1

Laboratory Director Jobs in Iowa (NOW HIRING)

JOB SUMMARY Reporting to the Laboratory Director, the Microbiology Supervisor has technical oversight and responsibility of all analytical data/reports generated by the laboratory, which includes raw ...

Showing results 21-40

Laboratory Director information

See Iowa salary details

$42.3K

$118.4K

$174.7K

How much do laboratory director jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 3, 2026, the average yearly pay for laboratory director in Iowa is $118,428.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $99,600.00 and $130,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a laboratory director?

A Laboratory Director is a senior professional responsible for overseeing the operations, quality control, and regulatory compliance of a laboratory. They ensure that all laboratory procedures adhere to industry standards and legal requirements, manage staff, and develop and implement policies for efficient workflow. Laboratory Directors often have advanced degrees in laboratory science or a related field and possess extensive experience in laboratory management. Their leadership is crucial in maintaining the accuracy, reliability, and safety of laboratory results.

What does a laboratory director do?

As a laboratory director, you oversee all operations within a medical lab. Your responsibilities include completing administrative duties, managing personnel, supervising procedures, checking supplies, maintaining the equipment, and setting up the lab. Depending on your qualifications and skills, you may also assist with planning experiments and interpreting test results. It is your responsibility to ensure all staff activities and tests meet safety standards and regulations and produce quality results. A laboratory director works closely with the laboratory manager and communicates with other departments, such as human resources and clinical staff, so you need strong communication skills.

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

To thrive as a Laboratory Director, you need advanced knowledge in laboratory science, strong management abilities, and typically a relevant advanced degree with significant laboratory experience. Familiarity with laboratory information management systems (LIMS), quality control protocols, and certifications such as CLIA or CAP accreditation are often required. Leadership, problem-solving, and effective communication are standout soft skills for guiding teams and maintaining regulatory compliance. These skills and qualities are crucial for ensuring reliable laboratory operations, staff performance, and adherence to industry standards.

What are some common challenges faced by laboratory directors, and how can they be managed effectively?

Laboratory Directors often face challenges such as maintaining regulatory compliance, managing diverse teams, and ensuring the accuracy and timeliness of test results. Balancing administrative responsibilities with scientific oversight can be demanding, especially in high-volume or specialized labs. Effective management involves staying updated with changing regulations, fostering clear communication among staff, and implementing robust quality control processes. Building a culture of continuous improvement and professional development also helps address these challenges proactively.

What is the difference between Laboratory Director vs Laboratory Supervisor?

AspectLaboratory DirectorLaboratory Supervisor
CredentialsTypically requires a relevant advanced degree (e.g., PhD, MD) and certificationUsually requires a bachelor's or master's degree in a related field
Work EnvironmentOversees multiple labs or departments, strategic planningManages daily operations within a specific lab
ResponsibilitiesSets policies, ensures compliance, manages budgetsSupervises staff, ensures quality control, handles workflow

The Laboratory Director holds a higher-level, strategic role overseeing entire laboratories or networks, often requiring advanced credentials. The Laboratory Supervisor focuses on daily operational management within a specific lab. Both roles are essential but differ in scope, responsibilities, and required qualifications.

What are the most commonly searched types of Laboratory jobs in Iowa?

The most popular types of Laboratory jobs in Iowa are:

What are popular job titles related to Laboratory Director jobs in Iowa?

For Laboratory Director jobs in Iowa, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What cities in Iowa are hiring for Laboratory Director jobs?

Cities in Iowa with the most Laboratory Director job openings:

Infographic showing various Laboratory Director job openings in Iowa as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 83% Full Time, 13% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 1% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $118,428 per year, or $56.9 per hour.

Laboratory Supervisor

Microbac

Waterloo, IA โ€ข On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, PTO

Re-posted 11 days ago


Job description

Come join our family!  If you are interested in truly making a difference in a collaborative and rewarding work setting with a culture of respect, accountability, appreciation, and loyalty, Microbac might be the right place for you!

We offer a positive working environment with engaged and supportive leadership teams along with competitive pay and benefits including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability, generous paid time off including vacation, holidays and flextime, a wellness program, referral bonus, tuition reimbursement and more!  

ABOUT MICROBAC

Microbac Laboratories, Inc. is a premier commercial laboratory testing firm that partners with clients nationwide, offering laboratory solutions to life science, food and nutrition, and environmental industries and serves our clients with the utmost expertise and respect for their market requirements, constraints, and challenges. We embody a company-wide commitment to exceptional customer experience, which has been refined by over 50 years of trusted, analytical and measurement experience.

As a privately held third-party testing company, Microbac operates with a commitment to our workforce, safety, quality, and compliance. Our diverse work portfolio includes broad accreditation offerings and tested insights across the environmental, food and nutrition and life science markets.

JOB SUMMARY 

Reporting to the Laboratory Director, the Microbiology Supervisor has technical oversight and responsibility of all analytical data/reports generated by the laboratory, which includes raw data review as needed, review of final analytical reports and working with the Quality team to ensure that all analytical data is regulatory compliant and legally defensible. This position will also serve a lead role in developing and updating new test methods and SOPs, and works with both internal and external stakeholders, helping clients and staff understand testing requirements per regulatory standards for our Environmental Testing division.


Essential Functions:

  • Processing of samples across the various laboratories.
  • Overseeing a team of analysts and technicians throughout daily production to ensure customer expectations are being met.
  • Conduct routine training of all laboratory staff and maintaining training records.
  • Provides technical and scientific guidance to the laboratory and oversees the development and validation of new methods, all non-routine work/projects, data validation, and troubleshooting and solving challenging problems.
  • Ensures the laboratory is fully compliant with all regulatory, accreditation, certification and/or licensing requirements and that the data generated in the laboratory is reliable and of the highest quality.
  • Act as a technical resource for the laboratory.
  • Exercises day to day supervision of laboratory procedures and validation of results.
  • Maintains records and manages all aspects of testing activities.
  • Reviews data for accuracy. Responsible for final analytical data report review.
  • Monitoring standards of performance in QA and QC and monitoring the validity of the analyses performed and data generated in the laboratory to assure reliable data.
  • Uses technical knowledge to address staff and client needs; Works collaboratively with sales and project team members to ensure client needs are satisfied.
  • Defines minimum level of qualifications, experience, and skills necessary for positions within the assigned unit and works with laboratory leadership and staff to ensure adequate training, guidance and direction is provided, ensuring all staff have the demonstrated ability to perform assigned analyses.
  • Ensure proper documentation and staff training records are maintained.
  • Participate in research, acquisition, installation, and validation of new instruments.
  • Participate in process improvement and methods development.
  • Assists the Quality Assurance Officer with QA/QC audits, investigations, and corrective actions.
  • Working with our internal Project Managers, the Technical Director interprets technical results and communicates the capabilities of the laboratory to current and prospective clients.
  • Works collaboratively with QA and Laboratory Leadership to execute or address internal investigations, non-conformances, corrective actions, audit deviations or out of control analyses. 

Minimum Qualifications 

  • Minimum of 2 years of similar laboratory experience.
  • Technical knowledge of analytical techniques in the Environmental and/or Food testing fields.   
  • Demonstrated leadership ability.
  • High level analytical problem-solving skills.
  • Excellent communication skills.
  • Ability to conduct analysis and read, interpret, and report technical data.
  • Ability to respond effectively (written and verbally) to sensitive or highly technical inquiries.
  • Ability to prioritize own and other’s time to meet the demands of the overall workload and client expectations.

 WORKING CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The physical demands and working conditions described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Requirements:  

  • While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools; talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and sit.
  • The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include color vision and depth perception.

Working Conditions:  

  • While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be in a general office environment.
  • The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
  • This job may require travel less than 20%

 

As a privately held third-party testing company, Microbac operates with a commitment to safety, quality, and compliance. Our diverse work portfolio includes broad accreditation offerings and tested insights across the environmental, food and life science markets.

OTHER:

This job description is not an exhaustive list of all duties an employee may be required to perform.  Microbac reserves the right to revise the job description at any time.  

Employment is at-will. Microbac, promotes a drug-free, alcohol-free workplace. Applicants considered for hire must pass a drug test before beginning work. Refusal to submit to testing will result in disqualification of further employment consideration. 

Microbac is an Equal Opportunity Employer – We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.