Laboratory directors work in clinical settings and supervise the activities in the department. These professionals are responsible for maintaining the laboratory as well as completing administrative tasks for the facility. Many scientific companies have a variety of opportunities for laboratory director jobs.
One of the types of laboratory director jobs is a laboratory director at a hospital. This person manages the operations at the hospital laboratory, including ordering diagnostic equipment and recruiting lab technicians. Another duty the director is responsible for is overseeing laboratory testing to ensure pathology tests are performed correctly and the results are timely sent to the patient’s doctor. Most hospitals have their laboratory directors attend departmental meetings and participate in research discussion panels.
Laboratory directors for pharmaceutical companies are another type of the available laboratory director jobs. In this position, the director works with the company to come up with new products and establish safety standards for existing pharmaceutical items. The director also reviews individual medical product reports for side effects, health risks and benefits. Additional responsibilities of this type of manager include communicating with vendors, drafting brochures for pharmacies and writing product label information.
Clinical research facilities also have laboratory director jobs for individuals with laboratory experience. A director of clinical research designs and plans new research trials as well as writes clinical protocol for projects. During the testing, the director also monitors the health of the participants, reviews data and prepare information about the outcome. Other duties this person has consist of making research manuals and developing a department budget.
Most forensic departments have laboratory director jobs in order to monitor the forensic research and analysis in the laboratory. The forensic laboratory director reviews evidence such as DNA samples and prepares reports on the findings to law enforcement agencies. The director also has to ensure the laboratory complies with strict federal and jurisdictional laws regarding the way evidence is handled in crime laboratories. If laboratory staff does not properly adhere to forensic evidence laws, the documentation could be inadmissible in court proceedings. Forensic laboratory directors occasionally have to testify as expert witnesses in criminal matters.
The individuals who hold laboratory director jobs usually have numerous years of experience working in a laboratory. Most companies hire directors who also have advanced degrees in chemistry, biology or other scientific related areas. These professionals must also be knowledgeable about quality assurance standards for laboratories and be able to work with different scientific software programs.
