Position Summary:

This position is responsible for COLA’s Quality Management. This individual acts as a resource to the organization in the analysis and improvement of business processes. This individual promotes focus on understanding and incorporating customer requirements in addition to utlizing feedback for process or product improvement. The position promotes the process approach, risk-based thinking and the collection and analysis of data to support evidence-based decision making.

Essential Functions:

• Accessible to Executive and Leadership teams for consultation and assistance regarding COLA’s Quality Management System, ISO certification. Mentors team members to assist them in performing their assigned responsibilities.
• Coordinates activities among Executive team members for the enhancement of COLA’s management system
• Assists business lines to identify organizational context and interested parties and engage these parties to provide feedback and consultation to the business line, in accordance with ISO standards
• Assists business lines with collecting and reporting customer feedback and utilization of feedback for performance improvements
• Communicates directly with customers to assess any complaints and ensure satisfactory resolution of issues related to COLA processes. Generates correspondence as needed to respond to customer comments.
• Supports business lines with performance improvement plans and implementation
• Supports business lines in creation and reporting of business metrics
• Conducts management reviews ensuring all required inputs are addressed and outputs documented. Maintains and tracks completion of action items resulting from Management Review.
• Maintains risk and opportunity register
• Oversees the Change Management Process, to address customer feedback, nonconforming events
• COLA corporate representative for ANSI membership and with BSI Registrar
• Schedules and coordinates external audits and follow up with BSI Registrar
• Develops, implements and oversees the internal audit program
• Oversees corrective action process for identified nonconformities in COLA’s products and services and internal operations
• Maintains systems and processes for management of documents and records associated with the quality management system and COLA business lines
• Oversees compilation of business metrics on a monthly basis and communication to Executive Team and staff
• Promotes and supports project management throughout the organization
• Participates or leads project teams in support of strategic goals or planned improvements
• Promotes understanding of customer and regulatory requirements, creation/maintenance of policies and standard work documents, process design and metrics for process performance and customer satisfaction
• Seeks opportunities to broaden knowledge and share acquired knowledge with others. Supports and accommodates the needs and desires of team members regarding their personal growth and continuing education.
• Supervises the activities of the Project Manager, Quality Systems Specialist and the COLA Internal Audit Teams evaluating COLA’s management system, products and services
• Oversees the production of tactical plans and budget associated with ISO 9001 certification. Ensures that reports are submitted in a timely manner.
• Prepares Board Reports and Slides regarding strategic goals, business metrics and status of COLA’s ISO certification

Required Education and Experience:

• Baccalaureate degree in clinical laboratory science, business administration, management or organizational excellence.
• Certification in Auditing by ASQ, RABSQA or other equivalent organization.
• Experience in utilizing and ensuring compliance with ISO 9001,
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills
• Demonstrated personnel and operations management skills with at least three years direct experience in the management of people and systems
• Thorough knowledge and experience in Microsoft Office products (Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, OneDrive, SharePoint)
• Solid interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills
• Demonstrated aptitude for learning new subjects and technologies
• Preferred: experience in laboratory science
• Preferred: experience in project management (certification in Project management methods)
• Preferred: Advanced degree in, business, or organizational development
• Preferred: Experience using continuous quality improvement concepts and methods
• Preferred: Training in personnel motivation and management, systems control, strategic planning, or budget and finance management

About COLA Inc.

As a leading physician-directed accrediting organization and the first to obtain federal approval under CLIA, we accredit laboratories of all types, sizes and complexities. For over thirty years, we have refined our unique educationally focused accreditation experience. Year over year customers report 98% satisfaction. Accreditation is our core business. Promoting health and safety is our mission. Guiding professionals to achieve their vision for laboratory excellence is our passion.

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