Manager, Laboratory

Located in Nashville, Tennessee, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) operates at a global crossroads of teaching, discovery, and patient care. We are a community of individuals who come to work each day with the aim of changing the world through expertise, knowledge expansion, and challenging abilities. Vanderbilt Health is committed to an environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and where uniqueness is sought and celebrated.

About the role

We are seeking a strategic and operationally strong Laboratory Manager to lead a high-performing human tissue biorepository supporting cutting-edge cancer research. This role is ideal for a leader who thrives in complex scientific environments, can develop operational infrastructure, and is passionate about building cohesive, high-functioning teams. As the Laboratory Manager, you will oversee daily laboratory operations, biospecimen workflows, staff development, customer engagement, and data-driven performance management while ensuring regulatory compliance and service excellence.

Responsibilities

• Operational Leadership
  • Direct day-to-day biorepository and laboratory operations supporting academic and commercial investigators.
  • Optimize workflows related to tissue procurement, processing, annotation, storage, and distribution.
  • Implement scalable processes that enhance efficiency, quality, and turnaround times.
• Team Leadership & Development
  • Manage, mentor, and develop a growing research team.
  • Foster a collaborative, accountable, and mission-driven culture.
  • Lead performance management activities, including coaching, evaluations, and professional development.
• Strategic Performance Management
  • Design and implement Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to measure operational success.
  • Utilize metrics to drive continuous improvement and inform leadership decision-making.
  • Develop dashboards and reporting structures for program visibility.
• Customer & Stakeholder Engagement
  • Serve as a primary operational liaison to investigators and research partners.
  • Ensure exceptional service delivery and responsiveness.
  • Identify opportunities to expand services and improve the customer experience.
• Technology & Data Systems
  • Leverage enterprise platforms such as Workday and laboratory databases to support operational excellence.
  • Partner with IT teams to improve data infrastructure and reporting capabilities.
  • Champion data integrity and process automation where possible.
• Scientific & Regulatory Excellence
  • Apply strong knowledge of cancer biology and translational research workflows.
  • Ensure adherence to regulatory requirements, institutional policies, and quality standards.
  • Support audits, documentation, and accreditation activities.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in biological sciences or related field (Master’s preferred).
• 5–8+ years of progressive laboratory leadership experience.
• Direct experience working within a human tissue biorepository or biospecimen-focused program.
• Strong background in cancer biology or translational research environments.
• Demonstrated success managing teams and complex operations.
• Experience developing KPIs and performance metrics.
• Proficiency with Workday, database platforms, and the Microsoft Office Suite.
• Exceptional organizational, communication, and leadership skills.
• Proficiency with EPIC or other related Electronic Medical Records systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with biospecimen informatics systems.
• Lean/process improvement training.
• Experience scaling laboratory services.

Schedule

This is a full-time, on-site position working Monday through Friday during standard daytime business hours at Vanderbilt Medical Center North on 21st Ave. in Nashville, TN.

Benefits

This role offers a comprehensive benefits package which may include health, disability, retirement, and/or wellness offerings to enhance your well-being and professional growth.