Laboratory Director

About the Role

Culmen International is hiring for a Laboratory Director in Cebu City, Phillipines.

The Laboratory Director leads the scientific, technical, operational, and quality management of the WRAIR-APC laboratory to ensure safe, compliant, efficient, and reliable services. The role supervises staff, maintains laboratory readiness and resources, and supports infectious disease surveillance, clinical research, and other approved studies through timely, accurate, and well-documented results. It is accountable for quality and biosafety standards, equipment readiness, and completing assigned work on time, while promptly escalating major safety, regulatory, quality, equipment, staffing, or other significant risks to the Head of WRAIR-APC or designated supervisor. The Director operates within institutional policies, delegated authority, available resources, and applicable regulations, ensuring that work requiring special licensure or authorization is performed only by qualified personnel.

What You’ll Do in Your New Role

 

1.    Laboratory Operations and Technical Oversight

Directs and oversees daily laboratory operations to ensure timely, accurate, and compliant testing, research support, and specimen-management activities. Supervises molecular diagnostics and infectious-disease testing; verifies the accuracy, completeness, and traceability of laboratory records and results; coordinates laboratory operations with internal and external stakeholders as primary laboratory contact or delegates such responsibility to a qualified surrogate; and leads operational improvements and corrective or preventive actions in coordination with the Head of WRAIR-APC.

Personnel Management and Training

Supervises and provides technical guidance to Medical Research Technologists, ensuring staff are properly trained and comply with applicable policies, protocols, SSPs, SOPs, and laboratory procedures. Oversees training plans, competency assessments, work assignments, professional development, staffing, and delegation to maintain operational continuity while promoting accountability, teamwork, quality, safety, and professional conduct.

Quality Management and Documentation

Leads and oversees the laboratory Quality Management System, ensuring controlled documents, quality activities, and required records are current, compliant, and regularly reviewed. Manages quality issues through investigations, root-cause analysis, and CAPA; supports audits, inspections, and monitoring visits; and contributes to the development and lifecycle management of protocols, SSPs, SOPs, and study documentation.

Equipment, Facilities, and Inventory Management

Provides oversight of laboratory equipment, facilities, and inventory to ensure proper operation, maintenance, calibration, documentation, and compliance with applicable requirements. Supervises equipment records and preventive maintenance, oversees contingency measures for equipment or power failures, reviews procurement needs, and coordinates facility maintenance, equipment repairs, disposal, and inventory control with the Logistics Coordinator and relevant AFRIMS personnel.

Biosafety, Biosecurity, and Emergency Preparedness

Serves as Biosafety Officer and laboratory safety point of contact, overseeing compliance with AFRIMS biosafety, biosecurity, occupational health, chemical safety, and infection-prevention requirements. Directs safety inspections, risk assessments, incident management, decontamination, waste disposal, and emergency preparedness activities, while coordinating with engineering and utility offices to support continuity during emergencies and power outages.

Research, Surveillance, and Clinical Trial Support

This role provides laboratory leadership and oversight for approved infectious-disease surveillance, epidemiologic investigations, clinical trials, and related research by ensuring all activities follow approved protocols, specimen-handling requirements, and regulatory and ethical approvals. It coordinates with principal investigators, clinical teams, sponsors, contract research organizations, and partner institutions on laboratory requirements, timelines, and deliverables, while overseeing timely reporting of results and escalation of significant issues. The position also guides the development, validation or verification, implementation, and evaluation of laboratory methods; supports feasibility assessments, protocol implementation, monitoring visits, audits, and study close-out; and ensures proper management, confidentiality, and traceability of research data, laboratory records, and biological specimens. Assists in preparing technical protocols, scientific abstracts, conference presentations, and manuscript submissions representing laboratory findings in accordance with institutional publication review, co-authorship guidelines, and military disclaimer protocols

Regulatory Compliance and Environmental Management

Ensures laboratory compliance with Philippine Department of Health (DOH) Administrative Orders, ISO 15189 (Medical Laboratories), ISO 15190 (Biosafety), and Good Clinical Laboratory Practice (GCLP) standards across all diagnostic and surveillance activities. Maintains readiness for inspections, assessments, sponsor audits, and external reviews; ensures laboratory documentation and records are complete, accurate, secure, retained, and accessible; and coordinates the preparation and submission of reports, regulatory documents, inspection responses, and other administrative requirements. It also monitors laboratory permits, certifications, approvals, and facility requirements with responsible institutional offices, and serves as Managing Head of the WRAIR-APC Site for environmental compliance. Coordinate periodic lab quality assurance/ improvement activities with the Philippines Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Planning, Reporting, and Resource Management

Plans and manages laboratory operations, including schedules, supplies, equipment, and budgets. Tracks workload, turnaround times, spending, resource use, and performance; prepares regular reports on lab activities and challenges. Identifies risks and improvement opportunities, advises the Head of WRAIR-APC, and joins relevant management and planning meetings.  Also be prepared to reasonably be available during non-standard work hours on a periodic basis. Must possess schedule flexibility to participate in scheduled early morning or late evening teleconferences to align with partner timelines in different time zones. Participates in technical evaluation of equipment service contracts, reagent procurement requirements, vendor performance, and fiscal resource utilization to prevent supply-chain disruptions.

Transport of Biomedical Materials

Serves as a trained and certified official for the transport of biomedical materials, including samples, specimens, infectious substances, and regulated medical waste.  Oversees proper packing, cold-chain maintenance, documentation, and shipment of specimens. Signs shipping papers related to biomedical materials when necessary. Possessing certification in Dangerous Goods / IATA (International Air Transport Association) transportation for Category A (UN 2814/UN 2900) and Category B (UN 3373) biological substances and dry ice is desired. 

Other Duties

Performs other duties and responsibilities related to laboratory operations, research support, quality management, and institutional objectives as may be reasonably assigned by the Department of the Philippines Director, WRAIR-APC Head, or their designee, consistent with the position’s qualifications and scope of responsibility.

Required Qualifications

·         Bachelor’s degree in Medical Technology/Medical Laboratory Science, Microbiology, Biology, or a related scientific field. Valid PRC (Professional Regulation Commission) Medical Technologist License, or eligibility for a Special Temporary Permit (STP) / host-nation regulatory authorization as required by Philippine health laws.  A relevant master’s degree or postgraduate qualification as well as other international certifications (ASCP, AMT, IBMS) is an advantage.·         Relevant experience in clinical, diagnostic, public health, or research laboratory operations, with demonstrated experience in laboratory supervision, quality management, biosafety, and regulatory compliance.·         Experience in molecular diagnostics, infectious disease testing, clinical trials, infectious disease surveillance, or externally funded research is preferred or advantageous.·         Strong leadership, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills; knowledge of laboratory quality systems, biosafety, equipment and specimen management, cold-chain monitoring, and data integrity.·         High standards of accuracy, integrity, accountability, and confidentiality, with the ability to work collaboratively in multidisciplinary and international teams.

Desired Qualifications

A relevant master’s degree or postgraduate qualification as well as other international certifications (ASCP, AMT, IBMS) is an advantage.

About the Company

Culmen International is committed to enhancing international safety and security, strengthening homeland defense, advancing humanitarian missions, and optimizing government operations. With experience in over 150 countries, Culmen supports our clients to accomplish critical missions in challenging environments.

• Exceptional Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance plans (including same or opposite sex domestic partners) 

• 401k – Vested immediately and 4% match
• Life insurance and disability paid by the company
• Supplemental Insurance Available
• Opportunities for Training and Continuing Education
• 12 Paid Holidays

To learn more about Culmen International, please visit www.culmen.com

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws.