Associate Director - Clinical Genomics - HLA

About City of Hope

City of Hope is an independent biomedical research and treatment organization for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases.

Founded in 1913, City of Hope is a leader in bone marrow transplantation and immunotherapy such as CAR T cell therapy. City of Hope's translational research and personalized treatment protocols advance care throughout the world. Human synthetic insulin, monoclonal antibodies and numerous breakthrough cancer drugs are based on technology developed at the institution. AccessHope™, a subsidiary launched in 2019 serves employers and their health care partners by providing access to City of Hope's specialized cancer expertise.

A National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center and a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, City of Hope is ranked among the nation's "Best Hospitals" in cancer by U.S. News & World Report and received Magnet Recognition from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Its main campus is located near Los Angeles, with additional locations throughout Southern California and in Arizona.

City of Hope's commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

We believe diversity, equity and inclusion is key in serving our mission to provide compassionate patient care, drive innovative discovery, and advance vital education focused on eliminating cancer and diabetes in all of our communities. Our commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion ensures we bring the full range of skills, perspectives, cultural backgrounds, and experiences to our work -- and that our teams align with the people we serve in order to build trust and understanding. We are dedicated to fostering a community that embraces diversity - in ideas, backgrounds, and perspectives; this is reflected in our work and represented in our people.

Position Summary

Work in conjunction with the Director who has the ultimate authority and responsibility for the specific genetics division. Help provide direction and leadership for the administrative, fiscal, technical, and scientific responsibilities of the division. Help ensure the safe and efficient operation of the division's clinical diagnostic service. Help provide consultative services at an institutional level to departments, divisions, committees, and cancer center (scientific staff within Medical Center and BRI) scientists, as well as to outside researchers and institutions upon request. Help provide analysis, testing recommendations to aid in diagnoses (patient management). Help provide project management details relating to work flow, facilities, publishing, regulatory and grant information needs.

Key Responsibilities include:

Acquire knowledge of system analysis, project management, computer software, time management, and institutional best practices as they relate to the field of the specific genetics division. Demonstrates the job knowledge and proficiency to direct day to day operations to ensure efficiency and appropriateness of testing, personnel practices, continuing education and regulatory compliance issues.

Major responsibilities include:

• Prepares test results - reviews, writes, and interprets genetic laboratory results for clinical director review.
• Selects, implements, and/or develops divisional procedures following all regulatory requirements.
• Maintains and fosters fiscal strength of the division by improving efficiency, developing new clinical assays and increasing revenue-producing tests.
• Assists in a productive translational research program focused on bringing molecular technology to the clinical cancer arena.
• Promote professional collaboration and research-related activities by publishing a minimum of two papers as co-author or one paper as first author per year.
• Acquires required licensure and assists in maintaining a constant state of readiness for all unannounced State, CAP, Joint Commission, and other regulatory inspections.

Clinical service

• Analyze, review, and interpret genetic laboratory results. Once fully boarded, licensed, and credentialed by COH Medical Staff Office, communicates preliminary and final report results to medical staff.
• Provide patients with best practice genetic testing by designing efficient workflow.
• Evaluates processing and completeness of genetic testing for each patient specimen.
• Determines if additional testing is needed. Ensures ordering physicians understand why additional testing or a need to cancel a study or portion of a study is recommended. Requests staff to obtain and document approval from physician whenever additional testing and/or charges will be incurred.
• Respond to physician inquiries relating to all aspects of specialized genetic testing and patient management decisions.
• Coordinates laboratory services and processes for outreach consult testing.

Laboratory Quality Management

• Ensure compliance with all applicable governmental and accrediting agencies' standards.
• Ensure annual review of College of American Pathology (CAP) regulations and Policy and Procedure manuals; monthly review of QA, QC and PI records to recognize factors that affect measurements and results and take appropriate corrective action, if needed.
• Oversees new processes for COH, as well as the specific genetics laboratory, which includes collaborating with other departments, trouble-shooting systems common to pathology, validation and roll out processes associated with the new processes.
• Participates in proficiency examinations per CAP guidelines and maintains a constant state of inspection readiness.
• Participate as an approved inspector, in regulatory agency inspections (ASHI, CAP, etc…)
• Maintain a culture of safety and an efficient working environment.

Fiscal oversight of laboratory

• Works with appropriate divisions/departments to establish and monitor all budgetary, financial and workload reporting.
• Develops, monitors, and adheres to financial plans focusing on cost benefits.
• Projects expense levels for laboratory budgetary guidelines, monitors finances through budget review, and responds to significant variances as necessary.
• Maintains adequate knowledge of purchasing systems, policies and procedures to negotiate optimal vendor contracts.
• Demonstrates innovative expertise in reducing expenses in regard to both personnel and material resource management.
• Oversees laboratory billing, as well as financial reports to ensure proper accounting and expense containment.
• Foster fiscal strength of the department by helping to improve efficiency and increasing revenue-producing tests.

Personnel management

• Establishes and develops recruitment, hiring and retention practices and policies which assure appropriate staffing and effectively evaluates applicant after interviews and conpetency testing.
• Oversees supervisor scheduling and job assignments to ensure proper and timely completion of work, safety of employees, and overall efficient operation of the laboratory.
• Reviews and provides input on performance evaluations written by supervisors, involved in disciplinary action, when needed. Participates in evaluations of laboratory staff, making recommendations for salary increases, promotion, coaching, and performance improvement.
• Mentors supervisors as needed and provides training and earned skills to improve their leadership abilities. Oversees sectional and inter-sectional cross training of staff to increase operational efficiencies and broaden technical competency.

Basic education, experience, and skills required for consideration:

• MD (state licensed) or PhD
• 2 years of full-time post-doctoral laboratory training or experience in immunology, histocompatibility, immunogenetics, or a related field or a residency in clinical and/or anatomic pathology or other related medical specialty and have at least 2 years of full-time post-doctoral training in directing or supervising high complexity testing in human histocompatibility and immunogenetics in an ASHI-accredited or approved laboratory.

Required Certification/Licensure:

• Eligible for ABHI diplomate and ASHI-DTRC; must be obtained within 4 years
• Histocompatibility Laboratory Director (HLD); must be obtained within 4 years

Preferred education, experience, and skills:

• Prefer candidate to be in year 2 or 3 of AMBGG fellowship
• CHS (ABHI) and Diplomate (ABHI)
• Histocompatibility Lab Director

Additional Information:

As a condition of employment, City of Hope requires staff to comply with all state and federal vaccination mandates.

• Shift: Day
• Relocation assistance may apply.

City of Hope is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with disability.

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