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Director Lab Operations Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

Lab/Project Manager

Chicago, IL · On-site

$55K - $65K/yr

The lab is directed by Professor Melissa Baese-Berk. Job Summary Reporting to Professor Melissa ... Coordinates day-to-day lab operations, including participant recruitment, scheduling, and data ...

This leadership roles is responsible for overseeing all aspects of lab operations, including the supervision of both direct and indirect laboratory team members. The role involves a focus on ...

Lab Supervisor

Hillview, IL · On-site

$66.52 - $88.14/hr

Under the direction of the Laboratory Directors and the Laboratory Manager, investigates, writes ... Plans the daily lab operations, evaluates work performed, assists in troubleshooting and provides ...

Showing results 21-40

Director Lab Operations information

What does a director of lab operations do?

A Director of Lab Operations oversees the daily management and strategic direction of laboratory facilities. Their responsibilities include supervising lab staff, ensuring compliance with safety and regulatory standards, managing budgets, and optimizing workflow efficiency. They also play a key role in implementing new technologies, maintaining equipment, and collaborating with other departments to support research or clinical goals. This position typically requires strong leadership skills and experience in scientific or clinical laboratory environments.

What are some of the biggest challenges a director of lab operations might face in managing multidisciplinary teams?

A Director of Lab Operations often oversees teams with diverse scientific backgrounds and expertise, which can present challenges in ensuring effective communication and collaboration. Balancing competing priorities, such as meeting research goals while maintaining compliance with safety and quality standards, is also common. Additionally, adapting to rapidly changing technologies and regulatory requirements requires strong leadership and the ability to foster ongoing professional development within the team. Building a cohesive culture and aligning team efforts with broader organizational objectives are key to success in this role.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a director of lab operations, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Director of Lab Operations, you need a robust background in laboratory science, operational management experience, and typically a relevant advanced degree such as a PhD or MSc. Familiarity with laboratory information management systems (LIMS), regulatory compliance standards (e.g., CLIA, CAP), and quality control protocols is essential. Strong leadership, problem-solving, and communication skills help drive team performance and foster a culture of safety and efficiency. These competencies are crucial for ensuring high-quality results, regulatory compliance, and effective lab operations.

What is the difference between Director Lab Operations vs Laboratory Manager?

AspectDirector Lab OperationsLaboratory Manager
CredentialsTypically requires a bachelor's degree in a science or related field, often with advanced degrees and leadership experienceUsually requires a bachelor's degree in a science or related field, with some roles preferring a master's
Work EnvironmentOversees multiple labs or departments, strategic planning, and high-level operationsManages daily lab activities, staff, and workflow within a specific lab or department
Employer & Industry UsageCommon in large biotech, pharmaceutical, and research organizationsFound in hospitals, clinical labs, and smaller research facilities

The main difference is that the Director Lab Operations focuses on strategic oversight and high-level management across multiple labs, while the Laboratory Manager handles daily operations and staff within a specific lab. Both roles require strong scientific knowledge, but the director position emphasizes leadership and planning.

What are the most commonly searched types of Lab Operations jobs in Illinois?

The most popular types of Lab Operations jobs in Illinois are:

What cities in Illinois are hiring for Director Lab Operations jobs?

Cities in Illinois with the most Director Lab Operations job openings:

$55K - $65K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Posted 16 days ago


University Of Chicago rating

8.1

Company rating: 8.1 out of 10

Based on 47 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

165th of 620 rated colleges and universities


Job description

Department
AHD Staff: Linguistics Administration 2
About the Department
The Speech Perception and Production Lab asks how people perceive and produce speech, with a particular focus on communication across diverse language backgrounds. We conduct laboratory phonology and psycholinguistic experiments looking at speech perception and production and acoustic-phonetic analyses of speech.
The lab is directed by Professor Melissa Baese-Berk.
Job Summary
Reporting to Professor Melissa Baese-Berk, Department of Linguistics, the Lab/Project Manager provides day-to-day oversight, coordination, and communications across the Speech Perception and Production Lab. This position supports the broader research mission of the lab across multiple ongoing projects in speech perception, spoken language processing, and language learning. The Lab/Project Manager will coordinate research activities across the lab, including participant recruitment and scheduling, experiment design and implementation, and data collection and analysis. The individual in this position will supervise research assistants and facilitate communication across lab members, collaborators, and external partners.
Responsibilities
  • Coordinates day-to-day lab operations, including participant recruitment, scheduling, and data collection across multiple ongoing projects.
  • Supports experiment design and implementation across lab projects.
  • Manages, processes, and analyzes research data; assists with data pipelines and quality control.
  • Supports preparation of research outputs and communications, including peer-reviewed manuscripts and conference presentations. General audience science communication.
  • Supervises and coordinates research assistants. Facilitates communication across lab members and collaborators.
  • Assists with IRB protocol submissions, grant reporting, and research compliance as needed.
  • Manages lab resources, equipment, and administrative needs.
  • Uses moderate/solid understanding and experience to administer the delivery of services to program participants and/or beneficiaries.
  • Sets and communicates program priorities and performance standards and assesses operations using these criteria. Plans and conducts quality assurance reviews and recommends changes as appropriate.
  • Analyzes program budgets and recommends or makes budgetary recommendations.
  • Has moderate/high levels of interactions with faculty, researchers and staff for committee work or information.
  • Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications
Education:
Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
Work Experience:
Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.
Certifications:
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Application Documents
  • Resume/CV (required)
  • References Contact Information (required)(3)

The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.
When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.
Job Family
Administration & Management
Role Impact
Individual Contributor
Scheduled Weekly Hours
37.5
Drug Test Required
No
Health Screen Required
No
Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
No
Pay Rate Type
Salary
FLSA Status
Exempt
Pay Range
$55,000.00 - $65,000.00
The included pay rate or range represents the University's good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.
Benefits Eligible
Yes
The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.
Posting Statement
The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.
Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.
All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.
The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.

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