Sr Manager, Lab Operations Learning and Development

The Senior Manager, Lab Operations Learning and Development provides tactical building along with long term strategic leadership and direction for all learning, development, and performance enablement initiatives across laboratory operations. This role is responsible for designing, facilitating, and executing comprehensive L&D initiatives that align with strategy that equips lab operations teammates — from entry level employees to senior leaders — with the knowledge, operational skills, and leadership capabilities needed to drive operational excellence and organizational growth. The Manager/Senior Manager, Lab Operations Learning and Development sets the broad framework for learning culture within lab operations, builds scalable development programs, and partners cross-functionally with HR, lab operations senior leadership, and individual lab leaders to ensure the organization has the skills and required to meet current and future business objectives. This role will require a diverse knowledge and skill set as well as require the capacity to initially focus on tangible program builds and execution then evolve to manage and execute more strategically as scope and programs grow.

Strategy & Organizational Development

• Develops and executes innovative L&D strategies to ensure lab operations has the necessary management and leadership competencies to meet business objectives.

• Sets the overarching framework and strategy for learning and development across lab operations, aligned to organizational goals, HR timelines, and department priorities.

• Assesses developmental needs across lab operations teams; identifies management skills and competency gaps and establishes measures to track progress and effectiveness of the applied L&D program(s).

• Partners with HR to align employee development with job architecture ladders and career progression frameworks.

• Stays current on training industry developments, adult learning best practices, and emerging trends in development education.

• Manages and reports out on the L&D budget for lab operations, including forecasting, vendor spend, and resource allocation to ensure cost-effective program delivery.

• Defines, tracks, and reports on key L&D metrics and KPIs (e.g., training completion rates, time-to-competency, learner satisfaction, business impact) to senior leadership and stakeholders.

Leadership & Manager Development

• Creates and facilitates leader development programs tailored to new leaders, middle management, and senior-level leaders within lab operations.

• Facilitates DiSC and/or Clifton Strengths programs across lab operations and ensures sustained adoption and practical application.

• Drives lab operations-specific management training, including senior leaders accountability for tier meeting structure, accountability frameworks, and operational leadership education.

• Develops and facilitates a formal mentorship, shadowing, and job rotational framework and structure to support career development and knowledge retention across the organization.

• Partners with HR to inform on succession planning to help identify high-potential leaders within laboratory operations.

• Develops a comprehensive, all employee onboarding program that can be used across lab operations and at all levels. Should include introduction to Natera departmental functions, Lab operations overview, product education, sample lifecycle, core mission and values, key resources, etc.

• Develops onboarding programs for newly promoted or externally hired leaders to accelerate time-to-effectiveness in their roles.

• Long term develops and implements an internal job shadow and mentorship program focused on retention and career