General Description:

Function as the resident director and leader of TVMDL's Canyon laboratory. Responsible for daily oversight of the laboratory operations, including budgetary matters, routine testing, test development, client communications, quality assurance, safety, and employee well-being. Take appropriate action on executive management decisions related to the Canyon laboratory. Proactively ensure the agency directors are equipped with necessary facts, updates and information related to operations at the Canyon laboratory. Serve as a member of the TVMDL Executive Committee, providing input on agency rules, policies and procedures. Work cooperatively with other agency leadership, ensuring the four TVMDL laboratory locations function as one unit by promoting communication and interrelationships. Ensure effective supervision, management and leadership of all Canyon section staff and operations. Lead by example to ensure procedures and protocols are carried out in accordance with agency policies and SOPs. Select, assign duties, and direct performance of professional and technical laboratory personnel. Foster laboratory teamwork, cooperation, professional standards and communications. Provide excellent customer service to laboratory clients. Lead and support continuing efforts to improve laboratory workflows, physical and business operations, including growing the client base for the laboratory. Responsible for scientific accuracy, completeness, promptness and generation of laboratory results. Ensure workflow coordination as well as appropriate and timely personnel management.

Administrative Duties:

Liaison with regulatory agencies at the local, state and federal levels when appropriate. May interact with industry groups in the pursuit of improved relationships and collaboration. Testify in legal and administrative proceedings on behalf of the agency, as requested. Interpret industry policies as well as state, national and international law as applicable. In collaboration with the Assistant Agency Director for Finance, manage the Canyon laboratory budget. Monitor section caseloads, noting changes in workloads. Proactively explore methods to increase revenue and decrease expenses when appropriate. Responsible for proactively developing and implementing agency policies and procedures. In conjunction with agency leadership, assist with strategic planning efforts for the Canyon laboratory. Design and monitor business plans for Canyon laboratory section(s). Liaison with agency management on all projects, providing timely and relevant updates on progress, challenges, opportunities and needs. Represent the agency on internal or external taskforces, committees and workgroups as designated by agency management.

Client Communication:

Develop and maintain positive working relationships with veterinary practitioners, animal industry associations, and livestock and pet owners. Resolve complex, confidential or sensitive diagnostic case issues with clients, contracting agencies, and other TVMDL customers utilizing the Canyon laboratory. Assure accurate and prompt specimen receiving, testing and reporting. Provide leadership for case coordination, complaint management and overall client relations for the Canyon laboratory. Communicate with clients via phone and/or email. Solicit information to better assess the feasibility and need for potential testing. Offer recommendations on sample selection, test selection, collection, shipment, etc. Consult with TVMDL colleagues to provide a complete, holistic approach to case management for all clients when appropriate. May answer clinical questions from clients. Coordinate test agreements with clients as appropriate, recommending pricing structure to agency leadership. Mitigate and respond to client complaints as appropriate.

Supervisory, Evaluation, Employee Support:

Responsible for staff recruitment, hiring, evaluation, counseling, development and termination for Student Assistants, Technicians, Scientists, Lab Supervisors and Section Heads. Recommend promotions, reclassifications and salary actions for direct reports. Develop justification and ensure the maintenance of documentation for all personnel actions. Provide proactive, collaborative, and effective direct oversight and leadership to direct reports. Ensure employee actions are in compliance with Texas A&M System and TVMDL rules, regulations, policies and procedures. Create an ethical, non-discriminatory, positive and safe work environment. Proactively identify and address personnel issues, manage conflict and respond to grievances. Investigate and take action on complaints or performance concerns. Identify staff development and training needs and ensure training is obtained. Ensure new staff receives necessary orientation training. Monitor and document safety and quality assurance training as needed. Maintain training records for direct reports. Communicate regular updates and share agency-wide strategic information with all staff reporting through your chain of command. Serve as an advocate for employee issues with colleagues and agency management. Responsible for assisting employees in preparation for opportunities for promotion. Determine appropriate and equitable distribution of work assignments to meet advertised turnaround times, quality assurance, safety and overall TVMDL objectives. Ensure employees provide high quality, consistent and positive customer service to laboratory clients and colleagues. Review and approve timesheets, leave requests and other personnel requests as appropriate. Set and/or approve Canyon laboratory staffing schedules to ensure adequate laboratory staff.

Supervising other Managers:

Directly manage and coordinate the efforts of Canyon laboratory Section Heads and/or other direct reports. Ensure effective and appropriate management and leadership by subordinate supervisors. Provide coaching, training and mentorship to support professional development for subordinate supervisors and the supervisors' employees. Responsible for assisting supervisors in preparation for opportunities for promotion.

Teamwork & Cooperation:

Foster laboratory teamwork, cooperation, professional standards and communication. May participate in flex scheduling, including work prior to 8:00 a.m., after 5:00 p.m., on weekends or on holidays. Participate in the TVMDL Management Team, Quality Assurance and EHS Committee, and Testing and Research Advisory Council monthly meetings and disseminate relevant information, as appropriate, to Canyon laboratory staff.

Training & Mentorship:

Responsible for ensuring appropriate, adequate, timely and routine training amongst Canyon laboratory staff, to include scientific, technical, managerial and leadership competencies. Responsible for ensuring all staff are adequately trained in use of the quality assurance program and LIMS software. Responsible for maintenance of training records for direct reports.

Quality Assurance & Safety:

Support and maintain a robust Quality Assurance and Safety Program in the laboratory. Ensure adherence and compliance with the TVMDL Quality Assurance Manual and associated quality assurance procedures. Actively participate in quality assurance and safety programs, cross training and skill development as applicable. Provide leadership for corrective/preventative actions and internal reviews. Attend and participate in monthly Quality Assurance and Safety Committee meetings serving as a representative for the Canyon laboratory. Promote agency wide alignment of SOPs and testing methodology. Communicate relevant meeting proceedings with all appropriate staff after each meeting. Serve as an advocate for quality assurance and safety procedures at TVMDL. Responsible for ensuring solutions to quality assurance and safety issues, including addressing corrective actions, preventative actions, and audit findings. Proactively identify processes for improvement and ensure implementation. Lead response efforts related to internal reviews and audits.

SOPs, Procedures, Forms, Other Documentation:

Lead quality assurance and safety efforts and responsible for ensuring compliance and conformance amongst all staff. Align processes, when relevant, across agency sections/disciplines and/or locations. Ensure the timely and accurate review of SOPs, procedures, forms, workflows and other quality assurance documents. Responsible for ensuring the identification, resolution and implementation of process improvement protocols.

Research, Reference Materials, Development:

Maintain awareness of scientific developments in diagnostic veterinary medicine and apply to diagnostic testing as appropriate. Provide leadership support for diagnostic development and agency-wide test alignment.

Represent the agency at national, regional and local scientific and industry meetings as appropriate. Engage in strategic review of new business opportunities by literature and market analysis. In collaboration with clients, TVMDL leadership and Section Heads, develop partnership for new development and business opportunities. Evaluate experimental and technical approaches for development or improvement of assays to expand testing portfolios. Represent the Canyon laboratory on the TVMDL Testing and Research Advisory Council.

Sample Prep, Sample Cataloging:

Responsible for timely and accurate sample processing and preparation by Section Heads, Technicians and Scientists.

Testing:

Provide oversight for daily diagnostic testing in the section. May serve as a subject matter expert on a discipline(s), technique(s) or diagnostic methodology(ies). May perform or interpret complex assays or techniques for routine and non-routine testing. Work closely with Diagnostic Services, Section heads and Veterinary Pathologists in the coordination and testing of multiple assigned cases. Service as a point of contact/subject matter resource for colleagues in TVMDL testing sections or other lab locations.

Data Entry, Interpretation, Results:

Coordinate progress of high consequence cases. Provide analysis and review of unexpected results or results of significance. Provide diagnostic interpretation to clients based on test results and clinical histories. Serve as case coordinator or point of contact for multiply assigned cases when appropriate. Review results from other sections, clarify conflicting results and provide interpretation as necessary. Release results to clients in a manner consistent with TVMDL's published turnaround times.

Supplies, Stock, Inventory, Equipment:

Responsible for the fiscal management of Canyon laboratory expenses. Work closely with Finance staff to adhere to procurement and purchasing procedures. May approve purchases of supplies for the laboratory. Ensure timely maintenance and repair of equipment, recommend maintenance agreements and vendors for long term viability of equipment.

Other:

Work in conjunction with Diagnostic Services and Marketing to actively promote new or modified test, TVMDL services or other client-education topics by writing and/or editing copy, speaking at conferences or meetings, or participating in TVMDL sponsored exhibit shows. Assist/host/lead programs for veterinary and other students, career fairs, tours, and other lab guests. Travel connected with official duties may be required. This may include attendance at night and/or weekend meetings, participation in out-of-country events. Must have willingness to work necessary hours to fulfill routine job responsibilities (some evenings and weekends).

Work shall be performed with adherence to federal, state, Texas A&M University System, and TVMDL safety rules, regulations, policies and procedures. Perform work in such a way as to not expose others or yourself to hazards that are avoidable by reasonable and approved methods.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution's verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution's procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Veterans/Disability Employer committed to diversity.