Director, US Sample Management & Site Services

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the Sample Management & Site Services operating strategy aligned with GCL business priorities, customer commitments, quality requirements, and growth plans.
• Own end-to-end performance for specimen receipt, accessioning, sample processing, routing, storage/handling, testing-ready handoff, and associated pre-analytical workflows within the US operation.
• Lead US Site Services and establish effective processes for investigation, triage, resolution, and communication of problem samples and other sample-related exceptions.
• Establish and actively manage operational KPIs including turnaround time, backlog/WIP, accessioning accuracy, exception aging, productivity, quality events, service levels, and other measures of sample-flow performance.
• Build a robust operating management system with clear standard work, escalation pathways, tiered accountability, root-cause problem solving, and sustained continuous improvement.
• Ensure operations are performed in accordance with applicable quality systems, regulatory requirements, safety standards, SOPs, and client/study requirements; partner with Quality on deviations, CAPA, audit readiness, and inspection responses.
• Own workforce planning, staffing, scheduling, training, onboarding, qualification, performance management, and leadership development for the organization.
• Design and continuously improve onboarding and training systems to accelerate time-to-proficiency, strengthen first-time-right performance, and sustain workforce capability.
• Partner with Laboratory Operations to define and continuously improve the testing-ready handoff, resolve cross-site flow constraints, and ensure clear accountability for issues spanning Sample Management and laboratory testing.
• Partner with Client Delivery and other customer-facing teams on significant sample issues, escalations, study risks, and corrective actions while ensuring timely and accurate operational communication.
• Develop operating plans, budgets, forecasts, capacity plans, and resource requirements for the Covington operation; identify and execute productivity and cost-improvement opportunities.
• Lead change initiatives, technology/process improvements, and automation opportunities that improve sample flow, quality, employee experience, scalability, and customer outcomes.
• Recruit, develop, coach, and retain high-performing leaders and teams while fostering a culture of safety, quality, accountability, inclusion, and continuous improvement.

Key Qualifications

Education and Experience: Bachelor's degree or equivalent and relevant formal academic/vocational qualification in life sciences, operations, business, or a related field. Advanced degree preferred. Previous experience that provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the job (typically comparable to 12+ years), including significant leadership experience in high-volume regulated operations, clinical laboratory/sample management, logistics, healthcare, life sciences, or a comparable environment. Experience leading operational transformation and large teams is strongly preferred. 5+ years of management responsibility. Strong leadership skills.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Executive-level operational leadership and change management
• Clinical laboratory sample/specimen management and pre-analytical operations
• Quality systems, regulatory compliance, and audit readiness
• High-volume workflow, capacity, and workforce management
• Data-driven performance management and operational analytics
• Lean/continuous improvement and structured problem solving
• Cross-functional and cross-site process integration
• Customer and study delivery orientation
• Budgeting, forecasting, and business/financial acumen
• Talent development, coaching, and organizational capability building
• Executive communication, influencing, and stakeholder management
• Ability to lead effectively in a fast-paced, regulated environment