Sr. Manager, Quality Assurance - Laboratory Operations at Abbott Laboratories

Abbott Rapid Diagnostics is part of Abbott's Diagnostics family of businesses, bringing together exceptional teams of experts and industry leading technologies to support diagnostic testing which provides important information for treatment and management of diseases and other conditions.

Working at Abbott

At Abbott, you can do work that matters, grow, and learn, care for yourself and family, be your true self and live a full life. You’ll also have access to:

• Career development with an international company where you can grow the career you dream of.

• Free medical coverage for employees* via the Health Investment Plan (HIP) PPO

• An excellent retirement savings plan with high employer contribution

• Tuition reimbursement, the Freedom 2 Save student debt program and FreeU education benefit - an affordable and convenient path to getting a bachelor’s degree.

• A company recognized as a great place to work in dozens of countries around the world and named one of the most admired companies in the world by Fortune.

• A company that is recognized as one of the best big companies to work for as well as a best place to work for diversity, working mothers, female executives, and scientists.

The Opportunity

The position of Senior Manager, Quality Assurance is within our Toxicology business unit located in Richmond, VA. The Sr. Quality Manager is responsible for the implementation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of the laboratory Quality Management System, ensuring that laboratory testing is performed in compliance with all applicable regulations and certifications, including, but not limited to, CAP, SAMHSA, and CLIA.  The role requires a dynamic and self-motivated professional with a demonstrated ability to influence change. Mastery of data necessary to influence fact and risk-based decisions and to demonstrate measured outcomes is a key requirement of the role. This role will be instrumental in providing quality results to our clients.

What You’ll Work On

• Develop, implement, and maintain laboratory quality processes and procedures, in compliance with applicable laboratory regulations and ARDx policies.

• Develop mechanisms to identify compliance gaps and facilitate remediation activities where necessary utilizing risk-based prioritization.

• Regularly report on quality and regulatory performance, including trending and analysis of deviations and non-conformance, to inform laboratory quality objectives, priorities, and improvements.

• Keep abreast of new or changing quality and regulatory practices and standards within the industry and coordinate development of or update laboratory compliance standards, guidelines and programs as appropriate.

• Support or participate in internal, client and regulatory agency audits to ensure  compliance with certification requirements, laws, regulations, policies and procedures. Includes routine audit of laboratory departments for compliance with company quality policy and  procedure  and  CLIA, and  State  requirements  where applicable.

• Carries out duties in compliance with established BU and AQR practices, policies, and processes and provides subject matter expertise to drive improvements and decisions relating to quality  management systems.

• Leverages quality metrics to identify risks for the organization in order to direct and support development/implementation of policy, procedure, training, and other available tools for reducing identified risks.

• Ensures laboratory licensure is maintained through periodic renewals, new applications, method submissions and managing the proficiency testing  program.

• Direct and perform internal and external audits related to regulatory, accreditation agencies and business partners. Demonstrate ability to maintain excellent positive relationships with auditors or regulatory agencies.

• Administer and manage the document control system, incident reporting system and personnel  documentation.

• Ensure that Quality Control and Quality Assessment programs are established and maintained to identify failures in quality as they occur.

• Assist with development, implementation and maintenance of effective departmental QA programs  and monitors.

• Assure that QA reviews are effective at identifying and preventing errors, and that corrective actions are followed up for effectiveness.

• Review  all  laboratory  procedures  and  validation documentation for compliance following regulation and guidance.

• Monthly patient test management responsibilities include randomly selecting specimens for review of all external and internal COC, specimen label and test data records associated with these specimens including specimen reports (Tox2 and web) to ensure proper handling of patient specimens and test  data.

• Oversee and manage quality system related meetings, collect and trend key performance indicators.

• Review, report and action key quality metrics on routine basis including, but not limited to, Problem Specimens Log, Percent Positive Report, Audit Reports, CAPA and Nonconformance  data, etc.

• Investigate unanticipated incidents that deviate from documented laboratory processes via the occurrence reporting system. Initiate CAPAs, as appropriate, to address system deficiencies and drive implementation of corrective action plans.

• Address quality concerns raised by customers or identified  internally.

• Request and maintain all vendor documentation.

• Demonstrates commitment to the  development, implementation  and  effectiveness  of Quality Management System per ISO, FDA, and other regulatory agencies.

• Understands and is aware of the quality consequences which may occur from the improper performance of their specific job. Has awareness of device defects that may occur in their area of responsibility, including product design, verification and validation, manufacturing and  testing activities