Clinical Lead Jobs in Tennessee
Clinical Lead jobs in Tennessee are in strong demand, concentrated in health system administration, behavioral health, home health, and outpatient care, with openings at every level from newly promoted team lead through senior clinical director. The largest hiring activity is in Nashville, Memphis, and Knoxville, where anchor employers such as HCA Healthcare, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and Tennova Healthcare consistently staff clinical lead roles across multiple service lines. Behavioral health leadership, care coordination, and population health management are among the most sought-after specializations across the state. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 13+ Clinical Lead jobs
Job Description
The CRU Laboratory supports more than 100 research protocols and performs protocol-specific specimen processing and management, including Ficoll separation when required, specimen deidentification, data entry and specimen tracking in the Laboratory Data Management System (LDMS), preparation of specimen collection kits, temporary specimen storage, and the packaging, shipping, and tracking of research specimens.
The Lead Clinical Laboratory Technician provides hands-on laboratory support while helping coordinate daily workflow, promote consistent processes, and serve as a resource for the CRU Laboratory team. The position will also collaborate closely with Pathology’s Laboratory Support and Biorepository teams to support coordinated specimen management and research operations across the department.
Job Responsibilities:
- Collaborate with internal/external teams to perform and oversee laboratory support operations.
- Independently perform and oversees complex lab tasks within own area (e.g., pipette calibration and water quality; accurate collection, processing, storage, tracking and shipping of tests; specimen accessioning, evaluation, processing, and distribution).
- Troubleshoot complex problems related to lab support within area and assist in preventive maintenance procedures.
- Oversee and monitor inventory maintenance including receipt and storage of supplies.
- Perform and guide quality control and compliance activities within lab (e.g., documentation, lab maintenance, calibration).
- Train and guide team members around complex lab services activities and address any escalations/deviations.
- Perform other duties as assigned to meet the goals and objectives of the department and institution.
- Maintain regular and predictable attendance.
- Consistently meet job expectations, adhere to policies, and deliver quality work while applying. St. Jude values and principles. Managers evaluate employee performance throughout the year—specifically through the spring and fall Check In milestones and the Annual Performance Review. All employees are encouraged to actively participate in these performance management processes.
Minimum Education and/or Training:
- High School Diploma required.
- Associate's degree preferred.
Minimum Experience:
- 8+ years of experience in a clinical lab required.
- Experience Exception: Associate's degree with 6+ years of experience.
- Substantial experience in relevant complex laboratory procedures and principles preferred (e.g. equipment maintenance, calibration, and troubleshooting; materials prep and planning; specimen processing and management).
- Significant experience working with laboratory personnel, understanding and supporting complex lab needs preferred.
- Experience in assessing and addressing crisis/emergency lab situations through appropriate assistance preferred.
- Experience in training team members around lab procedures, safety, and compliance preferred.
- Proven performance in earlier role/ comparable role.
Licensure, Registration and/or Certification Required by Law:
- Tennessee licensure as Medical Laboratory Technician-General preferred
Licensure, Registration and/or Certification Required by SJCRH Only:
- Current Hazardous Goods Shipping (HAZGOODS) required within 3 months of joining.
Compensation
In recognition of certain U.S. state and municipal pay transparency laws, St. Jude is including a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. This is an estimate offered in good faith and a specific salary offer takes into account factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the salary range and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current salary range is $24.00 - $42.00 per hour for the role of Lead-Clinical Lab Technician-Pathology Clinical Research Unit Lab.Explore our exceptional benefits!
We are committed to a human-centered hiring experience. Technology may support portions of our process, but recruiting decisions involve human review and engagement. Learn more about our approach to AI.
St. Jude is an Equal Opportunity Employer
No Search Firms
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. Please do not call or email. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee or other representative at St. Jude via email, the internet or in any form and/or method without a valid written search agreement in place and approved by HR will result in no fee being paid in the event the candidate is hired by St. Jude.
Job Description
The CRU Laboratory supports more than 100 research protocols and performs protocol-specific specimen processing and management, including Ficoll separation when required, specimen deidentification, data entry and specimen tracking in the Laboratory Data Management System (LDMS), preparation of specimen collection kits, temporary specimen storage, and the packaging, shipping, and tracking of research specimens.
The Lead Clinical Laboratory Technician provides hands-on laboratory support while helping coordinate daily workflow, promote consistent processes, and serve as a resource for the CRU Laboratory team. The position will also collaborate closely with Pathology’s Laboratory Support and Biorepository teams to support coordinated specimen management and research operations across the department.
Job Responsibilities:
- Collaborate with internal/external teams to perform and oversee laboratory support operations.
- Independently perform and oversees complex lab tasks within own area (e.g., pipette calibration and water quality; accurate collection, processing, storage, tracking and shipping of tests; specimen accessioning, evaluation, processing, and distribution).
- Troubleshoot complex problems related to lab support within area and assist in preventive maintenance procedures.
- Oversee and monitor inventory maintenance including receipt and storage of supplies.
- Perform and guide quality control and compliance activities within lab (e.g., documentation, lab maintenance, calibration).
- Train and guide team members around complex lab services activities and address any escalations/deviations.
- Perform other duties as assigned to meet the goals and objectives of the department and institution.
- Maintain regular and predictable attendance.
- Consistently meet job expectations, adhere to policies, and deliver quality work while applying. St. Jude values and principles. Managers evaluate employee performance throughout the year—specifically through the spring and fall Check In milestones and the Annual Performance Review. All employees are encouraged to actively participate in these performance management processes.
Minimum Education and/or Training:
- High School Diploma required.
- Associate's degree preferred.
Minimum Experience:
- 8+ years of experience in a clinical lab required.
- Experience Exception: Associate's degree with 6+ years of experience.
- Substantial experience in relevant complex laboratory procedures and principles preferred (e.g. equipment maintenance, calibration, and troubleshooting; materials prep and planning; specimen processing and management).
- Significant experience working with laboratory personnel, understanding and supporting complex lab needs preferred.
- Experience in assessing and addressing crisis/emergency lab situations through appropriate assistance preferred.
- Experience in training team members around lab procedures, safety, and compliance preferred.
- Proven performance in earlier role/ comparable role.
Licensure, Registration and/or Certification Required by Law:
- Tennessee licensure as Medical Laboratory Technician-General preferred
Licensure, Registration and/or Certification Required by SJCRH Only:
- Current Hazardous Goods Shipping (HAZGOODS) required within 3 months of joining.
Compensation
In recognition of certain U.S. state and municipal pay transparency laws, St. Jude is including a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. This is an estimate offered in good faith and a specific salary offer takes into account factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the salary range and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current salary range is $24.00 - $42.00 per hour for the role of Lead-Clinical Lab Technician-Pathology Clinical Research Unit Lab.Explore our exceptional benefits!
We are committed to a human-centered hiring experience. Technology may support portions of our process, but recruiting decisions involve human review and engagement. Learn more about our approach to AI.
St. Jude is an Equal Opportunity Employer
No Search Firms
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. Please do not call or email. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee or other representative at St. Jude via email, the internet or in any form and/or method without a valid written search agreement in place and approved by HR will result in no fee being paid in the event the candidate is hired by St. Jude.
See All 13 Clinical Lead Jobs in Tennessee
Find roles in Tennessee that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Clinical Lead JobsClinical Lead Jobs by City in Tennessee
Where Tennessee roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Clinical Lead Job Market in Tennessee
A snapshot from current Tennessee openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
What Tennessee Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in clinical lead jobs across Tennessee.
- Active Tennessee licensure in a relevant clinical discipline such as RN, LPC, or LCSW
- Bachelor's degree or higher in nursing, social work, psychology, or a related clinical field
- Minimum two to three years of direct patient care or clinical practice experience
- Demonstrated experience supervising, mentoring, or leading clinical staff teams
- Proficiency with electronic health record systems such as Epic or Meditech
- Strong knowledge of Joint Commission standards and Tennessee Department of Health regulations
Clinical Lead Jobs in Tennessee: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a clinical lead in Tennessee?
The path depends on your clinical background, but most clinical leads in Tennessee hold an active state license from the Tennessee Department of Health, the Tennessee Board of Nursing, or the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, depending on their discipline. Employers typically expect a bachelor's degree at minimum and several years of frontline clinical experience before considering candidates for lead roles. Earning a specialty certification and completing any required continuing education through your Tennessee licensing board strengthens your candidacy considerably.
Which companies hire clinical leads in Tennessee?
Employers hiring clinical leads in Tennessee right now include Ascension, CHS Corporate, and AWAREMED, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. Tennessee's large integrated health systems and behavioral health networks drive consistent demand, particularly for leads who can manage cross-functional teams across multiple clinic sites.
Which Tennessee cities have the most clinical lead jobs?
Memphis, Franklin, and Nashville have the most clinical lead openings in Tennessee right now. Nashville dominates because it serves as the headquarters for several of the country's largest for-profit hospital systems, while Memphis anchors major academic medical and regional safety-net hiring, and Knoxville reflects sustained growth in outpatient and behavioral health networks serving East Tennessee's expanding population.
Are there remote clinical lead jobs in Tennessee?
Yes, but they're rare. Clinical lead roles are largely on-site by nature because they involve direct staff oversight, patient rounding, and hands-on quality management. About 0% of clinical lead openings tied to Tennessee are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, and those positions tend to sit in care management, utilization review, or telehealth program leadership rather than in facility-based clinical operations.
How can I get hired as a clinical lead in Tennessee with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry point is applying for a charge nurse, senior clinician, or team coordinator role at a large Tennessee health system, then building toward a lead title from within. HCA Healthcare and Vanderbilt University Medical Center both run structured new-graduate and clinical ladder programs in Tennessee that create a progression path. Earning your Tennessee state license early, completing a specialty certification, and volunteering for preceptor or committee work signals readiness before you have a formal lead title on your resume.
Where can I find and apply to clinical lead jobs in Tennessee?
You can find and apply to clinical lead jobs in Tennessee on Migrate Mate, which lists current Tennessee openings updated regularly. Search by city, specialty, or experience level to narrow the results to roles that match your background, then apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 13 Clinical Lead Jobs in Tennessee
Find roles in Tennessee that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Clinical Lead Jobs