immunology
• Own hiring, onboarding, competency assessments, and performance management; set expectations and hold the team accountable

Technical Oversight & Instrumentation:

• Hands-on oversight across the full test menu: PCR/molecular, immunology, microbiology, chemistry, and hematology
• Support assay validation and verification from protocol design through sign-off; keep instrumentation at spec through proactive PM
• Identify and implement automation solutions that improve throughput without compromising result integrity

Growth, Scaling & Continuous Improvement:

• Actively involved in lab build-out, SOP development, and infrastructure decisions built for scale
• Collaborate with leadership on new service lines and test menu expansion; implement digital tools to reduce manual touchpoints
• Apply LEAN/Six Sigma where it genuinely improves operations; track KPIs (TAT, error rates, volume) and use them to drive decisions

Qualifications:

Required

• Bachelor’s in Medical Laboratory Science, Clinical Lab Science, Biology, or related field (Master’s preferred)
• ASCP certification (MLS/MT or specialty) or equivalent
• 7–10 years of clinical lab experience; 3–5 years in leadership
• High-volume, high-complexity lab environment experience
• Working knowledge across molecular, microbiology, chemistry, hematology, and immunology
• Deep familiarity with CLIA, CAP, and regulatory compliance

Preferred

• Hands-on microbiology background: culture technique, organism ID, susceptibility testing
• Startup or scale-up lab experience, ideally with involvement in build-out
• Automation, high-throughput systems, and PCR/molecular diagnostics experience
• LIS implementation or optimization experience

Skills & Competencies:

• Operational leadership in complex, high-volume environments
• Process design and scalability thinking—building for tomorrow, not just today
• Strong analytical instincts; comfortable making data-driven decisions
• Clear communicator who can translate technical issues for non-technical audiences
• Calm under pressure; effective prioritization when everything feels urgent

Compensation & Benefits:

• $100,000 - $130,000
• Health, dental, and vision insurance | 401(k) with employer contribution
• Generous PTO and paid holidays
• Professional development opportunities—this role grows as the lab grow

About Us:

At Lighthouse Lab Services, we offer solutions to help start, grow, and run clinical laboratories. Our recruiting team has had over 20 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 accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities.

Lighthouse Lab Services | 800-838-0602 | lighthouselabservices.com

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