Lab Manager

Position Summary:

The Laboratory Manager is responsible for the strategic oversight, operational management, and regulatory compliance of the clinical laboratory. This role ensures the delivery of accurate, timely, and high-quality laboratory diagnostic and therapeutic services to support patient care and provider decision-making. The Laboratory Manager oversees all aspects of laboratory operations, including personnel management, quality assurance, equipment performance, inventory control, regulatory compliance, and process improvement.

This position demonstrates a strong commitment to clinical excellence, operational efficiency, patient safety, and continuous quality improvement while maintaining compliance with applicable federal, state, and accrediting agency requirements.

Essential Functions:

To perform effectively in this role, the candidate must fulfill the following duties with or without reasonable accommodations.

Laboratory Operations & Clinical Oversight

• Direct and oversee laboratory diagnostic and therapeutic services by establishing specimen preparation standards, implementing analytical testing procedures, evaluating laboratory findings, consulting with pathologists, and ensuring accurate reporting of results in accordance with organizational, hospital, and public health protocols.
• Ensure optimal laboratory equipment performance by establishing quality standards, implementing operational and troubleshooting procedures, certifying instrument performance, and coordinating equipment maintenance, repair, replacement, and service agreements.
• Manage laboratory inventory and supply chain operations by monitoring stock levels, forecasting supply needs, ordering materials, expediting deliveries, and verifying receipt of supplies to maintain uninterrupted operations.
• Monitor laboratory productivity and workflow by assessing operational demands, identifying peak and low-volume periods, and implementing staffing or operational adjustments to ensure efficiency and service excellence.
• Maintain laboratory quality and compliance through participation in quality assurance and performance improvement programs, proficiency testing, quality control monitoring, policy development, and continuous evaluation of laboratory procedures and outcomes.

Regulatory Compliance & Quality Management

• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, local, and accreditation standards, including CLIA and other regulatory requirements governing laboratory operations.
• Maintain the integrity, confidentiality, and security of laboratory information systems by identifying operational needs, troubleshooting issues, recommending system improvements, testing enhancements, training staff, and maintaining data security protocols.
• Lead the implementation of new laboratory programs, testing methodologies, instrumentation, technologies, and operational procedures through research, validation studies, parallel testing, and performance monitoring.
• Collaborate with pathologists, physicians, nurses, technical coordinators, laboratory directors, and other healthcare professionals to resolve operational or clinical concerns and support interdisciplinary patient care initiatives.
• Represent the laboratory on internal committees and organizational initiatives, serving as a subject matter expert on laboratory operations and quality standards.

Leadership & Staff Development

• Recruit, hire, onboard, train, mentor, and retain qualified laboratory personnel to support departmental goals and operational excellence.
• Schedule, assign, and monitor staff responsibilities to ensure efficient departmental operations and achievement of service standards.
• Evaluate employee performance through coaching, counseling, performance reviews, corrective action, and professional development planning.
• Promote staff competency and professional growth by facilitating continuing education, in-service training, and ongoing development opportunities to meet licensure and certification requirements.
• Foster a collaborative, accountable, and service-oriented work environment while maintaining high standards of professionalism and employee engagement.

Education & Communication

• Educate physicians, nurses, patients, students, and staff regarding laboratory testing methodologies, analytical theory, and the clinical significance of diagnostic testing in patient care.
• Prepare and maintain operational, quality assurance, regulatory, and financial reports to support departmental and organizational objectives.
• Support billing and reimbursement processes by ensuring accurate service documentation, coding, and communication with billing personnel.

Administrative & Organizational Support

• Provide administrative leadership and organizational support, including serving as Manager on Call as assigned.
• Maintain strict confidentiality of patient, employee, operational, and organizational information in compliance with HIPAA and organizational policies.
• Perform additional duties and special projects as assigned to support organizational objectives.

Knowledge, Skills & Responsibilities:

• Strong leadership, supervisory, and team development skills with the ability to motivate and engage staff.

• Minimum of eight (8) years of progressive post-baccalaureate biomedical laboratory experience, including at least four (4) years of direct supervisory or management experience in a CLIA-compliant clinical laboratory or anatomical pathology laboratory.

• Bachelor’s degree (or foreign equivalent) in Biology, Chemistry, Medical Laboratory Science, or a closely related life sciences field required.

• Thorough knowledge of laboratory operations, healthcare administration, clinical practices, and laboratory management systems.
• Working knowledge of applicable federal, state, and regulatory requirements governing laboratory operations.
• Strong understanding of quality assurance, quality control, laboratory accreditation, and compliance standards.
• Advanced analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret complex clinical and operational data.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment, initiative, and decision-making in a fast-paced healthcare environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with physicians, staff, patients, vendors, and the public.
• Proficiency in computer systems, laboratory information systems (LIS), and business applications.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including report preparation, presentation delivery, and policy/procedure documentation.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information with discretion.

This role requires a proactive, dependable, and detail-oriented individual with the ability to manage multiple tasks in a dynamic healthcare environment. The ideal candidate demonstrates a strong commitment to patient care and operational excellence.

Experience

Physical and Mental Demands:

The physical and mental demands described below are representative of those required to perform this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be provided for individuals with disabilities:

• Physical Requirements:
  • Occasionally required to stand, walk, and sit for extended periods.
  • Use hands to handle objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms.
  • Occasionally required to climb stairs, balance, stoop, kneel, bend, crouch, or crawl.
  • Occasionally lift, push, pull, or move up to 20 pounds.
• Vision Requirements:
  • Close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Note:
This job description is intended to provide a general overview of the role. Additional responsibilities may be assigned, or duties modified by the department supervisor based on operational needs.