Back to jobs

Director, Laboratory and Respiratory Therapy

Edwards, Colorado, United States

Vail Health has become the world’s most advanced mountain healthcare system. Vail Health consists of an updated 520,000-square-foot, 56-bed hospital.  This state-of-the-art facility provides exceptional care to all of our patients, with the most beautiful views in the area, located centrally in Vail. Learn more about Vail Health here.

About the opportunity:

The Laboratory Director is responsible for the strategic oversight and operational management of all laboratory and respiratory services within the Vail Health system. This includes ensuring the highest standards of quality, accuracy, compliance, and patient safety across hospital, outpatient (CMM), and affiliate settings. The Director will provide unified clinical and operational oversight for all laboratory services, supporting a cohesive system-level approach that aligns with organizational strategy, financial goals, and patient experience expectations for all.

 
What you will do:
  1. Leads and supports the laboratory and respiratory managers and supervisors in an operational leadership role to ensure proper staffing, training, and professional development for laboratory personnel. Assists the supervisors in conducting performance evaluations, sets goals, and overseeing staff development programs.
  2. Supports supervisors in oversight of daily laboratory and respiratory operations across multiple shifts and locations, ensuring accurate and timely specimen collection, processing, testing, results, and delivery of patient care. Leads departmental strategic planning and continuous improvement initiatives. Manages the development and implementation of new procedures, instrumentation, and technologies with dyad partners and direct reports. Works with other departments to ensure that laboratory and respiratory care services are seamlessly integrated into the broader patient care process. Participates in committees and special projects.
  3. Serves as a resource for resolving issues related to physician orders, test results, and procedural discrepancies. Coordinates with reference labs and couriers for specimen handling.
  4. Manages laboratory and respiratory budgets, billing, supplies, and resources to ensure that care/services are provided at the most desirable cost to meet fiscal targets. Provides oversight of them to ensure proper equipment maintenance and the implementation of new technologies.
  5. Manages complex change processes and supporting system innovation.
  6. Serves as a change agent for integrating with Colorado Mountain Medical laboratory operations and EPIC workflows, process automation, and advanced analytics. Champions standardization and shared governance across hospital and outpatient settings.
  7. Ensures laboratory compliance with all applicable state, federal, and accreditation agency standards (e.g., CLIA, CAP, Joint Commission). Prepares for and participates in regulatory inspections and audits. Implements - and supports the supervisor in enforcing - laboratory policies and procedures.
  8. Develops and maintains a culture of teamwork, excellence, and professionalism and works with other departments to ensure coordination and continuous improvement of patient care services.
  9. Develops, implements and maintains quality control and quality assurance programs to ensure the reliability of laboratory results and patient safety. Enhances patient experience through improved access, turnaround times, and continuity of care.
  10. Aligns laboratory operations with Vail Health’s broader population health and value-based care initiatives.
  11. Role models principles of Relationship-Based Care.
This description is not intended and should not be construed to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills and efforts or work conditions associated with the job. It is intended to be an accurate reflection of the general nature and level of the job.
 
What you will need:
 
Experience:
  • Five (5) years of experience in a highly complex laboratory required
  • Five (5) years of experience as a Laboratory Leader required
  • One (1) year of operational oversight respiratory therapy preferred
License(s):
  • Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) OR Medical Technologist (MT) by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) preferred.
 
Education:
  • Bachelor’s degree related. Master’s degree preferred.

 

Benefits at Vail Health (Full Time) Include:

  • Competitive Wages & Family Benefits:
    • Competitive wages
    • Parental leave (4 weeks paid)
    • Housing programs
    • Childcare reimbursement 
  • Comprehensive Health Benefits: 
    • Medical
    • Dental 
    • Vision
  • Educational Programs: 
    • Tuition Assistance 
    • Existing Student Loan Repayment
    • Specialty Certification Reimbursement
    • Annual Supplemental Educational Funds
  • Paid Time Off:
    • Up to five weeks in your first year of employment and continues to grow each year.
  • Retirement & Supplemental Insurance:
    • 403(b) Retirement plan with immediate matching 
    • Life insurance
    • Short and long-term disability
  • Recreation Benefits, Wellness & More:
    • Up to $1,000 annual wellbeing reimbursement
    • Recreation discounts
    • Pet insurance

 

Pay is based upon relevant education and experience per year.

Yearly Pay:

$107,515.20 - $153,587.20 USD

Create a Job Alert

Interested in building your career at Vail Health Hospital? Get future opportunities sent straight to your email.

Apply for this job

*

indicates a required field

Resume/CV*

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Cover Letter

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Education

Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...
Read carefully and acknowledge. *

I certify that all the information provided in this employment application is true and complete. I understand that any false information or omission may disqualify me from further consideration for employment and may result in my dismissal if discovered at a later date. I understand that Vail Health may request an investigative consumer report from a consumer reporting agency. I understand I have the right to make a written request within a reasonable time for the disclosure of the name and address of the consumer reporting agency so that I may obtain a complete disclosure of the nature and scope of the investigation. Vail Health may request information as to my character, reputation, personal characteristics and mode of living from my neighbors, friends, former employers, school and other. I authorize that investigation of any or all statements contained in this application and also authorizes whether listed or not, any person, school, current employers (except as previously noted), past employers and organizations to provide relevant information and opinions that may be useful in making a hiring decision. I consent to the release of any or all medical information as may be deemed necessary to judge my capability to do the work for which I am applying. I agree to immediately disclose to Vail Health any debarment, suspension, exclusion, conviction of a criminal offence, or other event that may make me ineligible to participate in federally funded healthcare programs. I understand and I will be required to successfully pass a drug screening examination. I hereby consent to a drug screening as a condition of employment.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS APPLICATION OR SUBSEQUENT EMPLOYMENT DOES NOT CREATE A CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT NOR GUARANTEE EMPLOYMENT FOR ANY DEFINITE PERIOD OF TIME. IF EMPLOYED , I UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE BEEN HIRED AT THE WILL OF VAIL HEALTH OR ONE OF ITS OUTREACH FACILITIES AND MY EMPLOYMENT MAY BE TERMINATED AT ANY TIME, WITH OUT WITHOUT CAUSE AND WITH OR WITHOUT NOTICE.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in Vail Health Hospital’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

Select...
Select...
Race & Ethnicity Definitions

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Form CC-305
Page 1 of 1
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 04/30/2026

Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
  • Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
  • Blind or low vision
  • Cancer (past or present)
  • Cardiovascular or heart disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
  • Diabetes
  • Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
  • Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
  • Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
  • Intellectual or developmental disability
  • Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
  • Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
  • Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
  • Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
  • Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
  • Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
  • Short stature (dwarfism)
  • Traumatic brain injury
Select...

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.