At Houston Methodist, the Supervisor Research Laboratory position is responsible for providing administrative support and management of a laboratory in the Methodist Hospital Research Institute. This position will operate to ensure proper budgetary, operational needs/capabilities, and safety compliance for the laboratory. The Research Laboratory Supervisor position ensures appropriate laboratory compliance with institutional and accrediting agency regulations. This position establishes scheduling and usage of laboratory resources.

The supervisor position responsibilities include overseeing the daily work activities of the work unit/department staff, ensuring quality, productivity, functional excellence and efficiency. This position trains and supervises staff while maintaining adequate staffing levels and budget compliance. The supervisor position contributes to staffing decisions such as hiring, coaching and counseling employees on work related performance. This position assists in the development and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure a safe and effective work environment. Other duties for the supervisor position include participating in performance improvement activities, as well as providing support for department management to achieve operational goals. This position may also perform staff duties and responsibilities as needed.

Additional Information:

Oversee day-to-day operations of the laboratory, including scheduling, workflows, and resource allocation. Maintain and troubleshoot equipment, arrange for repairs, and manage service contracts. Order, track, and maintain laboratory supplies, reagents, and consumables. Ensure compliance with institutional safety regulations, biosafety protocols, and research ethics guidelines. Supervise and train laboratory staff, postdocs, students, and visiting researchers in standard molecular and genetic techniques. Support experimental design, data collection, and quality assurance for ongoing projects. Support the development and submission of IRBs, MTAs and DUAs as well as related documents, including CDC Import and/or Export Permits. Support the development of SOP for CPC-related studies, under the guidance and supervision of the PIs. Implement and monitor standardized protocols to ensure reproducibility and accuracy of results. Manage biorepositories, databases, and sample inventories. Molecular Biology, Genetics, Epidemiology, or a related field; or equivalent experience.  Prior experience in epidemiological or population-based research.

PATIENT AGE GROUP(S) AND POPULATION(S) SERVED
Refer to departmental "Scope of Service" and "Provision of Care" plans, as applicable, for description of primary age groups and populations served by this job for the respective HM entity.

HOUSTON METHODIST EXPERIENCE EXPECTATIONS

• Provide personalized care and service by consistently demonstrating our I CARE values:
  • INTEGRITY: We are honest and ethical in all we say and do.
  • COMPASSION: We embrace the whole person including emotional, ethical, physical, and spiritual needs.
  • ACCOUNTABILITY: We hold ourselves accountable for all our actions.
  • RESPECT: We treat every individual as a person of worth, dignity, and value.
  • EXCELLENCE: We strive to be the best at what we do and a model for others to emulate.

• Practices the Caring and Serving Model

• Delivers personalized service using HM Service Standards

• Provides for exceptional patient/customer experiences by following our Standards of Practice of always using Positive Language (AIDET, Managing Up, Key Words)

• Intentionally collaborates with other healthcare professionals involved in patients/customers or employees' experiential journeys to ensure strong communication, ease of access to information, and a seamless experience

• Involves patients (customers) in shift/handoff reports by enabling their participation in their plan of care as applicable to the given job

• Actively supports the organization's vision, fulfills the mission and abides by the I CARE values

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Participates in management responsibilities of selection, scheduling, supervision, retention, and evaluation of employees in the department. Provides development and mentoring of staff. Ensures that all department staff are properly trained and comply with all policies and procedures. Assists with meeting or exceeding threshold goal for department turnover.

• Consults with department leadership on coaching/corrective counseling and staff performance to achieve desired outcomes. Conducts new hire feedback sessions and provides recognition/commendations, as appropriate.

• Creates and maintains an environment of collaboration by role modeling teamwork within the department. Effectively interacts within and between departments ensuring seamless flow of information/communication. Role models clear and professional communication to facilitate problem resolution to achieve mutual understanding. Teaches others to critically think by verbally expressing rationale for decisions and follows up consistently.

• Meets or exceeds threshold goal for department and/or system metrics on employee engagement indicators.

• Assists Principle Investigators (PI's) with scientific management of staff as needed.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Oversees daily department operations, schedule and activities. Sets priorities and functional standards, giving direction to staff as necessary to ensure the best possible delivery of service and high customer/patient satisfaction.

• Organizes the workflow, proactively problem solves, anticipates needs, and manages multiple ongoing priorities. Provides reports to management of needs, issues to be addressed, and all important information necessary to ensure department success. Serves and actively participates on various committees as directed.

• Provides department with laboratory administration services including purchasing of supply and equipment, maintaining required safety and operations documentation, and assisting PI's with laboratory operations management.

• Manages/maintains laboratory environment including but not limited to coordination with Houston Methodist Hospital (HMH) building services, Houston Methodist Research Institute facility manager and HMH Environmental Health Services.

• Oversees and manages Laboratory Waste Streams.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Ensures a safe and effective working environment; assists in monitoring and/or revising the department safety plan and/or any specific accreditation/regulatory agency required safety guidelines.

• Uses and optimizes information systems to enhance operations; participates in performance improvement and data management/analysis functions as directed.

• Employs a proactive approach in the optimization of positive outcomes by monitoring and improving the department workflow, supporting peer-to-peer accountability, and identifying solutions via collaboration. Role models situational awareness, using teachable moments to improve safety. Participates in investigations as a result of the root cause analysis process as assigned by manager.

• Monitors self and ensures employee compliance with policies, procedures, and System HR Standards of Practice and performs associated actions upon non-compliance (i.e., focal point review requirements, disaster plan, in services, influenza immunization, wage and hour, standard hours, timely termination submission, timely timecard approval, etc.).

• Establishes and maintains current Laboratory Specific Safety Manual.

• Establishes and maintains Laboratory Study Methods.

• Works with PI to write and submit Human Subjects Committee and Institutional Bio Safety Committee applications, as needed.

• Maintains equipment inventory and works with Biomedical Engineering and appropriate vendor for regular maintenance/service.

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Assists in the management of essential and non-essential department expenditures to achieve financial target through optimization of productivity, supply/resource efficiency, minimizing incidental overtime and overtime percentage, and other areas according to department specifications.

• Manages staffing needs including scheduling, time off requests and time keeping.

• Provides PI's and laboratory staff support for purchase of laboratory supplies and equipment.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Implements change, demonstrating the ability to motivate employees and follow through to ensure change in behavior has actually occurred. Supports Houston Methodist and department goals and vision. Identifies industry trends and implements innovative solutions for practice or workflow changes to improve department operations.

• Develops skills of team members and continually assists with improving competencies, performance and outcomes. Fosters a positive and constructive teaching environment by engaging staff/team members in learning opportunities that are valuable and in alignment with business objectives. Conducts conversations with staff on their development and My Development plan.

• Seeks opportunities to identify self developmental needs and takes appropriate action.

• Ensures own career discussions occur with appropriate management. Completes and updates My Development Plan on an on-going basis.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; the employee will also perform other reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. Houston Methodist reserves the right to revise job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.

EDUCATION

• Bachelor's degree in one of the natural sciences or business degree

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Four years experience in laboratory-based work operations of which three years experience are in laboratory administrative processes including purchasing, scheduling and safety management of which one year must have been in a role with progressive responsibility. For internal candidates, three years in laboratory-based work operations of which three years experience are in laboratory administrative processes including purchasing, scheduling and safety management of which one year must have been in a role with progressive responsibility.

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS - REQUIRED

• N/A

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations

• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security

• Ability to effectively communicate through a variety of channels with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles; engages the recipient(s) and helps them understand and retain the message

• Demonstrates the ability to interact with others in a way that gives them confidence in one's intentions and those of the organization

• Demonstrates leadership qualities and critical thinking through self-direction initiative, effective interpersonal skills, and oral/written communication skills

• Ability to identify and understand issues, problems and opportunities; and recommend solutions

• Ability to work effectively in a fast paced environment

• Demonstrates flexibility and adaptability in the workplace

• Aptitude to learn computer based Core management systems (iLabs, LAMBS)

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

WORK ATTIRE

• Uniform Yes
• Scrubs Yes
• Business professional Yes
• Other (department approved) No

ON-CALL*
*Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. DIsaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless of selection below.

• On Call* No

TRAVEL**
**Travel specifications may vary by department**

• May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area No
• May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area No

Houston Methodist Research Institute was formed in 2004 to rapidly and efficiently translate discoveries made in the laboratory and the clinic into new diagnostics, therapies, and treatments. The research institute was created to provide the infrastructure and support for these endeavors, and to house the technology and resources needed to make innovative breakthroughs in important areas of human disease. A 540,000 square foot building dedicated to research, the research institute houses over 1,500 staff and trainees, 284 principal investigators and has more than 570 ongoing clinical trials.