A laboratory manager oversees personnel, safety protocols, equipment maintenance, and supply ordering in a medical or scientific laboratory. A four-year degree is required, and a master’s degree may be preferred. Job listings can be found at individual facilities, in trade publications, and through recruiters.
A laboratory manager oversees operations in a medical or scientific laboratory to ensure safety and quality. The manager can set policies, hire and fire employees, maintain equipment, and participate in other activities to keep the facility running smoothly. Job listings for laboratory managers can be found at individual facilities, in trade publications and through recruiters. Generally, at least a four-year degree is required, and a master’s degree may be preferred by some companies.
One aspect of the laboratory manager’s job may involve handling personnel. People can be hired, trained, and fired by the manager, who also sets schedules and provides vacations and vacations. Facility conflicts can be resolved by that team member first and only escalated to other employees if they are difficult to resolve. In addition to coordinating laboratory personnel, managers also work with people who use the laboratory, such as researchers, clinicians, and students, to ensure that they know how to use the equipment properly.
Safety protocols can be established by the laboratory manager, who is also responsible for providing safety information and periodically auditing the laboratory. These procedures protect workers on the premises and also act as quality controls. For example, workers in a medical testing laboratory take precautions to avoid cross-contamination or loss of samples. If there is forensic evidence on the premises, the lab manager also oversees chain of custody protocols to ensure the evidence is usable in court.
Periodic testing, calibration, maintenance and replacement of equipment may also be the responsibility of the laboratory manager. This can include not only scientific equipment, but also desks, chairs, file cabinets and computer systems. If a repair person or technician needs to be called in, the lab manager can request quotes and determine which company to use for the service. Inspectors and regulatory authorities may request proof of equipment maintenance and related activities, making record keeping important.
Ordering supplies can also be part of the job, along with budgeting. People who need specific supplies request them through the lab manager or an assistant. For expensive or complex orders, approval may be required, which may involve discussion with a researcher or technician to determine the specific need. In some cases, it may be possible to use a different font or approach an issue differently to save money, for example.
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