What does a director of laboratory operations do?
A director of laboratory operations spearheads and oversees the daily activities in a laboratory, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. They have the authority to make decisions and changes, set objectives and budgets, establish timelines and guidelines, coordinate research teams, liaise with external parties such as suppliers and government agencies, and develop strategies to optimize the laboratory's daily operations. Moreover, as a director of laboratory operations, it is essential to lead and encourage the staff to reach goals, all while implementing the facility's policies and regulations, developing new ones as necessary.
Director of laboratory operations responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real director of laboratory operations resumes:
- Set up forensic DNA laboratory, train laboratory technicians in advance molecular techniques, and manage day-to-day activities of forensic DNA laboratory
- Communicate with FDA as necessary with respect to these supplements.
- Perform laboratory tests on specimens, including hematology, manual differentials, chemistry, coagulation and urinalysis.
- Supervise district laboratory operations for CLIA certification
- Supervise district laboratory operations for CLIA certification
Director of laboratory operations skills and personality traits
We calculated that 11% of Directors Of Laboratory Operations are proficient in Lab Operations, Chemistry, and Laboratory Services. They’re also known for soft skills such as Management skills, Problem-solving skills, and Time-management skills.
We break down the percentage of Directors Of Laboratory Operations that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Lab Operations, 11%
Managed Lab Operations with an operating budget of $100 million, strategic capital budget of $40 million.
- Chemistry, 8%
Performed laboratory tests on specimens, including hematology, manual differentials, chemistry, coagulation and urinalysis.
- Laboratory Services, 7%
Collaborate with research sponsors to develop and implement new laboratory services that are required by their protocol.
- Continuous Improvement, 6%
Champion and implement process assessment initiatives to drive operational excellence and continuous improvement in the clinical and laboratory operations functions.
- Oversight, 6%
Provided technical oversight as CLIA General Supervisor, and Technical Consultant for the hematology & urinalysis sections.
- CLIA, 6%
Ensured readiness for accreditation and maintaining compliance with CLIA, CAP, and the Joint Commission standards.
"lab operations," "chemistry," and "laboratory services" are among the most common skills that directors of laboratory operations use at work. You can find even more director of laboratory operations responsibilities below, including:
Problem-solving skills. Another essential skill to perform director of laboratory operations duties is problem-solving skills. Directors of laboratory operations responsibilities require that "top executives need to identify and resolve issues within an organization." Directors of laboratory operations also use problem-solving skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "communicated with physicians, nurses, pharmacists, vendors, patients and other customers to facilitate problem resolution. "
Time-management skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of directors of laboratory operations is time-management skills. This skill is critical to many everyday director of laboratory operations duties, as "top executives do many tasks concurrently to ensure that their work gets done and that the organization meets its goals." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "implemented branch-wide routing initiative through master service plans which improved customer service and on time service performance while reducing fleet expense. "
Communication skills. director of laboratory operations responsibilities often require "communication skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "top executives must be able to convey information clearly and persuasively." This resume example shows what directors of laboratory operations do with communication skills on a typical day: "developed cross functional (engineering, logistics, medical, communications) operations proposals for executive decisionmakers. "
Leadership skills. Another crucial skill for a director of laboratory operations to carry out their responsibilities is "leadership skills." A big part of what directors of laboratory operations relies on this skill, since "top executives must be able to shape and direct an organization by coordinating policies, people, and resources." How this skill relates to director of laboratory operations duties can be seen in an example from a director of laboratory operations resume snippet: "direct leadership and management oversight of the operational excellence group for idexx ref. "
See the full list of director of laboratory operations skills
The three companies that hire the most director of laboratory operationss are:
- Northrop Grumman2 directors of laboratory operations jobs
- University of Pennsylvania2 directors of laboratory operations jobs
- Harvard University2 directors of laboratory operations jobs
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Compare different directors of laboratory operations
Director of laboratory operations vs. Managing director
A Managing Director oversees workflow and progress, making sure that all operations align within the company or organization's mission or set of goals. They are responsible for crafting strategies, devising effective business plans, and executing guidelines that would nurture a company's growth, and as well as to be the driving force that would direct employees to the company's objectives. Furthermore, a Managing Director must coordinate with those in a higher position, such as the members of the board.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between directors of laboratory operations and managing director. For instance, director of laboratory operations responsibilities require skills such as "lab operations," "chemistry," "laboratory services," and "continuous improvement." Whereas a managing director is skilled in "healthcare," "portfolio," "project management," and "customer service." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Managing directors tend to make the most money working in the finance industry, where they earn an average salary of $177,065. In contrast, directors of laboratory operations make the biggest average salary, $118,221, in the pharmaceutical industry.On average, managing directors reach higher levels of education than directors of laboratory operations. Managing directors are 9.6% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 3.8% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Director of laboratory operations vs. Division director
A division director is an individual who is responsible for managing team members and business operations that are assigned in his/her or her division to achieve the goals of a company. Division directors are required to evaluate division performance and ensure that the team's work complies with the company policies and procedures. They must lead new business development efforts with customers or brokers and should work closely with legal to ensure the protection of the company's interest. Division directors also assist in employee recruitment and provide training to the team if there are skill gaps.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real director of laboratory operations resumes. While director of laboratory operations responsibilities can utilize skills like "lab operations," "chemistry," "laboratory services," and "continuous improvement," division directors use skills like "client relationships," "customer service," "healthcare," and "patients."
Division directors earn a higher average salary than directors of laboratory operations. But division directors earn the highest pay in the finance industry, with an average salary of $161,467. Additionally, directors of laboratory operations earn the highest salaries in the pharmaceutical with average pay of $118,221 annually.division directors earn higher levels of education than directors of laboratory operations in general. They're 8.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 3.8% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Director of laboratory operations vs. District director
A district director is an executive professional who is responsible for managing staff members of an organization in a particular district. This director is required to conduct store visits to ensure that store employees are following store procedures and maintain inventory levels. The manager must manage all the general ledger revenue and expense activity while maintaining oversight for all operations, policies, and procedures. This manager should also plan and develop workshops, comprehensive training, and professional development for all staff members.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, directors of laboratory operations are more likely to have skills like "lab operations," "chemistry," "laboratory services," and "continuous improvement." But a district director is more likely to have skills like "human resources," "professional development," "performance management," and "medicare."
District directors typically earn similar educational levels compared to directors of laboratory operations. Specifically, they're 1.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 4.7% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Director of laboratory operations vs. Business director
Business directors are responsible for overseeing the development of an organization's business goals and objectives. They typically work to increase business revenue, identify and develop business opportunities, and expand the company's presence and its brands. Other duties and responsibilities may include establishing effective company policies, goals, and sales targets, overseeing financial and budgetary activities, and identifying ways to minimize cost and boost financial performance. Business directors are also expected to negotiate contracts with clients and suppliers and propose and develop new partnerships.
Types of director of laboratory operations
Updated January 8, 2025
