A laboratory director oversees operations and personnel in a laboratory, requiring a doctorate and hands-on experience. They manage budgets, research initiatives, policies, and compliance with industry and government standards. Certification is available and can improve employability.
A laboratory director is a member of a laboratory staff responsible for overseeing operations in the laboratory and any related facilities. People in this position tend to have a great deal of training and experience, especially if they are supervising laboratories that engage in complex tasks, new research, or work with hazardous substances. A well-qualified laboratory director can usually find work anywhere, and job prospects in this field are very good in many regions of the world.
To become a laboratory director, the candidate generally must be a doctor or have a doctorate, depending on the type of laboratory. In addition to fulfilling these educational requirements, laboratory directors are also required to have hands-on laboratory experience, with laboratories generally preferring at least three years of experience. Many laboratory directors are selected from a laboratory’s existing staff when a previous laboratory director leaves office, as senior personnel have experience and familiarity with the laboratory.
The laboratory director is responsible for supervising the personnel in the laboratory, hiring appropriate people to fill positions, conducting regular performance reviews, scheduling laboratory staff, and confirming that team members are fully qualified and competent. Depending on the nature of the work the lab does, the lab director may also need to run background checks on employees to conform to government standards designed to keep labs safe.
Laboratory directors also oversee budget and research initiatives in a laboratory. While they may encourage those in the laboratory to seek grants and assistance and to develop research projects, they must also balance the needs of the laboratory itself, which may require careful planning of equipment and personnel. Laboratory directors also establish policies in the laboratory, ensure that employees are informed of laboratory policies, and confirm that policies are being followed.
The clinical laboratory director also deals with issues such as patient confidentiality, ethics in clinical trials, and meeting the needs of people who need the laboratory’s services. Laboratory directors are also concerned with laboratory quality control, securing laboratory facilities, and keeping the laboratory current with industry and government standards. Failure to comply with government mandates could result in the laboratory being declassified, meaning it will not be able to handle as many materials.
Several professional organizations offer laboratory director certification for people in this field. For certification, individuals demonstrate that they have met educational requirements and pass the competency exam. Certification can make someone more employable as it demonstrates a commitment to excellence, high standards of performance and maintenance in the field.
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