Select Page

Scientific & Laboratory Staffing Agency Services

Hire Top Talent with our Recruiting Services

Lighthouse is a full-service recruiting and staffing agency for nearly any type of laboratory. We partner with labs nationwide to supply dependable and qualified professionals for roles at all levels.

We offer both permanent placement recruiting and local and traveler temporary staffing to help your laboratory with urgent staffing needs or longer-term, permanent solutions.

Hire Your Staff Through Lighthouse

Industries & Facilities We Staff

Hospitals & Health Systems (C-suite/Administrators)
Stabilize coverage, reduce overtime, protect TAT and quality.

Learn More

Physician Offices & Urgent Care
Add in-house testing quickly to unlock revenue and patient convenience without compromising CLIA/CAP readiness.
Pathology Groups & Cancer Centers
AP/CP diagnostic quality and throughput.
Independent Reference Labs
Tailored staffing solutions for independent and hospital-affiliated reference labs
Pharma, Biotech & CRO
Scale programs with Good Practice candidates that have biosafety level (BSL) qualifications up to level 3, which includes infectious disease testing.

Learn More

Environmental & Cannabis Testing Labs

Staffing for ISO/certification minded technologists.

Learn More

Public Health Laboratories

Surge staffing for outbreaks and projects.

Medical Services Organizations (MSOs)
Centralize recruiting, standardize quality, flex coverage across locations.
Industrial & Chemical Testing Labs
Often a part of manufacturing operations. Here are example ISOs we currently support as a part of our staffing services:

  • ISO/IEC 17025 – General testing & calibration
  • ISO 9001 – Quality management
  • ISO 45001 – Occupational health and safety management
  • ISO 14001 – Environmental management
  • ISO 50001 – Energy management
  • ISO 11133 – Microbiology testing
  • ISO 11843 – Analytical chemistry
  • ISOs 7870 & 7871 – QA/QC

Learn More

We staff many healthcare and manufacturing facilities with our laboratory recruiting services

Common Laboratory Roles We Place

people LABORATORY STAFF

Medical & Clinical Lab Scientists, MLS, Medical Lab Technicians, MLT, and Generalists, Microbiologists, Hematologists, Geneticists, Temp and Temp-to-hire 

tune LAB MANAGEMENT

Section Supervisors, Managers, Scientific Directors, High-Complexity CLIA Lab Directors, and Board-Certified Pathologists.

record_voice_over LEADERSHIP & SALES

Presidents, VPs, Chief Lab Officers (CLO), Technical Supervisors, POC Coordinators, LIS Managers, Outreach Directors, and Account/Territory Managers

opacityTOXICOLOGY

Certifying Scientists, LCMS Operators, Analysts, Technologists, Supervisors, and Managers, Technicians, Method Development Specialists

local_hospital ANATOMIC PATHOLOGY

Board-Certified Pathologists (AP/CP & subspecialities), Histology Technologists (HT/HTL), Cytology Technologists, and Pathology Supervisors/Managers 

assignment_ind INDUSTRIAL & PHARMA

Chemists, Environmental Health Specialists, QA/QC Specialists, Sampling Technicians, Calibration Specialists, and Metrology Specialists

Unmatched Database + Industry Reach

The cornerstone of our ability to serve clients is an unmatched proprietary database of qualified lab candidates and expansive social media reach. Our long history as the nation’s leading laboratory recruitment agency has helped Lighthouse Lab Services develop a database with 190,000+ clinical lab professionals, giving us unparalleled access to candidates. We operate the country’s largest members-only clinical laboratory social media groups – giving us a reach of over 158,000 industry professionals.

Qualified Lab Candidates

Qualified Medical Lab Directors/Pathologists

Newsletter Subscribers

Members in Social Media Groups

Our Candidate Recruiting and Placement Process

Explore how Lighthouse Lab Services guides your lab from first conversation to signed offer.

Identification

We get to know our clients and why their lab is a great place to work so that we can convey this information to potential candidates.

Recruiting services for laboratories

Why Laboratories Need a Recruiting & Staffing Agency Partner

When test volumes spike, panels expand, or a new lab goes live, you need people fast. We ensure your lab is staffed with qualified and compliant medical laboratory professionals. Whether you run a hospital lab, a biotech startup, or a cannabis testing facility, our recruiters understand your unique challenges in finding qualified scientific talent.

We offer risk-free staffing solutions to ensure your lab continues to run and grow successfully. With our extensive proprietary database, unparalleled online reach, and industry experience, our recruiters can find the perfect lab professional to fill your position(s) quickly and reliably.

Get Matched with Recruits

FAQs

How Fast Can You Present Candidates?

Our turnaround time for permanent direct hire searches varies based on the level of client responsiveness, however we can provide vetted candidates for most types of roles in most locations within ten business days.  
 
For temp and temp-to-hire, we are typically able to source specialty roles within three business days and can have a traveler or local temp at your facility within two weeks.  For bench-level generalist staff or basic administrative roles, we can provide same-week placement.  

How Do You Ensure Compliance?

Lighthouse Lab Services takes our commitment to compliance very seriously.  When acting as your staffing partner for temporary or temp-to-perm services, Lighthouse will document and provide all needed licensures, certifications, background checks, drug screenings and medical records.  Whatever your facility requires, Lighthouse will help collect and provide as part of our inclusive service fee

For direct hire CLIA roles including Laboratory Director Services, Lighthouse Lab Services maintains a dedicated quality team to ensure that any candidates provided can meet regulatory requirements to provide oversight services at your laboratory. Screening includes certification, recent bench experience, instrument familiarity, QC/QA mindset, and references. For Director roles, we verify alignment to CLIA responsibilities.  

What If Our Need is Across Multiple Sites?

We support MSOs and health systems with standardized SOPs and coverage models across sites.  

Why is Staffing So Challenging in the Clinical Laboratory Industry?

The demand for skilled laboratorians far exceeds supply due to retirements, limited training programs, and rising testing volumes. This shortage makes it harder to fill roles quickly with qualified professionals.  

How Long Does it Typically Take to Fill a Laboratory Position Without Using a Staffing Agency Like Lighthouse?

It varies by role. High-demand positions like Medical Technologists (MT/MLS) or Histotechnologists can take 6–12 weeks or more, while entry-level or support roles may be filled in just a few weeks. With our already-established nationwide talent pool, we can typically have multiple options lined up within 1-2 weeks.  

What Positions Present the Most Difficulties with Recruitment?

Labs frequently report challenges with Medical Technologists (MLS/CLS), Histology staff, Cytotechnologists, and Laboratory Directors due to certification and experience requirements.  

Often the geographic location of a client presents as much challenge as the types of roles, however generally the more specialized the needed lab skillset is, the harder it can be for Laboratories to find a match.  This is why a trusted partner with a deep candidate pool like Lighthouse can offer your team immediate relief.  

Do I Need to Hire Only ASCP-Certified Staff?

While certification is preferred and sometimes required for regulatory compliance (CLIA, CAP, etc.), some labs can hire non-certified staff and support them through certification after hire.  

Are Traveling Laboratory Professionals a Good Solution for Staffing Shortages?

Yes! Travel staff can quickly fill gaps and maintain testing capacity, though they are often more expensive than permanent hires. They are especially useful during rapid growth, high turnover, or seasonal surges.  

How Do Staffing Agencies Like Lighthouse Screen Laboratory Candidates?

We verify licensure, certification, work history, references, and perform background checks as well as drug screens upon client request. Depending on the role, we also conduct technical assessments to ensure competency.  

Can Extra Staff Really Help Reduce Burnout in my Lab Team?

Absolutely! Strategic staffing reduces overtime, improves work-life balance, and keeps morale higher by avoiding chronic understaffing.  

How Much Does it Cost to Use a Recruiting Service Like Lighthouse?

Fees vary depending on whether the service is contingent direct hire placement, retained search, or contract staffing. Generally, permanent placement fees are a percentage of the candidate’s first-year salary, while temps and travelers are billed hourly.  

What Are the Advantages of Working with a Staffing Partner Like Lighthouse Instead of Recruiting on My Own?

We have access to a wider talent pool, which saves you time, reduces hiring risks, and ensures regulatory requirements specific to laboratory roles.  

How Do I Retain Top Laboratory Talent Once I Hire Them?

Offer competitive pay, continuing education opportunities, career growth pathways, recognition programs, and a supportive work culture that prioritizes employees’ well-being.  

Can Staffing Agencies Like Lighthouse Help Smaller Laboratories Compete with Hospitals and Larger Health Systems for Talent?

Absolutely! We help independent labs build close-knit teams, which fosters cohesive teamwork and growth opportunities that larger systems may not offer.  

"We are all impressed with the work that Lighthouse Lab Services does to help the clinical laboratory community... We have been working tirelessly over the last year tackling all of the complexities involved in starting up a clinical lab from scratch… We are… overjoyed to have [a lab director] onboard via Lighthouse."

Christine Barnard, Founder & CEO, Atlas Quality Assurance Laboratories

"We hired a MLT and Lab Director thanks to Lighthouse and everything has been smooth sailing. They are both knowledgeable, thorough, professional and have helped our practice tremendously. Thank you again Lighthouse for matching us perfectly."

Jeremy

"Lighthouse is professional, responsive, and has always provided quality candidates."

Charlene

"It’s my pleasure working with Lighthouse on recruiting our Lab Director. [Candidates]…spoke highly of your company. They trust the quality service and the transparency your team has provided them. We can certainly understand why we feel the same way about your knowledge in the lab field and Lighthouse Lab Services putting the clients’ interest at heart."

Reference Lab Recruiting Client

"We love Lighthouse. Incredible support. Great account management. Superior technical support. We all talk about how great it has been to work with [Lighthouse]. We cannot say enough positive about the company. "

R. Scott LaNeve, General Manager, Drugscan, Inc.

"My lab just finished the validation of a Turn-Key Covid-19 lab using Lighthouse Lab Services. We had a great experience and are looking forward to future projects as we grow. They assisted with everything from finding equipment, supplies, validation and training. I highly recommended them."

Kevin Spruill, Ameritech Diagnostic Labs

"I want to commend your team (again) for being such great partners. Your service levels have been the best of any of our Covid suppliers – instrumentation, supplies, and/or reagents. We are grateful we found Lighthouse and look forward to working together."

Consulting & Covid Assay Client

"Impressive Team and always ready to serve!"

Shea Harrelson, Vikor Scientific

Thought Leadership

In addition to helping medical labs and health system locate great candidates, our recruiting leaders are also working to identify and help alleviate key lab concerns. Check out the videos below for insights on addressing staffing shortages, improving retention, and more tips to keep your lab operating smoothly and your staff happy.

2025 Wage & Morale Survey of Medical Lab Professionals

Addressing Staffing Needs Amid Ongoing Lab Staff Shortages

How Lab Turnover Impacts Patient Health

Interested in our Recruiting Services?

Contact UsAbout Us