How to hire a microbiology laboratory director

How to hire a microbiology laboratory director, step by step

Here's a step-by-step microbiology laboratory director hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a microbiology laboratory director job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new microbiology laboratory director
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the microbiology laboratory director you need to hire. Certain microbiology laboratory director roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A microbiology laboratory director's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, microbiology laboratory directors from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of microbiology laboratory directors and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Microbiology Laboratory Director	Description	Hourly rate
   Microbiology Laboratory Director	Natural sciences managers supervise the work of scientists, including chemists, physicists, and biologists. They direct activities related to research and development, and coordinate activities such as testing, quality control, and production.	$29-56
   Environmental Manager	An Environmental Manager supervises the environmental performance of private, public, and voluntary sector organizations. They are employed by government agencies, non-governmental organizations, or commercial entities.	$20-50
   Wild Life Manager	A wildlife manager is responsible for overseeing the safety and health of animals in a habitat. Day-to-day duties include keeping track of animal populations, developing effective plans on wildlife management, and ensuring the preservation of the habitat and food supply of wildlife threatened by human activities... Show more	$20-65

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Microbiology Laboratory
   • GMP
   • Clinical Microbiology
   • Laboratory Operations
   • FDA
   • Environmental Monitoring
   • USP
   • Continuous Improvement
   • Infectious Disease
   • Client Satisfaction
   • External Audits
   • Bioburden
   • Water Samples
   • CAPA

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Set up forensic DNA laboratory, train laboratory technicians in advance molecular techniques, and manage day-to-day activities of forensic DNA laboratory
   • Assist with routine FDA inspections.
   • Supervise district laboratory operations for CLIA certification
   • Supervise district laboratory operations for CLIA certification

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your microbiology laboratory director job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A microbiology laboratory director salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, microbiology laboratory directors' average salary in south dakota is 39% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level microbiology laboratory directors earn 47% less than senior-level microbiology laboratory directors.
   • Certifications. A microbiology laboratory director with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a microbiology laboratory director's salary.

   Average microbiology laboratory director salary

   $85,785yearly

   $41.24 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level microbiology laboratory director salary

   $62,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 23, 2026

4. Writing a microbiology laboratory director job description

   A microbiology laboratory director job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a microbiology laboratory director job description:

   Microbiology laboratory director job description example

   Job Functions, Duties, Responsibilities and Position Qualifications:
   
   General Description and Essential Functions
   Performs all routine tests and analyses on patient samples and specimens Is qualified under CLIA regulations to perform both moderate and high complexity analysis in addition to waived test analysis Performs and reviews quality control results May be required to perform pre-analytical procedures such as specimen preparation and reagent preparation May be required to perform post-analytical procedures including result evaluation, entry of result into the computer system and release of results Performs routine preventative maintenance on assigned instruments and equipment according to established schedule and procedure Verifies instrument functioning by checking and calibrating specific lab instruments and documents data; Records on instrument logs any repairs, replacement, and maintenance needed of equipment Assist with overseeing Lab Assistants in their respective departments Responsible for assisting in ordering and inventory Responsible for coordinating service with technical support when troubleshooting issues with analyzers May be responsible to respond to inquiries regarding testing from physicians, provider staff or coworkers Is responsible for knowledge and application of current state, federal, and CAP regulations Participates in and supports all Quality Assurance and Quality Improvement endeavors for the laboratory, as applicable In addition to an employee's typical work schedule, this position may require employees to work weekends, split shifts, varying shift schedules, and holidays if needed by the Company. Other duties may apply as necessary Physical Capabilities
   Light physical effort (lift/carry up to 25 lbs.) Occasional reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling, and crouching Frequent, prolonged standing/sitting/walking Must be able to see, hear, and respond adequately Must be able to appropriately identify colors as necessary for position requirements Extensive computer and/or microscopic work Moderate use of telephone and fax Occasional travel required to interact with Division personnel and/or attend meetings, educational training Work Experience and Educational Requirements
   Zero-two years' experience in the Clinical Laboratory as a California Licensed Clinical Laboratory Scientist.(B.S.) Bachelors of Science degree from accredited four year college or university;Requires valid California Clinical Laboratory Scientist License;A.S.C.P. or other applicable certification is desirable, but not required. Continuing education as dictated by governmental agencies required for license validity.
   
   Scheduled Weekly Hours:
   40
   
   Work Shift:
   
   Company:
   WestPac Labs, Inc.
   
   Sonic Healthcare USA provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
   
   This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find microbiology laboratory directors for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any microbiology laboratory directors they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level microbiology laboratory directors with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your microbiology laboratory director job on Zippia to find and recruit microbiology laboratory director candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit microbiology laboratory directors, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new microbiology laboratory director

   Once you've selected the best microbiology laboratory director candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new microbiology laboratory director. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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