LIMS Project Manager
LIMS Project Managers will usually either work for a Laboratory Information Management Systems development company or for an end user of LIMS which might include pharmaceutical companies, biotechs, university and other R & D organisations. Whichever environment the LIMS Project Manager works in, he or she will need to have extensive experience in project management of informatics such as LIMS, SDMS (Scientific Data Management Systems) and LIS (Laboratory Information Systems).
In addition, an in-depth understanding of the pharmaceutical or R&D industries is essential in order to be able to identify the functionality, applications and data requirements of the LIMS system so it meets the requirements of both laboratory and business functions. The Project Manager will need to ensure that the LIMS system enables the company to be in compliance with regulatory as well as internal policies and SOPs.
A key function of the LIMS Project Manager is to act as a liaison between key stakeholders including clients, LIMS / ELN software suppliers, LIMS / ELN consultants and Lab Informatics clients, so excellent communication and networking skills are key as are excellent team leadership and management skills.
A laboratory information management system (LIMS) is software that supports laboratory procedures and operations. The three main benefits of a LIMS are improving accuracy, efficiency and the overall management of the laboratory. LIMS are used in many lab informatics settings including medical, biotech, pharmaceutical and quality assurance labs. Although initially developed to streamline sample tracking within the laboratory, LIMS have evolved rapidly and can now be used to manage a huge range of laboratory tasks including instrument calibration and maintenance, personnel and workload management, inventory and equipment management, document management, reports and customer relationship management
A modern LIMS can integrate with laboratory instruments or other in-lab systems allowing for the import and management of the huge amounts of raw data that frequent changes in technology and research techniques are generating. LIMS software also helps labs meet quality assurance and control, compliance and audit management regulatory requirements such as GMP and GLP by encapsulating what they do and how they do it, enabling efficient management of the lab.
Skills & Experience required for a career in LIMS Project Management
- A Bachelor’s Degree in Informatics, Computer Science, Systems Management or similar
- Familiarity with laboratory processes and procedures such as GxP, GLP and GMP
- Excellent communications skills and the ability to liaise with key stakeholders
- Ability to identify and resolve problems
- Excellent time, project and people management skills
Salary Levels and Career Progression within LIMS
The demand for people with skills and experience in LIMS and other laboratory informatics systems including ELN (Electronic Laboratory Notebook), SDMS (Scientific Data Management Systems) and LIS (Laboratory Information Systems) is growing rapidly and salaries can be high. Graduate entry level roles start at £30,000 - £50,000 and the salary range for an experienced LIMS Project Manager is typically £60,000 - £130,000 depending on the size and location of the company.