Position Summary

The Associate Laboratory Director provides clinical oversight of Natera’s laboratory testing operations, ensuring all testing is performed accurately and in compliance with applicable regulatory standards. This role is accountable for maintaining testing integrity and ensuring that laboratory processes consistently deliver reliable and actionable patient results.

Primary Responsibilities

Review and approve test reports for various clinical molecular and cytogenetic results, including cfDNA testing, carrier screening, and germline testing performed using NGS, SNP array analysis, and other advanced methodologies.

Oversee the interpretation of genetic testing results and associated variant/analyte data, considering relevant medical literature, databases, and patient clinical information.

Provide clinical and technical support to laboratory staff, genetic counselors, and other clinical professionals.

Set and maintain standards for laboratory testing and acceptable levels of analytic performance.

Analyze clinical and laboratory data and contribute to or lead publications in high-quality scientific journals.

Regulatory & Oversight Responsibilities May serve as Clinical Consultant, responsible for:

Ensuring test reports include pertinent information for interpretation.

Being available for consultation on test results and their clinical implications.

May serve as Technical Supervisor, responsible for:

Ensuring appropriate test method selection and validation.

Overseeing lab participation in CMS-approved proficiency testing (PT) programs.

Developing and executing corrective actions for any unsatisfactory PT results.

Establishing and maintaining quality assessment and control programs.

Ensuring analytical test performance standards are consistently met.

Taking remedial actions when deviations are identified and ensuring patient test results are only reported when systems are functioning correctly.

Verifying personnel training and competency prior to performing patient testing.

Monitoring ongoing personnel competency in all testing phases (pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical).

Identifying and providing remedial training or continuing education.

Ensuring availability of an approved procedure manual to all personnel.

Qualifications

MD/DO and/or PhD in Genetics or a related field required

Board certification required in one of the following:

ABMGG – Laboratory Genetics and Genomics (LGG) or Clinical Molecular Genetics

ABP – Molecular Genetic Pathology

Equivalent doctoral-level certification

California Clinical Genetic Molecular Biologist Director license required (or eligible)

New York State CLEP Certificate of Qualification in Genetic Testing required (or eligible)

Minimum of 5 years of experience in a CLIA-certified clinical lab analyzing, interpreting, and reporting clinical genetic/genomic data

Experience with high-volume clinical labs preferred

Experience in developing and implementing genetic assays in CLIA-certified labs preferred

Knowledge of CAP, CLIA, California, and New York State regulations

HIPAA/PHI Compliance

This role regularly works with Protected Health Information (PHI) in both paper and electronic form

Completion of HIPAA/PHI, compliance, and security training is required within 30 days of hire

Ongoing training must be kept up-to-date per Natera requirements

Must pass a post-offer criminal background check

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Excellent written and oral communication skills

Experience in high-complexity laboratories offering screening, constitutional, and/or somatic testing

Strong background in advanced molecular technologies, cfDNA analysis, and genetic variant detection

Deep understanding of statistical measures used in genetic testing and screening

Physical Demands & Work Environment

Duties performed in BSL-2 lab setting

May involve prolonged periods of standing or sitting

May require working varied shifts, weekends, and overtime

Travel up to 10% may be required

The pay range is listed and actual compensation packages are based on a wide array of factors unique to each candidate, including but not limited to skill set, years & depth of experience, certifications and specific office location. This may differ in other locations due to cost of labor considerations.San Carlos, CA $152,600—$190,700 USD

OUR OPPORTUNITY

Natera™ is a global leader in cell-free DNA (cfDNA) testing, dedicated to oncology, women’s health, and organ health. Our aim is to make personalized genetic testing and diagnostics part of the standard of care to protect health and enable earlier and more targeted interventions that lead to longer, healthier lives.

The Natera team consists of highly dedicated statisticians, geneticists, doctors, laboratory scientists, business professionals, software engineers and many other professionals from world-class institutions, who care deeply for our work and each other. When you join Natera, you’ll work hard and grow quickly. Working alongside the elite of the industry, you’ll be stretched and challenged, and take pride in being part of a company that is changing the landscape of genetic disease management.

WHAT WE OFFER

Competitive Benefits - Employee benefits include comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life and disability plans for eligible employees and their dependents. Additionally, Natera employees and their immediate families receive free testing in addition to fertility care benefits. Other benefits include pregnancy and baby bonding leave, 401k benefits, commuter benefits and much more. We also offer a generous employee referral program!

For more information, visit www.natera.com.

Natera is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to ensuring a diverse and inclusive workplace environment, and welcome people of different backgrounds, experiences, abilities and perspectives. Inclusive collaboration benefits our employees, our community and our patients, and is critical to our mission of changing the management of disease worldwide.

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply, and will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, age, veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with applicable laws.

If you are based in California, we encourage you to read this important information for California residents. 

Link: https://www.natera.com/notice-of-data-collection-california-residents/

Please be advised that Natera will reach out to candidates with a @natera.com email domain ONLY. Email communications from all other domain names are not from Natera or its employees and are fraudulent. Natera does not request interviews via text messages and does not ask for personal information until a candidate has engaged with the company and has spoken to a recruiter and the hiring team. Natera takes cyber crimes seriously, and will collaborate with law enforcement authorities to prosecute any related cyber crimes.

For more information:
- BBB announcement on job scams 
- FBI Cyber Crime resource page