Histology/Immunohistochemistry Supervisor

Overview

The Supervisor of Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Histology is responsible for the daily operational oversight of technical staff performing IHC, ISH, immunofluorescence, surgical histology, special stains, tissue processing, embedding, microtomy, and frozen section procedures within Anatomic Pathology.

This position ensures high-quality technical performance, regulatory compliance (CAP, CLIA, State, and Joint Commission), and efficient workflow. The Supervisor reports to the Senior Manager of AP and collaborates closely with faculty, residents, and laboratory leadership to maintain excellence in diagnostic services.

The Supervisor is expected to maintain operational flexibility and the technical competency to cross-cover within both Immunohistochemistry and Histology services. Training and competency assessment will be provided as needed to ensure safe and compliant cross-coverage.

The hours for this position will be 10am-6pm.

Essential Duties

Operational Supervision

• Supervises day-to-day workflow of IHC and Histology laboratories.
• Oversees IHC staining, ISH staining, immunofluorescence, special stains, frozen sections, embedding, microtomy, and tissue processing.
• Monitors turnaround times, workload distribution, and production standards.
• Addresses technical and operational issues and escalates concerns appropriately.
• Performs technical procedures as necessary to support workflow continuity.

Cross-Coverage & Workforce Flexibility

• Maintains competency to provide cross-coverage in both IHC and Histology sections as required.
• Supports laboratory operations during staffing shortages, high-volume periods, or emergent situations.
• Participates in structured cross-training programs to maintain operational resiliency.
• Ensures all cross-coverage duties are performed in accordance with CAP, CLIA, and institutional competency requirements.

Regulatory & Quality Compliance

• Ensures compliance with CAP, CLIA, State, and Joint Commission standards.
• Oversees documentation of quality control, corrective actions, validations, and maintenance logs.
• Assists in validation of new antibodies, assays, procedures, and instrumentation.
• Conducts annual review of laboratory procedures and SOPs.
• Participates in quality assurance initiatives and prepares quality and workload reports.

Staff Supervision & Development

• Supervises exempt and non-exempt technical staff.
• Assigns daily work and monitors workload distribution.
• Conducts and documents competency assessments per regulatory requirements.
• Ensures documentation of training, onboarding, and continuing education.
• Participates in hiring, evaluations, coaching, and corrective actions in collaboration with leadership.
• Promotes cross-training to enhance team flexibility and operational continuity.

Equipment & Resource Oversight

• Monitors functionality and preventive maintenance of laboratory equipment.
• Ensures service contracts and maintenance documentation are maintained.
• Oversees inventory levels and supply ordering.
• Ensures compliance with laboratory safety, chemical storage, and hazardous waste procedures.
• Supports evaluation and implementation of new technologies and instrumentation.

Administrative & Financial Support

• Assists leadership with supply utilization monitoring and cost efficiency initiatives.
• Provides workload and performance data for reporting purposes.
• Ensures accurate use of laboratory information systems and instrumentation software.
• Supports continuous quality and process improvement initiatives.

Required Skills and Abilities

1. Proven experience with progressively more responsibility in a Histology Laboratory. Strong technical expertise in IHC, ISH, special stains, embedding, sectioning, and frozen section techniques.
2. Experience in a histology laboratory with special emphasis on immunohistochemistry and special stain procedures as well as a detailed knowledge of more specialized embedding, sectioning and histochemical techniques.
3. Knowledge of CAP, CLIA, and regulatory compliance requirements. Experience with antibody validation, quality control, and troubleshooting.
4. Demonstrated leadership and communication skills. Ability to manage workflow in high volume clinical environments

Preferred Education, Experience, and Skills

Supervisory skills; Histotechnologist (HT/HTL) Certification from the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP).

Principal Responsibilities

1. Manages a team responsible for the day-to-day activities of the unit. Monitors progress of assignments and projects of varying complexity to enure milestones are met and communicated to all relevant stakeholders.
2. Assesses and resolves or escalates problems arising within unit or impacting workflow.
3. Recommends new and updated policies and procedures based on requirements, efficiencies and/or trends in support of unit.
4. Assists in long-range planning for work unit needs.
5. Participates in unit budget planning.
6. Evaluates work requests to determine if they are appropriate to the unit or another area.
7. Ensures that work flow is organized and staffed for quality efficient completion.
8. Communicates deadlines and special circumstances to staff.
9. Researches and adopts new technology products and services to increase efficiencies. Evaluates and implements these solutions as appropriate.
10. Maintains equipment and supplies for unit.
11. Completes evaluations of direct report employees.
12. Collaborates with University personnel to define work assignments and requirements, communicate progress of work, and plan and coordinate projects.
13. Interacts with external sources to coordinate work necessary to fulfill projects, keep abreast of new products and technologies, or arrange for subcontractors. 14. Supervises a staff of exempt and non-exempt employees.
14. Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Education and Experience

Minimum requirement of Bachelor’s Degree in related field and five years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.