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Medical Lab Director Jobs in Tennessee (NOW HIRING)

Lab Director

Clarksville, TN · On-site

$92K - $120K/yr

Regional Lab Facility Admin Job Summary: The Director, Laboratory oversees a wide variety of ... Medical Laboratory Scientist - American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Work Experience:

Medical Lab TechnicianTriStar Centennial Medical Center Benefits TriStar Centennial Medical Center ... Troubleshoots all instruments as directed by SectionCoordinator. * Participates in hospital ...

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Showing results 1-20

Medical Lab Director information

See Tennessee salary details

$10K

$105.7K

$126.6K

How much do medical lab director jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 1, 2026, the average yearly pay for medical lab director in Tennessee is $105,702.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $83,500.00 and $123,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a medical lab director?

Medical Lab Directors are healthcare professionals responsible for overseeing the operations of medical laboratories. They ensure that lab tests are performed accurately and efficiently, maintain compliance with regulations, and manage laboratory staff. Additionally, they collaborate with physicians and hospital administrators to support patient care, develop laboratory policies, and implement new technologies. Their leadership is crucial for the quality and safety of diagnostic testing.

What are some common challenges medical lab directors face in managing laboratory operations?

Medical Lab Directors often encounter challenges such as maintaining regulatory compliance, ensuring quality control, and adapting to rapidly evolving technology. Balancing administrative duties with hands-on leadership, they must manage budgets, staffing, and workflow efficiency while also fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Effective communication with physicians, hospital administration, and lab staff is crucial for timely and accurate diagnostic services, making multitasking and problem-solving essential skills in this role.

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

To thrive as a Medical Lab Director, you need advanced knowledge of laboratory science, leadership experience, and typically a master's or doctoral degree in a related field, along with relevant certification such as ASCP or CLIA qualifications. Familiarity with laboratory information systems (LIS), quality management programs, and regulatory compliance tools is crucial. Outstanding communication, decision-making, and organizational skills help in leading teams and collaborating with healthcare professionals. These skills ensure the accuracy, safety, and efficiency of laboratory operations, directly impacting patient care and regulatory compliance.

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

AspectMedical Lab DirectorMedical Laboratory Scientist
CredentialsMedical degree, certification as a Medical Laboratory Director (e.g., ASCP, AMT)Bachelor's or master's degree in medical laboratory science, certification (e.g., ASCP)
Work EnvironmentOversees entire laboratory operations, manages staff, ensures compliancePerforms laboratory testing, analyzes samples, reports results
Employer & IndustryHospitals, clinics, reference labs, public health labsHospitals, diagnostic labs, research facilities

The Medical Lab Director is responsible for managing the entire laboratory, including staff and compliance, while the Medical Laboratory Scientist focuses on performing tests and analyzing samples. Both roles require relevant certifications and work in similar healthcare environments, but their responsibilities differ significantly.

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

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

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

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

Infographic showing various Medical Lab Director job openings in Tennessee as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 77% Full Time, 15% Part Time, and 7% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 12% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $105,702 per year, or $50.8 per hour.

Lab Director

Clarksville, TN • On-site


Vanderbilt Health
Health Care and Social Assistance • 10K+ employees

7.5

Company rating: 7.5 out of 10

Based on 257 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

233rd of 898 rated healthcare providers

People enjoy working here

Good employer

Recommended by students


$92K - $120K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Retirement

This job post has expired 1 day ago. Applications are no longer accepted.


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).

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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.



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