Lab Manager – Peds Neonatology

Nashville, Tennessee, Discover Vanderbilt University Medical Center: Located in Nashville, Tennessee, and operating at a global crossroads of teaching, discovery, and patient care, VUMC is a community of diverse individuals who come to work each day with the simple aim of changing the world. It is a place where your expertise will be valued, your knowledge expanded, and your abilities challenged. Vanderbilt Health recognizes that diversity is essential for excellence and innovation. We are committed to an inclusive environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and where your diversity of culture, thinking, learning, and leading is sought and celebrated. It is a place where employees know they are part of something that is bigger than themselves, take exceptional pride in their work and never settle for what was good enough yesterday. Vanderbilt’s mission is to advance health and wellness through preeminent programs in patient care, education, and research. Organization: Pediatrics Chair Department Job Summary: JOB SUMMARY Leads the laboratory in performing administrative, research, and technical duties. Supervises laboratory staff, develops lab guidelines and maintains procedures. . Our laboratory is focused on the discovery and development of new drugs to regulate uterine contractions for the management of preterm labor and control of postpartum hemorrhage.

Current studies include: 1) repurposing of FDA-approved drugs for novel tocolytic use, 2) development of a natural product derivative for tocolytic use and 3) development of a novel uterine-targeted drug delivery system (nanoparticles) for sustained release of tocolytics. Members of the laboratory include the principal investigator, postdoctoral fellow, graduate student and 3 undergraduate students. Our laboratory utilizes high-throughput in vitro cell based assays, ex vivo organ bath contractility assays, ex vivo placental perfusion assays and preclinical in vivo mouse models of preterm labor. Most of our in vitro and ex vivo studies are conducted using cells or tissues from myometrial biopsies or placentas collected at the time of cesarean delivery from patients that have been fully informed and consented under our IRB approved study. We are seeking an experienced researcher at the laboratory manager level to oversee the day-to-day activities of a research laboratory, and who is proficient in: cell culture, in vitro pharmacology assays, mouse handling and breeding, patient consent, preclinical in vivo pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies in mice. Duties and Responsibilities: Assist in the efficient operation of the lab. Oversee the day-to-day activities of laboratory. Acts as a “go-to” resource for laboratory members with less experience. Supervision of 2-4 laboratory members (undergraduate and graduate students) General laboratory organization, maintain inventory of consumables and clean glassware/lab space. Understand and follow experimental protocols.

Plan, conduct and evaluate experiments and assays of varying complexity. Record, compile, interpret, and communicate data/results. Oversee the animal colony. Plan and execute breeding. Amend animal protocols. Follow and implement University safety protocols (may include use of combustibles, biohazardous materials and fluids/tissues, and/or carcinogens). KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
* Initiate changes or develop new policies, procedures and/or methods.
* Perform test experiment procedures relating to laboratory activities.
* Indirect budgetary responsibility depending on laboratory, may prepare the budget for approval by administration and monitor expenditures against the budget.
* Evaluate quality assurance standards, programs and procedures within the unit/laboratory and ensure effective instrument/equipment use and quality control of laboratory.


* Ensure accuracy and reliability of tests/experiments.
* Develop new and modify existing methodology/protocols.
* Perform, interpret and evaluate research
* Serve as a resource to others and assist in performing and interpreting technical studies.
* May prepare and present lectures or laboratory exercises; and coordinate guest lecturers
* The responsibilities listed are a general overview of the position and additional duties may be assigned. TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES
* Quality Assurance (Advanced): Understands the goal of increasing organizational productivity and individual performance by making the products and services within your work assignments more efficient and more effective.
* Laboratory Practices (Advanced): Demonstrates the uppermost levels of expertise in applying laboratory practices in challenging and complex situations. Often takes a lead role in highly pressurized situations when there is a need to achieve results. Consistently delivers products and services using laboratory practices in a creative and imaginative manner while setting a standard for others. Actively participates in outside professional organizations and forums. Contributes in the development of best practices for the organization.


* People Management (Advanced): Adapts management style to meet the unique needs of individuals. Trains and assesses others in the application of management techniques. Understands the nature of team dynamics and organizational behavior. Demonstrates the utilization and understanding of different styles of management to meet different individual needs of job objectives. Outstanding proponent of company values as applied on the job.
* Operations Planning (Advanced): Demonstrates ability to anticipate resource needs, identify discrete tasks, set priorities, define dependencies, schedule activities, meet deadlines, and organize work for a diverse, multi-functional area. Continuously monitors and follows up on buyins and commitments. Competently handles multiple assignments, projects, and units simultaneously, balancing and scheduling tasks requiring dependencies and those which can be accomplished independently. Accurately estimates and plans complex projects and assignments. Improves work procedures and systems in the environment.

Makes major contributions to the success of task force groups. Maintains perspective between the overall picture and the details.
* Mentoring & Coaching (Advanced): Demonstrates high levels of training and mentoring expertise in challenging and complex situations. Often takes a lead role in highly pressurized situations when there is a need to achieve training results. Consistently provides training and mentoring in a creative and imaginative manner while setting a standard for others. Knows how to use failure as a learning process in a constructive way, replacing contention and conflict with enthusiasm and confidence. Personalizes the impact of behavior on performance and assignments. Has a proven track record of providing constructive suggestions, facilitating implementation of programs and improvements, recognizing achievements individually and reinforcing success.
* Compliance (Advanced): Demonstrates expert knowledge of the appropriate rules and regulations as they apply to the incumbent’s department and work areas. Analyzes the rules and regulations for situations that are unusual and knows the interrelationship and implication of various rules and regulations in other areas of the department.

Understands the flow of rules and regulations beyond the work area and can converse intelligently about alternatives and make recommendations for more effective rules and regulations to senior management. May represent the company at regional industry organizations meetings for discussing rules and regulations. Discover Vanderbilt University Medical Center: Located in Nashville, Tennessee, and operating at a global crossroads of teaching, discovery, and patient care, VUMC is a community of diverse individuals who come to work each day with the simple aim of changing the world. It is a place where your expertise will be valued, your knowledge expanded, and your abilities challenged. Vanderbilt Health recognizes that diversity is essential for excellence and innovation. We are committed to an inclusive environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and where your diversity of culture, thinking, learning, and leading is sought and celebrated. It is a place where employees know they are part of something that is bigger than themselves, take exceptional pride in their work and never settle for what was good enough yesterday. Vanderbilt’s mission is to advance health and wellness through preeminent programs in patient care, education, and research. Vanderbilt Health recognizes that diversity is essential for excellence and innovation. We are committed to an inclusive environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and to the principles of equal opportunity and affirmative action.

EOE/AA/Women/Minority/Vets/Disabled Allied health is among the fastest growing occupations in healthcare today. This area can be defined as credentialed professionals who perform supportive, diagnostic, and therapeutic health care services to promote health and prevent disease in a variety of settings. These areas are crucial to Vanderbilt Health’s reputation for excellence in these areas that has made us a major center for patient referrals from throughout the Mid-South. Each year, people throughout Tennessee and the southeast choose Vanderbilt Health for their health care because of our leadership in medical science and our dedication to treating patients with dignity and compassion. Core Accountabilities:
* Organizational Impact: Directs activities to achieve operational plans with some near term effect on results of the department/area.
* Problem Solving/ Complexity of work: Identifies issues, gathers facts to resolve technical and operational problems.
* Breadth of Knowledge: Applies in-depth knowledge and skills of a professional/technical area and basic management knowledge to manage the work of the team.
* Team Interaction: Leads a complex department with a focus on implementation. Typically executes on a short to medium term strategies. Core Capabilities : Supporting Colleagues: – Develops Self and Others: Invests time, energy, and enthusiasm in developing self/others to help improve performance e and gain knowledge in new areas.

– Builds and Maintains Relationships: Maintains regular contact with key colleagues and stakeholders using formal and informal opportunities to expand and strengthen relationships. – Communicates Effectively: Recognizes group interactions and modifies one’s own communication style to suit different situations and audiences . Delivering Excellent Services : – Serves Others with Compassion: Seeks to understand current and future needs of relevant stakeholders and customizes services to better address them. – Solves Complex Problems: Approaches problems from different angles; Identifies new possibilities to interpret opportunities and develop concrete solutions. – Offers Meaningful Advice and Support: Provides ongoing support and coaching in a constructive manner to increase employees’ effectiveness. Ensuring High Quality – Performs Excellent Work: Engages regularly in formal and informal dialogue about quality; directly addresses quality issues promptly. – Ensures Continuous Improvement: Applies various learning experiences by looking beyond symptoms to uncover underlying causes of problems and identifies ways to resolve them. – Fulfills Safety and Regulatory Requirements: Understands all aspects of providing a safe environment and performs routine safety checks to prevent safety hazards from occurring. Managing Resources Effectively: – Demonstrates Accountability: Demonstrates a sense of ownership, focusing on and driving critical issues to closure. - Stewards Organizational Resources: Applies understanding of the departmental work to effectively manage resources for a department/area.

– Makes Data Driven Decisions: Demonstrates strong understanding of the information or data to identify and elevate opportunities. Fostering Innovation: – Generates New Ideas: Proactively identifies new ideas/opportunities from multiple sources or methods to improve processes beyond conventional approaches. – Applies Technology: Demonstrates an enthusiasm for learning new technologies, tools, and procedures to address short-term challenges. – Adapts to Change: Views difficult situations and/or problems as opportunities for improvement; actively embraces change instead of emphasizing negative elements. Position Qualifications: Responsibilities: Certifications: Work Experience: Relevant Work Experience Experience Level : 5 years Education: Bachelor’s Vanderbilt Health recognizes that diversity is essential for excellence and innovation. We are committed to an inclusive environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and to the principles of equal opportunity and affirmative action. EOE/AA/Women/Minority/Vets/Disabled

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