Microbiology Supervisor

Duties

• Serve as one of several ZRL Veterinary Microbiology subject matter experts.
• Understand and interpret guidelines for culture/PCR results and assist team members with difficult cases.
• Understand and utilize the laboratory information system (LIS) including for accessioning, requisition maintenance, test ordering and batch reporting.
• Perform all reporting of results and manager review in LIS.
• Perform and oversee all antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) procedures and platforms and capable of troubleshooting on each platform.
• Perform and oversee work in accordance with Select Agent Safety Protocols, Select Agent identification and Select Agent reporting requirements.
• Engage with Medical colleagues to resolve customer service issues, utilizing Salesforce as needed.
• Ensures the operation and maintenance of all microbiology/molecular instruments and equipment.
• Delegate tasks as necessary to maintain a smooth and seamless workflow, even under the pressure of a high-volume testing work environment.
• Engage with Medical Leadership to improve microbiology/molecular processes and eliminate waste while maintaining quality.
• Perform literature reviews and additional training to stay current in microbiology/molecular topics including assay development, antimicrobial drug resistance, updates to CLSI guidelines, emerging infectious diseases, and updates to specific culture techniques.
• Work closely with all department staff to identify and develop personal and professional growth opportunities.
• Understand and ensure team compliance to all EH&S biosafety requirements of the lab.
• Establishes, maintains, and improves relationships with peers, colleagues, medical team, and laboratory support leaders.
• Develops, enforces systems, policies, procedures, and productivity standards, holds the team accountable.
• Maintains quality and customer service goals by collaborating with the Head of Quality and Customer Service Management team; analyzes and resolves quality and customer service problems; recommends and implements improvements.
• Drive all non-conforming event management investigations, root cause analysis, corrective action/preventative action, and effectiveness check processes.
• Accountable for monitoring all testing turnaround times. Provide reports and analysis of any turnaround time metrics that do not meet expectations.
• Evaluate new technologies in collaboration with the Head of Microbiology and the Clinical Operations Leadership Team.
• Develop manpower metrics and quantitatively determines staffing requirements.
• Interpret data and produce operational reports (other than turnaround time reports).
• Assists the Lab Manager by developing and managing the department budget, resource utilization, inventory, capital equipment/system acquisition, and contracting processes.
• Provide effective people leadership by fostering a positive, inclusive, and high-performing work environment; set clear expectations, coach and develop team members, manage performance, promote collaboration, and support employee engagement and growth to achieve organizational goals.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Education and Experience

• Requires a B.S. Degree in Microbiology, Biology, Medical Technology, or other related field of study.
• RVT, MT (ASCP), MLS (ASCP), or CLS certification preferred.
• Minimum of 3-5+ years of clinical microbiology laboratory experience, 2+ in a leadership capacity highly desired.
• High volume reference laboratory experience is highly desirable.
• Veterinary laboratory experience is a plus.

Required Technical Skills

• Documented expert technical experience with veterinary microbiology methods, technologies, instrumentation, and processes.
• Strong business acumen and leadership skills.
• Demonstrated managerial leadership.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Ability to work with others as well as independently.
• Strong organizational skills, troubleshooting skills and follow-through skills.
• Large scale change management experience.
• Ability to apply quality and process improvement tools to optimize quality and efficiency.
• Ability to conduct analysis and read, interpret, and report technical data.