How to hire a senior laboratory scientist

How to hire a senior laboratory scientist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step senior laboratory scientist hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The senior laboratory scientist hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A senior laboratory scientist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, senior laboratory scientists 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.

   This list shows salaries for various types of senior laboratory scientists.

   Type of Senior Laboratory Scientist	Description	Hourly rate
   Senior Laboratory Scientist	Medical scientists conduct research aimed at improving overall human health. They often use clinical trials and other investigative methods to reach their findings.	$29-61
   Research Fellow	A research fellow is an academic researcher who conducts research and analysis of comprehensive literature, data, and results and provides literature reviews. He/She supervises research assistants and recruits study participants to interview them for a particular study... Show more	$18-34
   Fellow	A fellow's responsibility will depend on the organization or industry where one belongs. However, most of the time, a fellow's duty will revolve around conducting research and analysis, presiding discussions and attending dialogues, handle lectures while complying with the guidelines or tasks set by supervisors, and assist in various projects and activities... Show more	$22-44

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • GMP
   • FDA
   • Cell Culture
   • Analytical Methods
   • R
   • Method Development
   • DOE
   • Assay Development
   • API
   • Sops
   • QC
   • Product Development
   • FTIR
   • Elisa

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage study protocols and study conduct, intimately involve in the toxicology and pharmacokinetic study protocol development process.
   • Enter results into LIMS database.
   • Generate reports and deliver of presentations to support submissions to FDA.
   • Establish quantitative, proprietary method for measurement of menstrual blood loss (now register with FDA).
   • Key activities include process chemistry development, synthesis of intermediates, compound purification and structure identification, and comprehensive scientific documentation.
   • Interpret metabolism data and review reports to support strategies forward thinking with a specialization in drug metabolism and metabolic enzymes.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, senior laboratory scientists' average salary in louisiana is 54% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level senior laboratory scientists earn 52% less than senior-level senior laboratory scientists.
   • Certifications. A senior laboratory scientist 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 senior laboratory scientist's salary.

   Average senior laboratory scientist salary

   $88,562yearly

   $42.58 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level senior laboratory scientist salary

   $61,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

4. Writing a senior laboratory scientist job description

   A job description for a senior laboratory scientist role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a senior laboratory scientist job description:

   Senior laboratory scientist job description example

   Job Descriptions:
   
   COMPANY SUMMARY:
   
   At Intercept, our mission is to build a healthier tomorrow for patients with progressive non-viral liver diseases. Intercept's lead product, obeticholic acid (OCA), is a first-in-class farnesoid X receptor (FXR) agonist marketed under the brand name "Ocaliva " in the U.S., EU and Canada for the treatment of patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), a rare autoimmune liver disease. In 2016, Ocaliva was the first medication to be approved for PBC in over twenty years, and sales continue to grow.
   
   Intercept has also established the leading clinical development program in liver fibrosis due to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a disease that impacts the lives of millions of people in the U.S. alone and for which there are currently no available treatments. The 18 month interim analysis of the REGENERATE study of OCA remains the only readout from a Phase 3 trial to have shown positive results in the disease.
   
   People at Intercept are passionate about patients. You'll see their photos lining our walls and hear their stories in town halls. We're equally passionate about our team and ensuring each member reaches their potential. We brave new challenges together. That's how we find better ways to get things done and break down barriers. It's also how we make it fun to work here.
   
   At Intercept, we foster an environment that celebrates creativity, collaboration, and mutual respect. We never hesitate to lean on our teammates and work together. Our relatively small size means you partner with accessible leaders who know you by name. This brings accountability and growth, which all add up to more opportunities to learn something new every day. A strong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion is engrained in both our culture and our business. For self-motivated leaders who are ready to make a di fference in the lives of patients, Intercept is a great place to be.
   
   POSITION SUMMARY:
   
   As Intercept continues to build its position as the leader in progressive non-viral liver disease, we are seeking a Bioanalytical Lab Senior Scientist. This position functions in a matrix structure to provide technical guidance to internal and external staff. This position supports analytical activities for Intercept drug candidates from early drug development programs to commercial products.
   
   The Bioanalytical Lab Senior Scientist monitors industry practices and regulatory standards, implementing state of the art method development and validation approaches. This role assists in the set-up and testing at external central labs.
   
   CORE ACCOUNTABILITIES:
   
   The successful candidate must be able to perform each of the following satisfactorily, with or without an accommodation:
   
   + Provide analytical expertise for internal and external collaborators as the bioanalytical representative at study team meetings and liaison with external labs.
   
   + Manage the activities of external research laboratories related to study timelines, priorities and method development and validation approaches.
   
   + Establish and negotiate Statements of Work for new studies or amendments, partners with finance on related budgets and invoicing.
   
   + Review external laboratory data, monitor assay performance, and provide troubleshooting guidance.
   
   + Manage 3rd party laboratory sample management and reconciliation to ensure only consented samples are tested.
   
   + Review technical documents including analytical method development reports, method validation protocols and reports and standard operating procedures in compliance with regulatory requirements.
   
   + Provide input to Central Laboratory Worksheets for new studies and/or amendments.
   
   + Perform all duties in keeping with Company's core values, policies, and applicable regulations.
   
   + Other accountabilities as assigned.
   
   + Understand the legal and compliance environment and drive collaboration with the Legal and Compliance team
   
   + Drive the spirit of "ONE Team" across all functions by supporting a team approach to focus on our patients as our top priority
   
   Required Experience:
   
   QUALIFICATIONS:
   
   + Bachelor of Science degree (biology or chemistry preferred) with 6 years of related pharmaceutical/biotech experience, or Graduate Degree with 4 years of related pharmaceutical/biotech experience
   
   + GLP and GCP experience required
   
   + Experience in multiple therapeutic areas, with prior experience in hepatology, gastrointestinal or related field, preferred
   
   + Ability to manage multiple projects under strict timelines
   
   REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:
   
   + Advanced applied knowledge of the following:
   
   + FDA and ICH rules, regulations and guidelines governing conduct of clinical studies, regulatory documents
   
   + Demonstrated analytical skills and extremely high attention to detail
   
   + Demonstrated organizational skills
   
   + Advanced functional experience in the following computer applications: Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Prism
   
   + Strong verbal and/or written communications skills
   
   + Learning agility and 'scalability' to take on increasing responsibility as Intercept grows
   
   + Consistent demonstration and embodiment of our company core values: Come Together, Be Yourself, Own The Solution, Embrace The Challenge, and Keep Exploring
   
   + Ability to have fun and thrive in a growing, diverse, and inclusive work environment
   
   #LI-JJ1
   
   #LI-Remote
   
   Keyword: Senior Scientist, Bioanalytical Labs
   
   From: Intercept Pharmaceuticals

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right senior laboratory scientist for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with senior laboratory scientists they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit senior laboratory scientists who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting senior laboratory scientists requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   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 senior laboratory scientist

   Once you've decided on a perfect senior laboratory scientist candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your 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.

   To prepare for the new senior laboratory scientist first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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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