Laboratory Director Jobs

Laboratory Director jobs are open across clinical, research, pharmaceutical, and public health settings, at every level from newly promoted manager to senior director, with specializations in clinical laboratory science, research operations, and quality assurance. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles167+
Top stateCalifornia
Top employerKaiser Permanente
Top citySan Francisco, CA
Work type74% On-site
Top industryHealthcare

Showing 5 of 167+ Laboratory Director jobs

Laboratory Services Director
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New 11h ago
Laboratory Services Director
Odessa Memorial Healthcare Center
Odessa, Washington
Clinical Support
Healthcare Administration
Human Resources
Medical Laboratory Scientist Certification

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Director of Laboratory Service
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New 14h ago
Director of Laboratory Service
Appalachian Regional Healthcare
Barbourville, Kentucky
Clinical Support
Healthcare Administration
Human Resources
Bachelor's degree in biological science
5,001-10,000

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Director Laboratory Services - Full Time - Exempt - FPH
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New 14h ago
Director Laboratory Services - Full Time - Exempt - FPH
Emanate Health
Glendora, California
Biotech & Life Sciences
Clinical Support
Laboratory Science
$72.6 - $106.73/hr
Bachelor's degree in biological science
1,001-5,000

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Assistant Director, Clinical Laboratory
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New 16h ago
Assistant Director, Clinical Laboratory
County of Riverside
Moreno Valley, California
Business Operations
Program Management
Project Management
$131k.58 - $195k.83/yr
Bachelor's degree in biological science
10,000+

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Instructor or Assistant Professor / Program Director, Medical Laboratory Technology
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New 20h ago
Instructor or Assistant Professor / Program Director, Medical Laboratory Technology
DEL MAR COLLEGE
Corpus Christi, Texas
Higher Education
Research & Academia
Teaching & Instruction
Medical Laboratory Scientist Certification
1,001-5,000

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Laboratory Director Job Market

Who's Hiring

Kaiser Permanente7 open roles
Thermo Fisher Scientific6 open roles
Natera4 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Healthcare & Medical Services10
  • Education4
  • Science & Research2
  • Technology & Software1

What Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in laboratory director jobs.

  • Advanced degree in a clinical laboratory science, medical science, or related biomedical field
  • Current licensure as a laboratory director or clinical laboratory scientist as required by state
  • Demonstrated experience managing CLIA-certified or CAP-accredited laboratory operations
  • Proficiency with laboratory information systems and quality management software
  • Experience leading teams of laboratory scientists, technologists, and support staff
  • Knowledge of regulatory compliance requirements including OSHA, CAP, and CMS standards

Tips for Your Laboratory Director Job Search

Tailor your resume to accreditation

Laboratory directors are expected to maintain CAP, CLIA, or ISO accreditation standards. Your resume should explicitly name which accreditation programs you've overseen, including audit outcomes and corrective actions you led, not just list the certifications your lab held.

Highlight your quality management results

Hiring panels for laboratory director roles want to see specific quality improvements you drove. Document reductions in turnaround time, error rates, or failed proficiency testing rounds you resolved. Vague claims about improving lab efficiency won't move you past the initial screening.

Apply early to roles that fit

Migrate Mate lists laboratory director openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.

Target postings by regulatory scope

Some laboratory director roles cover a single specialty, while others require oversight of multiple departments under one CLIA certificate. Filter your search by the regulatory complexity you're qualified to manage so you don't waste time on roles outside your licensure scope.

Prepare a fiscal stewardship narrative

Many laboratory director interviews include a scenario round on budget management and capital equipment decisions. Prepare a concise account of a capital request you built, defended, or renegotiated, since panel members often include CFOs or operations VPs who weigh financial judgment heavily.

Follow up after your technical interview

Laboratory director searches often involve a second interview with the clinical or scientific leadership team after an initial HR screen. Send a targeted follow-up note to each panelist that references a specific technical point from your conversation, which signals genuine engagement with their lab's challenges.

Laboratory Director Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions

Which companies are hiring the most laboratory directors?

Kaiser Permanente, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and Natera are hiring the most laboratory directors right now, with openings concentrated in California, Florida, and Illinois, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Health systems and reference laboratories tend to post the highest volume of director-level openings at any given time.

How many laboratory director jobs are remote?

About 26% of laboratory director openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting that most roles require on-site oversight of personnel and instrumentation. The sub-areas most compatible with remote work include laboratory compliance consulting, quality systems management, and roles within laboratory software or diagnostics companies where site presence is minimal.

How do you become a laboratory director?

Start with an advanced degree in clinical laboratory science, pathology, or a related biomedical field, then obtain the state licensure your target market requires. Accumulate supervisory experience as a section supervisor or laboratory manager, demonstrate proficiency in quality management and regulatory compliance, and pursue board certification through ASCP or a comparable credentialing body before applying to director-level roles.

Can you get hired as a laboratory director with limited leadership experience?

Some smaller independent laboratories and specialty clinics hire laboratory directors who are strong technically but newer to formal management, particularly in states where the director role is defined by CLIA qualifications rather than administrative scope. Strengthening your candidacy means documenting any supervisory duties you've held informally, leading a quality improvement project, and earning relevant certification before applying.

What does the laboratory director interview process look like?

Most laboratory director searches begin with an HR phone screen focused on credentials and regulatory background, followed by a technical panel interview with pathologists, lab managers, or the CMO. Finalists are typically asked to present a case study or strategic plan for a hypothetical lab challenge. References from prior medical or scientific leadership are almost always verified before an offer is extended.

Where can I find and apply to laboratory director jobs?

You can find and apply to laboratory director jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States in one place. Find roles that match your credentials and specialty, then apply directly to each listing that fits.

See All 167+ Laboratory Director Jobs

Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Laboratory Director Jobs