Clinical Laboratory Manager Job Description (Free Template)
A clinical laboratory manager oversees daily lab operations: staffing, scheduling, quality control, proficiency testing, instrument maintenance, supply ordering, and inspection readiness. They usually report to the CLIA laboratory director. Use the template below for your posting, and decide first whether you need a full-time manager or remote director and compliance oversight.
Job description template
Job title: Clinical Laboratory Manager Reports to: Laboratory Director Location: [City, State] · [Full-time / Part-time]
Summary: Manages the daily operation of a CLIA-certified clinical laboratory, so testing is accurate, timely, and compliant with CLIA, accreditation, and state requirements.
Responsibilities
Supervise and schedule testing personnel; train new staff and document training.
Run competency assessments at the intervals your lab's rules require.
Review quality control daily and document corrective actions.
Enroll in proficiency testing, review results, and investigate failures.
Maintain the procedure manual and keep it available to all staff.
Oversee instrument maintenance, calibration, and calibration verification.
Manage inventory, vendors, and budget.
Prepare for CMS, state, and accreditation inspections and track deficiencies to closure.
Work with the laboratory director on duties the director delegates.
Qualifications (adjust to your lab's complexity and state)
Degree in medical technology, clinical laboratory science, or a related science.
Meets the CLIA qualifications for any regulatory role the position will hold (for example, general supervisor or technical consultant). See CLIA personnel qualifications.
State license where required.
Supervisory experience in a clinical lab.
Compensation: [Range]. See BLS benchmarks on our salary page.
Checklist before you post
☐ Name the CLIA role(s) this person will hold, if any.
☐ Confirm who your laboratory director is and what they'll delegate.
☐ Check state licensure.
☐ Set the pay range against BLS and local data.
☐ Decide whether you need daily onsite management or mostly oversight.
Or outsource the oversight
Many small labs post a manager job when the real gap is director-level oversight and compliance. SLC provides lab director services, technical consultant services, and compliance oversight remotely, with the onsite director visits CLIA requires.
Under 42 CFR 493.1407(c) (moderate complexity) and 493.1445(c) (high complexity), the laboratory director must be onsite at least once every 6 months, with at least 4 months between the two minimum visits, and must stay accessible to the lab for telephone or electronic consultation as needed. The director is responsible for the overall operation and administration of the lab, and stays responsible for every duty they delegate. One person may direct no more than five laboratories (§ 493.1407(d), § 493.1445(d)). Remote oversight does not replace the testing personnel, supervisors, or other people your lab's complexity and state require to be physically present.
Frequently asked questions
What does a clinical laboratory manager do? They run the lab day to day: staff, schedules, QC, proficiency testing, instruments, supplies, and inspection readiness, usually under the CLIA laboratory director.
Is lab manager a CLIA role? No. CLIA defines director, technical consultant, technical supervisor, clinical consultant, general supervisor, and testing personnel. A manager often holds one of those roles too.
What qualifications should a clinical lab manager have? Usually a degree in clinical laboratory science or a related field, a state license where required, and supervisory experience. They must also meet CLIA qualifications for any regulatory role they hold.
What's the difference between a lab manager and a lab director? The director is legally responsible for the lab under CLIA. The manager runs operations. See lab manager vs lab director.
Can I use this template for a physician office lab? Yes. Trim it to your test menu and complexity. Many POLs cover oversight with an outside director and technical consultant instead.
Can SLC write the job description and screen candidates? SLC's confirmed services are lab director, technical consultant, compliance oversight, and billing. Book a consultation to talk through staffing gaps.
Related SLC pages
Talk to SLC about your lab
Tell us what the role was supposed to cover and we'll map it to lab director, technical consultant, and compliance oversight services. Plans from $500.
Sources (verified 2026-10-26): 42 CFR 493.1407 (moderate complexity director) · 42 CFR 493.1445 (high complexity director) · CMS CLIA program
Sound Lab Consultants (SLC) is a nationwide laboratory consulting network with no physical office. Mailing address: PO Box 2135, Chandler, AZ 85244. Email: info@soundlabconsult.com.