Job Description
Job Summary:
The Radiological Laboratory Manager is responsible for the overall leadership, performance, safety, and profitability of a commercial Radiological testing laboratory. This position provides strategic and day-to-day management of laboratory operations while ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, client expectations, financial objectives, and production targets.
The successful candidate must be an effective people leader who can coordinate and prioritize laboratory workflow, develop staff, and maintain high levels of productivity while meeting customer turnaround times. This is a hands-on leadership role that requires the ability and willingness to work alongside laboratory personnel and perform technical laboratory duties whenever operational demands require.
The Radiological Laboratory Manager is accountable for achieving monthly and annual revenue goals, maintaining safe and compliant laboratory operations, and ensuring the laboratory consistently delivers accurate and timely analytical results.
Detailed Description:
Leadership & Personnel Management
- Lead, supervise, coach, and develop a team of approximately 17 laboratory professionals.
- Establish staffing plans and priorities to meet production requirements and customer commitments.
- Conduct performance discussions, training, and professional development activities.
- Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, safety, quality, and continuous improvement.
- Ensure laboratory personnel are properly trained and qualified to perform assigned duties.
- Serve as a working manager who is capable of providing technical support and filling operational roles throughout the laboratory as needed.
Laboratory Operations & Production
- Direct daily laboratory operations to ensure efficient and effective workflow management.
- Coordinate and prioritize incoming workload to meet customer due dates and contractual commitments.
- Monitor laboratory production metrics and implement strategies to improve efficiency and productivity.
- Identify bottlenecks and allocate resources appropriately to maintain turnaround time performance.
- Ensure analytical work is completed accurately, on schedule, and in accordance with established procedures and quality requirements.
Financial Management
- Develop and maintain monthly and annual financial forecasts.
- Manage laboratory budgets, expenses, labor utilization, and operational costs.
- Monitor laboratory performance against sales and revenue goals.
- Collaborate with business leadership to achieve growth objectives and profitability targets.
- Evaluate operational opportunities to improve efficiency and support business development efforts.
Health, Safety & Radiation Protection
- Serve as the designated Health and Safety Officer.
- Serve as the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) or maintain qualifications necessary to fulfill RSO responsibilities.
- Ensure compliance with all applicable local, state, federal, and regulatory requirements.
- Develop, implement, and maintain laboratory safety programs and radiation protection procedures.
- Lead safety investigations, corrective actions, and root-cause analyses when necessary.
- Promote a safety-first culture that protects employees, customers, the public, and the environment.
Quality & Regulatory Compliance
- Ensure compliance with applicable quality systems, accreditations, licenses, and regulations.
- Review, revise, and approve laboratory procedures, work instructions, and technical documentation.
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives to enhance quality, efficiency, and customer satisfaction.
- Support internal and external audits and regulatory inspections.
- Maintain required laboratory records and documentation.
Equipment & Instrumentation
- Oversee maintenance, calibration, qualification, and repair of laboratory instrumentation and equipment.
- Ensure preventative maintenance programs are effectively implemented.
- Coordinate vendor support and service contracts as necessary.
- Monitor equipment performance and recommend upgrades or replacements.
Customer Service & Client Relations
- Monitor and manage customer report turnaround times.
- Collaborate with clients to address technical questions, scheduling concerns, and service issues.
- Ensure customer expectations are met while maintaining quality and regulatory standards.
- Support business growth through excellent service and operational reliability.
Emergency Preparedness
- Serve as the Laboratory Emergency Coordinator.
- Develop and maintain emergency response plans.
- Lead drills, training exercises, and response activities as required.
- Ensure readiness for radiological, chemical, environmental, and facility emergencies.
Additional Responsibilities
- Participate in strategic planning and operational improvement initiatives.
- Support cross-functional projects and organizational objectives.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Requirements:- Bachelor's degree in Health Physics, Chemistry, Physics, Radiochemistry, Environmental Science, Nuclear Science, or a related scientific discipline.
- Minimum of 5 years of laboratory management or supervisory experience.
- Experience managing technical staff in a regulated laboratory environment.
- Knowledge of radiation safety principles and applicable regulatory requirements.
- Demonstrated experience managing budgets, forecasting, and operational performance metrics.
- Strong organizational, leadership, and decision-making skills.
- Excellent communication skills.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and laboratory information management systems (LIMS).
Preferred Skills/Experience:
- Certified Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) or equivalent experience.
- Experience in a commercial analytical laboratory environment.
- Knowledge of ISO 17025 or other laboratory accreditation standards.
- Project management and continuous improvement experience.
