1

Clinical Lab Director Jobs in Tennessee (NOW HIRING)

Lab Director

Clarksville, TN · On-site

$92K - $120K/yr

The Director, Lab acts as technical supervisor for clinical laboratory functions off site and owned by the hospital and assures the laboratory meets all regulatory requirements. (CAP, AABB, JCAHO ...

New

next page

Showing results 1-20

Clinical Lab Director information

See Tennessee salary details

$14

$58

$79

How much do clinical lab director jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 23, 2026, the average hourly pay for clinical lab director in Tennessee is $58.35, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $53.65 and $67.21 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a clinical lab director do?

A Clinical Lab Director oversees the operations of a clinical laboratory, ensuring that all testing is accurate, efficient, and complies with regulatory standards. They are responsible for managing staff, developing laboratory policies, maintaining quality control, and ensuring patient safety. The director also collaborates with healthcare professionals to interpret laboratory results and implement new technologies or procedures. Their leadership is crucial for maintaining high standards in laboratory services and supporting patient care.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a clinical lab director?

To thrive as a Clinical Lab Director, you need a deep knowledge of laboratory science, strong leadership abilities, and typically a graduate degree in a related field along with appropriate licensure or certification. Familiarity with laboratory information systems (LIS), quality assurance protocols, and regulatory standards such as CLIA and CAP accreditation is essential. Exceptional communication, critical thinking, and organizational skills help in managing teams and ensuring compliance. These competencies are vital for maintaining high-quality laboratory operations, meeting regulatory requirements, and delivering accurate diagnostic results.

How does a clinical lab director typically collaborate with other healthcare professionals to ensure quality patient outcomes?

A Clinical Lab Director plays a crucial role in interdisciplinary collaboration by working closely with physicians, pathologists, and nursing staff to interpret lab results and address any discrepancies. They regularly participate in clinical meetings, provide guidance on test selection, and ensure that laboratory practices meet regulatory standards. Effective communication and teamwork are essential for timely and accurate diagnoses, making the director a key liaison between the laboratory and clinical staff. This collaborative environment helps maintain high-quality patient care and supports continuous improvement within the lab.

What is the difference between Clinical Lab Director vs Medical Laboratory Scientist?

AspectClinical Lab DirectorMedical Laboratory Scientist
CredentialsTypically requires a medical degree, certification (e.g., ASCP), and management experienceRequires a bachelor's degree in medical technology or related field, certification (e.g., ASCP)
Work EnvironmentOversees laboratory operations, manages staff, ensures compliancePerforms laboratory tests, analyzes samples, reports results
Employer & IndustryHospitals, diagnostic labs, healthcare facilitiesHospitals, clinics, diagnostic laboratories

The Clinical Lab Director focuses on managing laboratory operations and ensuring quality standards, while the Medical Laboratory Scientist performs the testing and analysis. Both roles are essential in the laboratory setting but differ in responsibilities and required credentials.

What are the most commonly searched types of Clinical Lab jobs in Tennessee?

The most popular types of Clinical Lab jobs in Tennessee are:

What cities in Tennessee are hiring for Clinical Lab Director jobs?

Cities in Tennessee with the most Clinical Lab Director job openings:

Infographic showing various Clinical Lab Director job openings in Tennessee as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 3% As Needed, 76% Full Time, 14% Part Time, and 7% Contract. Highlights an 94% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $121,361 per year, or $58.3 per hour.

Lab Director

Vanderbilt Health

Clarksville, TN • On-site

$92K - $120K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Retirement

Posted 2 days ago

New


Vanderbilt University Medical Center rating

7.5

Company rating: 7.5 out of 10

Based on 254 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

190th of 893 rated healthcare providers


Job description

Discover Vanderbilt Health:With eight hospitals and over 180 clinics, we are the region's largest comprehensive academic health system. Vanderbilt Health has a long tradition of providing world-class care to the people of the Mid-South, living out our mission of moving medicine forward through preeminent programs in patient care, education and research. Here you'll find a spirit of collaboration and a supportive community where your expertise is valued, your knowledge expanded and your uniquenesscelebrated. We are committed to fostering an environment where talented, compassionate people are united in bringing the most advanced care to our neighbors throughout the region.

Organization:

Regional Lab Facility Admin

Job Summary:

The Director, Laboratory oversees a wide variety of administrative, fiscal, and technical activities to ensure the efficient operation of the clinical laboratory and compliance with corporate policies. The Director, Lab is responsible for the quality control program, quality assurance, and the point of care testing programs within the clinical laboratory. The Director, Lab plans, organizes, directs, controls, and evaluates the work of the clinical laboratory and coordinating it with other areas of the hospital and is responsible for all personnel including hiring, discipline, staff development, evaluation, payroll. The Director, Lab acts as technical supervisor for clinical laboratory functions off site and owned by the hospital and assures the laboratory meets all regulatory requirements. (CAP, AABB, JCAHO, CLIA etc).

.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Completes employee evaluations in a timely manner and assesses staff competencies on an ongoing basis.

  • Demonstrates proficiency at hospital wide and/or department specific computer software and technology.

  • Demonstrates fiscal accountability for department resources and the ability to achieve outcomes within allocated resources.

  • Communicates and supports the hospital's mission, vision, and values as well as departmental goals to all staff.

  • Defines performance objectives and metrics for the department.

  • Demonstrates population appropriate skill sets for all relevant patient populations.

  • Collaborates with other departments to problem solve ongoing issues that impact department/organization goals and/or patient care delivery.

  • Incorporates quality improvement data and/or patient satisfaction data into departmental goals.

  • Ensures accurate and timely reporting of department payroll.

  • Effectively plans the goals, objectives, and work flow of the clinical laboratory to achieve optimal performance.

  • Assures the laboratory is compliant with all regulatory agency (CAP, AABB, Joint Commision, CLIA etc) requirements.

  • Successfully meets department productivity goals by scheduling staff according to workload.

  • Effectively keeps abreast of changes in laboratory medicine and keeps SRMC laboratory current with these changes.

  • Evaluates the capitol equipment needs of the laboratory and makes responsible recommendations for procurement.

  • Assures the laboratory meets corporate compliance policies.

  • Assures laboratory billing issues and errors are corrected in a timely manner.

  • Effectively promotes, encourages, and provides continuing education opportunities for laboratory staff.

  • Represents the department at appropriate meetings and/or committees and actively participates in the facilities' PI program.

  • Works diligently to recruit and retain competent staff in the department and effectively manages staff disciplinary actions.

  • Manages departmental inventory, ordering, storage, and utilization as appropriate

Technical Capabilities:

Allied health is among the fastest growing occupations in healthcare today. This area can be defined as credentialed professionals who perform supportive, diagnostic, and therapeutic health care services to promote health and prevent disease in a variety of settings.

These areas are crucial to Vanderbilt Health's reputation for excellence in these areas that has made us a major center for patient referrals from throughout the Mid-South.

Each year, people throughout Tennessee and the southeast choose Vanderbilt Health for their health care because of our leadership in medical science and our dedication to treating patients with dignity and compassion.

Core Accountabilities:

* Organizational Impact: Directs activities to achieve operational plans with some near term effect on results of the department/area.* Problem Solving/ Complexity of work: Identifies issues, gathers facts to resolve technical and operational problems. * Breadth of Knowledge: Applies in-depth knowledge and skills of a professional/technical area and basic management knowledge to manage the work of the team.* Team Interaction: Leads a complex department with a focus on implementation. Typically executes on a short to medium term strategies.

Core Capabilities :

Supporting Colleagues: - Develops Self and Others: Invests time, energy, and enthusiasm in developing self/others to help improve performance e and gain knowledge in new areas. - Builds and Maintains Relationships: Maintains regular contact with key colleagues and stakeholders using formal and informal opportunities to expand and strengthen relationships. - Communicates Effectively: Recognizes group interactions and modifies one's own communication style to suit different situations and audiences .Delivering Excellent Services : - Serves Others with Compassion: Seeks to understand current and future needs of relevant stakeholders and customizes services to better address them. - Solves Complex Problems: Approaches problems from different angles; Identifies new possibilities to interpret opportunities and develop concrete solutions. - Offers Meaningful Advice and Support: Provides ongoing support and coaching in a constructive manner to increase employees' effectiveness. Ensuring High Quality - Performs Excellent Work: Engages regularly in formal and informal dialogue about quality; directly addresses quality issues promptly. - Ensures Continuous Improvement: Applies various learning experiences by looking beyond symptoms to uncover underlying causes of problems and identifies ways to resolve them. - Fulfills Safety and Regulatory Requirements: Understands all aspects of providing a safe environment and performs routine safety checks to prevent safety hazards from occurring. Managing Resources Effectively: - Demonstrates Accountability: Demonstrates a sense of ownership, focusing on and driving critical issues to closure.- Stewards Organizational Resources: Applies understanding of the departmental work to effectively manage resources for a department/area. - Makes Data Driven Decisions: Demonstrates strong understanding of the information or data to identify and elevate opportunities. Fostering Innovation: - Generates New Ideas: Proactively identifies new ideas/opportunities from multiple sources or methods to improve processes beyond conventional approaches. - Applies Technology: Demonstrates an enthusiasm for learning new technologies, tools, and procedures to address short-term challenges. - Adapts to Change: Views difficult situations and/or problems as opportunities for improvement; actively embraces change instead of emphasizing negative elements.

Position Qualifications:

Responsibilities:

Certifications:

Medical Laboratory Scientist - American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP)

Work Experience:

Relevant Work Experience

Experience Level :

3 years

Education:

Bachelor's

This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact within Vanderbilt Health, supported by a comprehensive benefits package which mayinclude health, disability, retirement and/or wellness offerings to enhance your well-being and professional growth.

Vanderbilt Health is committed tofosteringan environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and is committed to the principles of equal opportunity. EOE/Vets/Disabled.


What Vanderbilt University Medical Center employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom