Assistant Manager - RRPL - Component Production

GULF COAST BLOOD

Location: 1400 La Concha Lane

Houston, Texas 77054

RADIATION SAFETY POSITION:  Employees in this position may be eligible for unescorted access to blood irradiation equipment.  If so, the employee will be subject to additional background screening to include personal reference checks, fingerprinting and local, state and federal criminal background checks.

Position Title: Assistant Manager, RRPL 

Join our team of heroes!

Reporting to the Component Production Manager, this position is responsible for managing operations in the Research and Recovered Product Laboratory (RRPL). Key duties include supervision of staff, maintenance of policies, procedures, and quality control practices and the coordination of clients, products and services intended for research and further manufacturing.

Just For You:

• Career advancement opportunities.

• Competitive compensation and benefits package.

• Engaging and exciting opportunity to SAVE LIVES.

Tips to thrive in our culture:

• Embody our Core Values of Commitment, Integrity, and Respect

• Work to actively create experiences that inspire others to save lives, each and every day.

• Embrace doing it right, making connections, and creating desired experiences.

• Comply with all organizational policies and standards, including safety rules, and be willing to report actual and potential violations to the appropriate supervisor or manager.

In this role, you will:

• Assume full responsibility for the RRP Laboratory including processes, products intended for research or further manufacturing, clients and resources.
• Manage client base and coordinate production to meet client specifications, volumes, and expected delivery times.
• Manage the processing, packing, and distribution of blood components, ensuring thorough and accurate documentation of packing manifests, shipping logs, and unit test results.
• Manage all documents, shipment records, quality records, and billing reports to ensure they are complete, accurate, and timely.
• Liaison with plasma entities to schedule shipments and ensure shipments are reconciled for billing purposes.
• Reconcile billing and documentation discrepancies as reported.
• Ensure products are properly manufactured according to cGMP, standard operating procedures, temperature storage requirements, and client specifications within required time limits.
• Resolve issues related to component preparation or shipment problems and implement necessary corrective actions.  
• Manage updates to client material specifications, packing instructions, shipping instructions, coversheet and COA versions, and communication all changes to staff in the RRP area.
• Administer training and competency assessments to new and incumbent staff.
• Act as coach and mentor to staff to maximize staff’s professional development.
• Serve as primary liaison with MIS for department hardware and software needs, and development of new, and revisions to existing reports and applications.
• Communicate with clients, providing exceptional customer service to ensure all orders are met accurately and in the established time frame. Assist with client notifications of delayed payments.
• Monitor equipment and supply inventory to ensure optimal levels are always available.
• Ensure all laboratory equipment is maintained according to SOP and manufacturer’s guidelines.
• Address any issues as required to maintain a safe and clean work area, including walk-in storage equipment.
• Prepare data from various reports to determine productivity, KPIs, and goal achievements.
• Manage or participate in special projects and process improvement in accordance with established policy.
• Responsible for preparing and acting as the SME for internal and external quality audits and assessments of the RRPL area.
• Assumes responsibilities for the Component Production Laboratory in the absence of the operations manager.
• Enforce The Blood Center's policies on EEO, Affirmative Action, cGMPs, and Safety/Health to include ensuring that every component handled maintains the highest possible quality.
• Complete additional duties as assigned

We need someone who has:

• Degree in Biology, Chemistry, or related science field with minimum of three-years recent experience in a laboratory or blood component manufacturing facility or combination of education and experience.
• Prior experience in plasma and blood component manufacturing highly desirable.
• Medical Technologist/Clinical Laboratory Scientist (ASCP or equivalent) strongly preferred.
• Minimum of two years of supervisory/management experience with direct reports. 
• Must be familiar with quality concepts, cGMP, AABB, and FDA regulations. 

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.  The employee occasionally is required to sit and stoop, kneel, or crouch.  The employee is frequently required to stand for long periods.  The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. Employees are required to be familiar with and abide by the team lift requirements as specified in the Safety Program . Employee may occasionally push or pull wheeled containers weighing up to 150 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to blood and/or blood components, as well as any other biohazard materials.  The employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts and risk of radiation.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.  The employee is frequently exposed to extreme cold.

Job duties involved an inherent potential for mucous membrane or skin contact with blood with a risk of exposure to Hepatitis and HIV.

Who We Are:

Gulf Coast Blood is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization and is accredited, licensed, and inspected by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), AABB as well as local and state authorities. Serving the largest medical campus in the world, The Blood Center has grown to more than 650 employees and serves more than 170 hospitals and health care institutions in the 26-county Texas Gulf Coast, Brazos Valley, and East Texas regions. As it pertains to stability, we have been in business for over 45 years with no threat of mergers or acquisitions; and growing stronger as we gain more partnerships within the business community. 

Think you have what it takes to save lives with us? We want to hear from you.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER STATEMENT

Gulf Coast Blood is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants for positions are considered without regard to race/ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, military status, protected veteran status, disability status, genetic testing results, or any other basis or characteristic prohibited by applicable law, statute, regulation, or Executive Order.

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