Research Lab Assistant Jobs in Fairfield, CT (NOW HIRING)

Job Title: Lab Supervisor – Clinical Research Support Laboratory

Job Description

The Lab Supervisor serves as the day-to-day leader for a large team supporting clinical research laboratory operations in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment. This role oversees laboratory technicians and support staff, manages laboratory resources for the collection and processing of clinical research specimens, and ensures strict adherence to protocol, institutional, and safety requirements. The Lab Supervisor collaborates closely with clinical operations and other stakeholders to support clinical trials, maintain high-quality standards, and continuously improve laboratory processes.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct supervision to research and operational assistants and laboratory technicians, including recruiting, hiring, onboarding, career development, coaching, and performance evaluations.

• Communicate deadlines, priorities, and special circumstances clearly to staff, and manage day-to-day workload distribution to ensure timely completion of all tasks.

• Oversee the daily work schedule for the assigned lab unit, ensuring quality, productivity, efficiency, and adherence to protocol-specific requirements.

• Interpret clinical research protocol instructions and translate them into clear, actionable procedures for staff involved in specimen collection, processing, stabilization, documentation, shipping, and tracking.

• Ensure compliance with all protocol processing and shipping requirements for research biospecimens and enforce adherence to institutional, safety, and regulatory policies within the laboratory.

• Partner with clinical operations staff to participate in feasibility reviews and operational planning of clinical research protocols, providing feedback and recommendations on resourcing, operational needs, limitations, and capabilities.

• Participate in regular meetings with clinical operations teams and, as needed, meet with external study monitors to support clinical trial activities and address operational issues.

• Organize and manage workflow, proactively identify and address operational needs, and effectively manage multiple ongoing priorities in a dynamic environment.

• Investigate complaints or issues arising within the unit, collaborate with relevant stakeholders to resolve problems, and escalate critical information to management to support departmental success.

• Evaluate incoming work requests to determine whether they are appropriate for the unit or should be redirected to another area, ensuring efficient use of resources.

• Assist in long-range planning for unit needs, including staffing, equipment, space, and process improvements.

• Contribute to unit budget planning by providing input on resource requirements, operational needs, and anticipated workload.

• Monitor and generate measurements and metrics of Clinical Research Support Laboratory activities to support performance tracking and continuous improvement.

• Assist in the development, implementation, and refinement of policies and procedures to ensure a safe, efficient, and effective work environment.

• Recommend adjustments to policies and procedures to support quality improvement initiatives and align with organizational objectives and best practices.

• Manage the use of facilities, including office and laboratory space, workstations, equipment, and office supplies, to support efficient operations.

• Ensure that contracted courier services maintain appropriate regulatory and safety documentation and standards related to specimen transport.

• Schedule external couriers for delivery of patient-specific protocol materials to care centers, including arrangements for deliveries outside regularly scheduled courier hours.

• Assist in the maintenance of laboratory equipment and supplies, ensuring that instruments and materials are available and functioning properly to support daily operations.

• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of the regulatory environment governing the collection, storage, and shipment of human samples and ensure that laboratory practices align with current requirements.

• Stay informed about best practices in specimen handling and laboratory safety and participate in local and international professional organizations, as appropriate, to maintain professional expertise.

• Interact with internal stakeholders to define work assignments, clarify requirements, communicate progress on projects, and coordinate activities across departments.

• Interact with external sources, including vendors and subcontractors, to coordinate work necessary to fulfill projects, stay informed about new products and technologies, and arrange for external services as needed.

• Supervise a mixed staff of exempt and non-exempt employees, including unionized personnel, and ensure consistent application of policies and procedures.

• Participate in special projects and operational initiatives to improve laboratory operations, support new research programs, or implement new technologies and processes.

• Complete evaluations of direct report employees in a timely and constructive manner, providing feedback and development plans to support staff growth.

• Ensure that laboratory workflow is organized and appropriately staffed to achieve high-quality, efficient completion of all tasks and services.

• Use sound judgment to initiate actions and solve operational problems, escalating issues when necessary to maintain smooth laboratory operations.

• Perform other related duties as assigned to support the overall mission and effectiveness of the Clinical Research Support Laboratory.

Essential Skills

• Demonstrated management and supervisory experience in a laboratory or clinical research environment, including direct oversight of support staff and laboratory technicians.

• Strong clinical research background with experience supporting clinical trials and handling research biospecimens.

• Proven supervisory skills, including recruiting, hiring, performance management, and workload coordination.

• Professional demeanor with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with research faculty, staff, and administrators.

• Ability to manage workload and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.

• Project management skills, including experience managing personnel and coordinating complex operational activities.

• Experience managing personnel in unionized environments or similar structured settings.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly convey instructions, protocols, and expectations.

• Ability to initiate actions and resolve problems using sound judgment and critical thinking.

• Superior attention to detail and accuracy in all aspects of specimen handling, documentation, and reporting.

• Strong organizational skills with the ability to multi-task and effectively manage competing priorities.

• High-level understanding of research and laboratory environments, including familiarity with clinical trial workflows.

• Advanced technical expertise in complex specimen processing procedures.

• Familiarity with BSL-2 laboratory standards and practices.

• Knowledge of regulatory requirements governing the collection, storage, and shipment of human samples.

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in a related field and three years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Very strong people management skills, including direct management of approximately 5–10 or more employees.

• Strong laboratory background with hands-on experience in research or clinical laboratories.

• Clinical research experience, particularly in clinical trials, is highly preferred.

• Experience supervising union employees is a plus.

• Preferred minimum of two years of experience with complex specimen processing, safety management, and supervision of staff.

• Previous experience in an oncology setting and/or working with oncology clinical trials is preferred.

• Participation in special projects and operational initiatives in prior roles is beneficial.

• Active engagement in local and international professional organizations related to laboratory science, clinical research, or biospecimen management is advantageous.

Work Environment

This position operates within a Clinical Research Support Laboratory that serves as a primary, non-CLIA-certified facility for collecting, processing, stabilizing, documenting, shipping, and tracking research biospecimens from patients participating in clinical trials across a cancer center network. The environment is fast-paced and high-pressure, with a strong focus on accuracy, safety, and adherence to protocol and regulatory standards. The Lab Supervisor oversees approximately 5–10 laboratory technicians, including union staff, and works closely with clinical operations teams, research faculty, and external partners such as couriers and study monitors. The laboratory follows BSL-2 standards and uses specialized equipment and processes for complex specimen handling and processing. Work involves regular coordination with external couriers and vendors, management of laboratory and office space, and ongoing maintenance of equipment and supplies. The role offers the opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge clinical research at an institution with a longstanding history in cancer research and clinical trials.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of New Haven, CT.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $65000.00 - $101000.00/yr.

DP employees will take out Yale benefits - C2H will take stardard Actalent benefits

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in New Haven,CT.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 14, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.