Acute Care Manager of Clinical Laboratory

This Acute Care Manager of Laboratory Department opportunity is presented by a leading acute-care hospital located in the Inland Empire area of Southern California. The hospital is known for its mission-driven, patient-first culture that deeply values innovation, quality care, and continuous improvement. As a highly regarded healthcare institution, it has received recognition from U.S. News & World Report for high performance in COPD, heart failure, stroke, and kidney failure for the years 2025-2026, underscoring a commitment to clinical excellence and patient outcomes.

The hospital fosters a supportive and innovative work environment that empowers leaders to adopt new care models, leverage advanced analytics, and utilize AI-assisted diagnostics to deliver superior clinical laboratory services. This culture of innovation is bolstered by robust safety practices aimed at maintaining low healthcare-associated infection (HAI) rates and a strong public reputation supported by positive media coverage and community backing. The workplace atmosphere is award-winning, offering transparent career pathways, certification pay, tuition and CEU support, and a collaborative environment where shared governance, clinical ladders, and staff councils allow professionals to thrive.

In the role of Manager of Laboratory Services, the successful candidate will lead the acute care laboratory department, a critical function known under various titles such as the Medical Laboratory or Acute Care Laboratory. The department operates 24/7, providing high-acuity diagnostic services across multiple specialties, including chemistry, hematology, coagulation, urinalysis, microbiology, molecular diagnostics, and transfusion services. Utilizing modern analyzers, middleware solutions, and a Laboratory Information System (LIS) fully integrated with the Electronic Health Record (EHR), the laboratory consistently meets high standards for speed, quality, and reliability.

Reporting directly to the System Director of Laboratory Services and in strong partnership with the Medical Director and Pathology team, the Manager of Clinical Laboratory Service will oversee daily laboratory operations, staffing, and budgeting. This leadership role includes ensuring readiness for inspections and certifications from key regulatory bodies such as CLIA, CAP, AABB, and The Joint Commission. The manager will champion quality control and quality assurance initiatives, proficiency testing, and antimicrobial stewardship support while driving process improvements through Lean methodologies and optimizing LIS rules and reflex testing protocols.

This leadership position requires a seasoned manager who can mentor and develop a talented laboratory team consisting of Clinical Laboratory Scientists (CLS), Medical Laboratory Scientists (MLS), phlebotomy staff, and support personnel. Collaboration is key in this role, requiring close work with bedside nurses, hospitalists, emergency physicians, intensivists, and a diverse multidisciplinary team dedicated to clinical excellence under the guidance of the Director of CLS.

Living in the Inland Empire offers a vibrant lifestyle that balances work and personal life with an inviting Mediterranean climate and a variety of outdoor and cultural activities. From weekend escapes to scenic mountain areas like Big Bear and Lake Arrowhead, stargazing in Joshua Tree, biking on the Santa Ana River Trail, wine tasting in Temecula, to indulging in the arts and music scenes of Palm Springs, the region provides numerous opportunities for recreation. It features a diverse culinary landscape, strong educational institutions, a resilient job market anchored by healthcare, education, logistics, and tech industries, and more affordable housing than nearby coastal metros. Excellent transit options including Metrolink, proximity to Ontario International Airport, abundant parks, community events, and pet-friendly spaces create an inclusive, accessible environment ideal for professionals seeking both career growth and quality of life.

Compensation for this position is competitive and aligned with market-leading benchmarks for an Acute Care Manager of Laboratory Department. The benefits package is comprehensive, including differential pay, incentive bonuses, medical, dental, and vision coverage, retirement savings plans with employer contributions, generous paid time off, paid holidays, extended leave benefits, tuition assistance, certification reimbursement, professional conference funding, wellbeing resources, and relocation support if applicable. Interested candidates are encouraged to connect confidentially with a Clinical Management Consultants recruiter to explore this exciting leadership opportunity and take the next step in their clinical careers.