Laboratory Quality Manager

This position is being advertised to fill an existing vacancy.

Home to seven regional programs and comprehensive health-care services, Waterloo Regional Health Network (WRHN, pronounced wren) is committed to meeting the current and emerging needs in Waterloo-Wellington and beyond.

WRHN is redefining the health-care experience through collaboration and innovation, addressing barriers to access, advancing care delivery, and setting new standards in compassionate, empowered community-driven health care.

At WRHN, every patient is at the centre of everything we do as we strive to improve lives, inspire healing, and build healthier, stronger communities. By listening to patients and partners, we strive to connect communities to the right care, at the right place, and at the right time.

Position: Laboratory Quality Manager

Position Vacancy: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Work Type: Full Time

Location: WRHN @ All sites

Position Summary:

At Waterloo Regional Health Network, we are committed to delivering safe, high-quality patient care through excellence in laboratory medicine. We are seeking an experienced and strategic Laboratory Quality Manager to lead the governance, performance, and continuous improvement of our Laboratory Quality Management System (QMS) and Point-of-Care Testing (POCT) programs across the organization.

Reporting to the Director, Medical Imaging and Laboratory Services, the Laboratory Quality Manager provides enterprise leadership for accreditation, regulatory compliance, patient safety, and quality system performance across multiple laboratory sites and services. This role serves as the organizational lead for laboratory quality, ensuring readiness for accreditation, compliance with legislative and regulatory requirements, and the ongoing advancement of a culture of quality and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities:

Quality Management System Leadership

• Lead the design, implementation, governance, and continuous improvement of the laboratory Quality Management System (QMS).
• Establish organization-wide quality standards, policies, procedures, and governance structures.
• Monitor and evaluate quality system performance and drive improvements across all laboratory services.
• Chair quality-related committees and provide expert consultation to leaders and clinical teams.

Accreditation, Licensing & Regulatory Compliance

• Lead accreditation readiness activities and ensure ongoing compliance with accreditation standards.
• Act as the primary liaison with accrediting organizations and regulatory agencies.
• Oversee Ministry licensing requirements and ensure all required laboratory licenses are maintained.
• Conduct gap analyses, direct corrective actions, and implement sustainable compliance strategies.

Risk Management & Continuous Improvement

• Lead the laboratory occurrence management program, including incident investigations and root cause analyses.
• Identify system-level quality and patient safety risks and implement mitigation strategies.
• Analyze performance indicators, audit results, compliance metrics, and quality trends to inform decision-making and improvement initiatives.
• Drive continuous improvement efforts across laboratory operations.

Education, Documentation & Safety

• Oversee competency assessment frameworks and quality-related education programs.
• Ensure effective document control systems for policies, procedures, and quality records.
• Lead and support laboratory safety programs and compliance activities.
• Promote a culture of quality, accountability, and patient safety across the organization.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Provide leadership and direction to managers, coordinators, and clinical teams through a matrix leadership model.
• Present quality, risk, accreditation, and compliance updates to senior leadership and organizational committees.
• Participate in interdisciplinary committees and collaborate with professional practice, education, and quality leaders across WRHN.
• Influence, coach, and support stakeholders to achieve system-wide quality objectives and compliance outcomes.

Position Requirements

• Diploma or degree in Medical Laboratory Science.
• Current certification and registration/licensure with the College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Ontario (CMLTO).
• Formal education, training, or certification in Quality Management Systems.
• Minimum 5 years of progressive laboratory experience, including quality management, accreditation, regulatory compliance, or laboratory operations leadership.
• Demonstrated experience leading accreditation activities, audits, investigations, corrective actions, and quality improvement initiatives.
• Strong knowledge of laboratory regulatory requirements, quality standards, risk management principles, and patient safety practices.

Preferred Requirements

• Advanced degree in a healthcare, quality, or leadership-related discipline.
• Certification in quality management, Lean, Six Sigma, or related continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience within a large, multi-site healthcare organization.
• Experience with Point-of-Care Testing (POCT) governance and oversight.

Application Instructions:

EMPLOYEES OF WRHN TO SUBMIT THEIR APPLICATION ELECTRONICALLY USING INFOR.

Please Note: New employees must provide documentation/proof of COVID-19 vaccination status, a 2-step TB test, as well as proof of immunity to measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (chickenpox) prior to their start date at Waterloo Regional Health Network (WRHN). New Employees will require clearance from Employee Health, Safety and Wellness before they are able to begin any position within WRHN.

Waterloo Regional Health Centre is committed to fair and equitable employment and in our recruitment and selection practices. We strongly believe in inclusion and diversity within our organization, and welcome all applicants including, but not limited to racialized communities, all religions and ethnicities, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ2S+ persons, Indigenous people, and all others who may contribute to the further diversification of our Hospital community. We are committed to providing and fostering a respectful workplace for all employees, free from violence and harassment.

Accommodations are available during all stages of the recruitment process in accordance with the Human Rights Code. WRHN is committed to complying with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) to provide an inclusive, barrier free workplace. We will accommodate the accessibility needs of individuals with disabilities to support participation in all aspects of the recruitment process. Should you require this accommodation, please contact Human Resources.

If you are seeking employment on a temporary work or study permit we recommend reviewing work permit restrictions as it applies to healthcare organizations in Canada. Individuals holding a work or study permit seeking employment in the healthcare sector may be required to complete additional steps in the process. This may also apply to current employees seeking renewal of their work permits. It is the accountability of the applicant and/or employee to ensure they are adhering to their specific work permit restrictions.

WRHN does not use artificial intelligence (AI) to screen, assess, or make hiring decisions regarding applicants during our recruitment and selection process.