Laboratory Manager (Scientific and Operations)

PURPOSE

Lead laboratory operations, quality, compliance and financial performance. Ensure ISO 15189 compliance, drive operational excellence and maintain highest diagnostic accuracy and safety standards.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Clinical & Scientific Leadership

• Define and approve laboratory test menu's and assay

• Validate and train staff on new technologies then authorise implementation

• Develop, approve and maintain SOPs, clinical protocols and quality documentation

• Oversee monthly quality control and proficiency testing reviews

2. Quality Management & Compliance

• Maintain QMS in compliance with ISO 15189, healthcare regulations and accreditation standards

• Monitor monthly: TAT, True customer complaints, Staff KPI's, Inventory

• Review and approve CAPA (Corrective and Preventive Actions) and root-cause analyses for incidents

• Support accreditation audits, regulatory inspections and compliance reviews

3. Laboratory Operations

• Oversee daily operations: sample intake, processing, testing and result reporting

• Manage all diagnostic equipment: ensure functionality, schedule maintenance, coordinate repairs and upgrades

• Monitor LIMS performance, autoverification rules and data integrity

• Implement process improvements, automation and lean workflow initiatives to optimize efficiency

• Choose accredited external reference labs for tests outside scope of lab

4. Inventory Control & Forecasting

• Establish monitoring and inventory policies: reorder points, minimum/maximum stock levels by discipline

• Forecast monthly and quarterly inventory requirements using:

- Historical test volumes and seasonal demand patterns

- Planned test menu expansions and new assay launches

- Equipment automation changes and technology implementations

- Supplier lead times and reagent shelf-life constraints

• Implement FIFO (first-in-first-out) protocols

• Coordinate with Finance to optimize material costs while ensuring adequate stock to prevent shortages

• Evaluate suppliers and alternatives; negotiate contracts, terms and conduct periodic vendor performance reviews

• Approve laboratory capex (equipment, software, infrastructure) and evaluate ROI and clinical necessity

5. Team Leadership & Development

• Lead and mentor laboratory teams both on managerial, technical , safety & quality issues

• Design training programs for the above

• Establish, implement & analyse team KPI's

• Foster culture of continuous improvement, patient safety and scientific excellence

6. Stakeholder Management & Communications

• Coordinate with internal departments (Clinical, IT, Finance, HR) on operational and strategic matters

• Represent laboratory to external stakeholders: regulators, accreditation bodies, reference laboratories and partners

• Support sales and marketing with technical materials, training and clinical updates

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• A medical doctor with a Postgraduate degree from a medical collage in the field of Laboratory medicine, Clinical or Chemical Pathology, or one of their subsidiary specialities.

• Master's degree is a must, Doctor degree preferred

Experience

• 10–15 years managing large clinical laboratories (Standalone, University, Military) across multiple disciplines (hematology, chemistry, microbiology, immunoassay, pathology, molecular biology, parasitology)

• Actively participated in ISO 15189 or equivalent accreditation and regulatory compliance

• Laboratory budgeting, procurement and inventory management experience

• Team leadership experience (6+ direct reports)

• LIMS, laboratory automation & Autoverification

• Vietnamese healthcare regulations and standards familiarity

Core Competencies

• Expert scientific knowledge in laboratory medicine

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with ability to conduct root-cause analysis

• Excellent leadership, mentoring and team development abilities

• Good financial and budget management skills

• Fluent in English and Vietnamese (written and verbal)

• Proactive, detail-oriented, high ownership mindset with minimal supervision required

• Commitment to quality, patient safety and ethical practice