What does a laboratory manager do?
Laboratory managers provide accurate laboratory diagnosis through evaluating specimen procedures and coordinating with pathologists to validate laboratory findings. They are responsible for maintaining laboratory tools and equipment, ensuring the proper sterilization of instruments before and after use, organizing equipment based on its function, and immediately repairing or replacing defective items. A laboratory manager also secures the confidentiality of laboratory systems, keeping records of results, and releasing information to the appropriate personnel. Laboratory managers must have a broad knowledge of the scientific industry, as well as excellent analytical and critical-thinking skills.
Laboratory manager responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real laboratory manager resumes:
- Lead laboratory investigations, OOS, deviations, change controls and CAPA.
- Manage daily personnel challenges, assist with marketing and maintain appropriate standards and regulations per JCAHO, DNV.
- Manage staff and oversee FDA guidelines and regulations for pharmaceutical research
- Initiate and manage successful in-house design and implementation of network base LIMS database.
- Manage curriculum development, authore and publish lab manuals in physiology and ecology.
- Manage daily laboratory operations including personnel, client consulting, analyses and adherence to GLP protocols.
- Clear understanding of USP, ICH and GxP guidelines and lot release.
- Train students in an array of molecular methods ranging from DNA isolation through data analysis.
- Perform laboratory testing - hematology, bacteriology, urinalysis, immunology, chemistry and serology; interpret and report results.
- Ensure accurate, precise and timely laboratory testing in the areas of hematology, urinalysis, clinical chemistry and immunology.
- Collect blood samples, urine samples, and DNA samples.
- Succeed in the investigations of several OOS (out of specifications) results.
- Resolve testing problem by modifying testing methods or revising test objectives and standards following through the USP guidelines.
- Maintain QC inventory by ensuring the lab has the necessary supplies, ordering items when need, and receiving incoming packages.
- Provide quality assurance oversight for all manufacture products.
Laboratory manager skills and personality traits
We calculated that 12% of Laboratory Managers are proficient in Lab Equipment, Patients, and Customer Service. They’re also known for soft skills such as Problem-solving skills, Time-management skills, and Interpersonal skills.
We break down the percentage of Laboratory Managers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Lab Equipment, 12%
Performed daily maintenance and management of lab equipment and environment in a senior design lab of the electrical engineering department.
- Patients, 9%
Verified insurance eligibility to ensure proper reimbursement; notified and collected patients' financial responsibility.
- Customer Service, 7%
Work closely with customer service and research and development departments, provide laboratory services and documentation of Clinical Studies.
- Chemistry, 6%
Fostered a team effort approach and encouraged greater individual responsibility among the chemists, improving efficiency in the Chemistry Laboratory.
- Clinical Laboratory, 5%
Defined and coordinated the Quality Assurance and Continuous Quality Improvement for all aspects of the clinical laboratory including the outreach locations.
- Lab Safety, 5%
Enhanced lab safety and reduced purchasing and disposal cost of the chemicals by eliminating duplication of chemical orders.
Most laboratory managers use their skills in "lab equipment," "patients," and "customer service" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential laboratory manager responsibilities here:
Problem-solving skills. One of the key soft skills for a laboratory manager to have is problem-solving skills. You can see how this relates to what laboratory managers do because "production managers must identify and address problems that arise." Additionally, a laboratory manager resume shows how laboratory managers use problem-solving skills: "experience with personnel management, conflict resolution, contract negotiation, regulatory agency compliance and inspections (cap & fda). "
Interpersonal skills. This is an important skill for laboratory managers to perform their duties. For an example of how laboratory manager responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "industrial production managers must have excellent communication skills to work well other managers and with staff." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a laboratory manager: "cited for excellence in interpersonal communications, teamwork, customer service, flexibility and reliability. ".
Leadership skills. A big part of what laboratory managers do relies on "leadership skills." You can see how essential it is to laboratory manager responsibilities because "to keep the production process running smoothly, industrial production managers must motivate and direct employees." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical laboratory manager tasks: "provided leadership in following laboratory protocol; ensured proper functioning of equipment and compliance with astm specifications. "
The three companies that hire the most laboratory managers are:
- National Vision Administrators24 laboratory managers jobs
- Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings20 laboratory managers jobs
- Deloitte11 laboratory managers jobs
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Compare different laboratory managers
Laboratory manager vs. Vice-president of quality
A vice president of quality is responsible for monitoring the quality performance and delivery of the company outputs and deliverables to serve customers and clients. Vice presidents of quality analyze the production and operational processes to ensure that everything adheres to the internal guidelines and regulations. They also coordinate with the stakeholders for project updates and identify opportunities for revenue resources to increase the company's profits. A vice president of quality must have excellent communication and leadership skills, especially in minimizing loss from operational failures and increasing productivity results.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between laboratory managers and vice-president of quality. For instance, laboratory manager responsibilities require skills such as "lab equipment," "patients," "customer service," and "chemistry." Whereas a vice-president of quality is skilled in "oversight," "risk management," "patient safety," and "performance improvement." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Vice-president of qualities tend to make the most money working in the finance industry, where they earn an average salary of $122,006. In contrast, laboratory managers make the biggest average salary, $90,911, in the pharmaceutical industry.vice-president of qualities tend to reach higher levels of education than laboratory managers. In fact, vice-president of qualities are 9.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Laboratory manager vs. Quality supervisor
A quality supervisor is an individual who manages and implements the quality assurance and control systems of a company to ensure the proper execution of products and customer satisfaction. Quality supervisors oversee a team of quality control analysts and train them on the latest product standards. They must make sure that customers are pleased with the finished product by communicating with them and setting realistic expectations. Quality supervisors must also provide reports on quality metrics to the other members of the management team.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real laboratory manager resumes. While laboratory manager responsibilities can utilize skills like "lab equipment," "patients," "chemistry," and "clinical laboratory," quality supervisors use skills like "continuous improvement," "food safety," "product quality," and "sigma."
Quality supervisors may earn a lower salary than laboratory managers, but quality supervisors earn the most pay in the automotive industry with an average salary of $73,685. On the other hand, laboratory managers receive higher pay in the pharmaceutical industry, where they earn an average salary of $90,911.In general, quality supervisors achieve similar levels of education than laboratory managers. They're 2.8% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for laboratory managers in the next 3-5 years?
Mohammad Saadeh Ph.D.
Department Head, Southeastern Louisiana University
Laboratory manager vs. Clinical research associate
A clinical research associate is responsible for assisting medical professionals in clinical trials and conducting research studies on medications and medical procedures. Clinical research associates monitor the research materials, ensuring its safety and reliability through trial procedures, writing comprehensive reports of results, and disseminating information across the concerned parties. They also provide recommendations on improving clinical processes, reiterating protocol requirements, and maintaining strict confidentiality of the trial subjects. A clinical research associate must have extensive knowledge of the medical industry, including its disciplines and principles, to perform duties accurately under minimal supervision.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a laboratory manager is likely to be skilled in "lab equipment," "customer service," "chemistry," and "clinical laboratory," while a typical clinical research associate is skilled in "informed consent," "cra," "clinical trials," and "clinical trial management."
Clinical research associates earn the highest salary when working in the pharmaceutical industry, where they receive an average salary of $73,702. Comparatively, laboratory managers have the highest earning potential in the pharmaceutical industry, with an average salary of $90,911.When it comes to education, clinical research associates tend to earn similar degree levels compared to laboratory managers. In fact, they're 4.7% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 3.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Laboratory manager vs. Senior research associate
A Senior Research Associate works closely with research team members to implement research ideas. They diagnose, solve system/software problems, and install application software according to research needs.
Types of laboratory manager
Updated January 8, 2025
