Head of Laboratory (Physician) (with sign-on bonus)

We're hiring a Head of Laboratory (Physician) to lead our central laboratory in Ho Chi Minh City. You will be the medical and operational leader, accountable for medical quality, turnaround time, cost and client confidence. We welcome applications from doctors in Vietnam and overseas.
Key responsibilities
Medical and technical leadership
Lead the medical and technical direction of all laboratory disciplines: haematology, biochemistry, immunology, microbiology, molecular biology and pathology
Approve test menus, methods, reference ranges, critical values and result-reporting rules
Act as the medical lead for pathology (histopathology) services
Oversee method validation and keep validation dossiers complete and audit-ready
Act as the clinical contact for doctors and key accounts on complex cases and discrepant results
Quality and accreditation
Build and run the quality management system: SOPs, internal audits, document control, non-conformance and corrective action
Lead the laboratory to ISO 15189, CAP or JCI accreditation and maintain it through surveillance audits
Run internal quality control and external quality assessment, and act on out-of-control results
Keep the laboratory compliant with Vietnamese medical laboratory, biosafety and medical waste regulations
Operations and cost
Plan workflows and capacity to meet turnaround time targets across all collection points
Own the equipment, reagent and consumables strategy with Procurement: selection, validation, maintenance and cost per test
Manage the laboratory budget and propose investments with a clear business case
People
Lead, coach and develop department heads and laboratory staff
Set KPIs, assess performance and act on underperformance under company policy and Vietnamese labour law
Define competency and training requirements for technical staff
Business growth
Work with Sales and Key Accounts to grow laboratory revenue through the test menu, pricing and new services
Build relationships with hospitals, clinics and corporate clients
Report laboratory performance, risks and improvement plans to senior management on a regular schedule
Result sign-off and authority
You provide medical oversight of all results, including the rules for review, release, repeat testing and critical-value escalation
Patient reports are signed off by locally licensed signatories, with you providing medical oversight. A Vietnamese practising licence is welcome but not required
You may place any test or analyser on hold if quality is in doubt
You recommend hiring, promotion and corrective action within the laboratory
Spending limits are stated in your employment contract
Requirements
Medical degree (MD or equivalent) with postgraduate specialisation in pathology or laboratory medicine
Current medical registration in your country of practice
At least 10 years in clinical laboratories, including at least 5 years leading a laboratory or major department
Experience managing teams of 50 or more people
Commercial experience: at least 3 years owning a budget or P&L, pricing, or business development with B2B clients such as hospitals, clinics and corporates
Proven track record running a laboratory under ISO 15189, CAP or JCI accreditation
Fluent English, spoken and written
Preferred
A Vietnamese practising licence, or willingness to obtain one
Hands-on histopathology practice
Experience in a high-volume private diagnostic network or a large hospital laboratory
Experience with molecular diagnostics or laboratory information systems
Key competencies
Clinical judgement that you can defend to other doctors
Zero tolerance for shortcuts on accuracy and patient safety
Commercial thinking: you know what a test costs and what a client will pay
Clear communication in English with senior management, and with Vietnamese staff and clients