Manager - Sample Management Operations

Caris Life Sciences; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Caris Life Sciences seeks a Sample Management Operations Manager to provide leadership and technical oversight of specimen management across laboratories, research, and organizational initiatives.

You will drive end‑to‑end specimen lifecycle activities, enhance workflows, and strengthen regulatory compliance while building a scalable, customer‑focused operation. This on‑site role requires a proactive leader with deep LIMS experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences, Healthcare Administration, or related discipline; equivalent education considered.
• Minimum of five years of progressive relevant experience in a laboratory, pathology, clinical research, biorepository, or related scientific environment.
• Minimum of two years of leadership or supervisory experience leading operational teams.
• Experience with specimen lifecycle management including inventory, chain of custody, de-identification, storage, and data management.
• Experience using LIMS and/or Sample Management Systems to support operations.

Responsibilities

• Provide day‑to‑day leadership and professional development for the Sample Management team.
• Oversee complete lifecycle management of remnant specimens, ensuring chain of custody and data integrity.
• Manage inventory, storage capacity, environmental monitoring, and distribution activities.
• Maintain data integrity within LIMS and optimize workflows and system utilization.
• Ensure compliance with SOPs, GCP, CLIA, CAP, FDA, HIPAA, and other regulations through audits and actions.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional stakeholders to support organizational initiatives.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Documentation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences

Master's degree in Biological Sciences

Tools

LIMS

Sample Management Systems

Job description

At Caris, we understand that cancer is an ugly word—a word no one wants to hear, but one that connects us all. That’s why we’re not just transforming cancer care—we’re changing lives. We introduced precision medicine to the world and built an industry around the idea that every patient deserves answers as unique as their DNA. Backed by cutting-edge molecular science and AI, we ask ourselves every day: "What would I do if this patient were my mom?" That question drives everything we do. But our mission doesn’t stop with cancer. We're pushing the frontiers of medicine and leading a revolution in healthcare—driven by innovation, compassion, and purpose. Join us in our mission to improve the human condition across multiple diseases. If you're passionate about meaningful work and want to be part of something bigger than yourself, Caris is where your impact begins.

Position Summary

The Sample Management Operations Manager provides leadership, operational oversight, and technical expertise for the Sample Management function, ensuring the integrity, efficiency, scalability, and compliance of specimen management operations supporting laboratory, research, and organizational initiatives. This position serves as both a people leader and working manager, actively supporting day-to-day specimen management activities while leading the continued evolution of the Sample Management operation. The Manager is responsible for overseeing the complete lifecycle management of remnant biological specimens following diagnostic testing, including specimen receipt, inventory management, storage, retrieval, request fulfillment, de-identification, distribution, disposition, and chain of custody. Leveraging previous experience in specimen management operations, this role identifies opportunities to strengthen workflows, optimize Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) utilization, implement industry best practices, and improve operational efficiency to support organizational growth. Working collaboratively with Laboratory Operations, Clinical Operations, Research, Quality, Information Technology, and other cross‑functional stakeholders, the Manager develops a high‑performing team, drives continuous improvement initiatives, and helps build a scalable, customer‑focused Sample Management operation while ensuring compliance with applicable regulatory and organizational requirements.

Job Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop the Sample Management team by providing day‑to‑day leadership, technical guidance, performance management, and professional development while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, customer service, quality, and continuous improvement.
• Provide operational oversight of the complete lifecycle management of remnant biological specimens following diagnostic testing, including specimen receipt, inventory management, storage, retrieval, request fulfillment, transfer, distribution, de‑identification, and disposition. Serve as a working manager by supporting complex specimen management activities, resolving escalated operational issues, and ensuring specimen integrity and chain of custody throughout the specimen lifecycle.
• Oversee specimen inventory, storage capacity, environmental monitoring, logistics, retrieval, transfers, and distribution while ensuring inventory accuracy, efficient utilization of resources, and operational readiness to support current and future business needs.
• Ensure the integrity of specimen data within Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) and Sample Management Systems while driving optimization of workflows, reporting, inventory visibility, system utilization, and operational technologies to improve efficiency and scalability.
• Lead quality assurance activities by ensuring compliance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Good Clinical Practice (GCP), CLIA, CAP, FDA, HIPAA, and other applicable regulatory requirements through documentation oversight, audits, inventory reconciliation, corrective actions, and continuous monitoring.
• Serve as the operational subject matter expert for Sample Management by leveraging industry experience to implement best practices, improve workflows, standardize processes, optimize specimen utilization, and support the continued evolution and scalability of the Sample Management function.
• Partner with Laboratory Operations, Clinical Operations, Research, Quality, Information Technology, Procurement, and other stakeholders to coordinate specimen management activities, resolve operational challenges, communicate specimen status, and deliver exceptional customer service while supporting organizational initiatives.
• Establish and monitor operational metrics, service levels, inventory trends, turnaround times, and quality indicators to evaluate departmental performance, identify opportunities for improvement, and drive operational excellence.
• Support departmental budgeting, laboratory supply management, vendor relationships, staffing, workload forecasting, storage capacity planning, and resource allocation to ensure efficient and sustainable specimen management operations.
• Communicate effectively with leadership, team members, and cross‑functional stakeholders regarding operational priorities, specimen management activities, process improvements, and departmental performance while promoting transparency, collaboration, and engagement.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences, Laboratory Science, Healthcare Administration, or a related scientific discipline. Equivalent education and relevant experience may be considered.
• Minimum of five years of progressive relevant experience within a laboratory, pathology, clinical research, biorepository, or related scientific environment.
• Minimum of two years of leadership or supervisory experience leading operational teams.
• Demonstrated expertise in specimen lifecycle management, including specimen inventory management, chain of custody, request fulfillment, de‑identification, specimen tracking, storage operations, and data management.
• Experience utilizing Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) and/or Sample Management Systems to support specimen operations.
• Demonstrated experience improving operational workflows, implementing best practices, optimizing system utilization, and supporting organizational growth.
• Strong knowledge of applicable regulatory requirements governing specimen management, including CLIA, CAP, FDA, HIPAA, and Good Clinical Practice (GCP).
• Excellent leadership, organizational, communication, analytical, and problem‑solving skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities while leading teams in a dynamic operational environment.
• Ability to work on‑site to support specimen management operations and provide direct operational leadership.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Biological Sciences, Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, or a related discipline.
• Previous leadership experience supporting specimen management, pathology operations, biorepository operations, clinical research, or precision medicine programs.
• Experience leading operational change initiatives, workflow redesign, or implementation of specimen management technologies.
• Experience with process improvement methodologies such as Lean, Six Sigma, or equivalent operational excellence programs.
• Project management certification or demonstrated project leadership experience.
• Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) implementation or optimization experience.
• Good Clinical Practice (GCP), Human Subject Protection, and IATA training.
• Customer service experience supporting laboratory or research operations.

Physical Demands

Ability to stand for more than 1 hour at a time, sit for more than 1 hour at a time. Ability to lift up to 30 lbs.

Training

All job specific, safety, and compliance training are assigned based on the job functions associated with this employee.

Other

This position requires some evenings, weekends and/or holidays.

Conditions of Employment

• Individual must successfully complete pre‑employment process, which includes criminal background check, drug screening, credit check ( applicable for certain positions) and reference verification.
• This job description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Caris Life Sciences is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability.

Caris Life Sciences is a leading innovator in molecular science and artificial intelligence focused on fulfilling the promise of precision medicine through quality and innovation. Caris is committed to quality and excellence at our state‑of‑the‑art laboratories. Learn more about our tissue lab and the advanced technologies that are helping improve the lives of cancer patients.