Lead Medical Laboratory Scientist/Technician

Job Description

Take the next step in your laboratory career with UPMC Mercy as a Lead Medical Laboratory Scientist or Lead Medical Laboratory Technician!

This role offers the opportunity to remain hands-on in the lab while taking on expanded leadership responsibilities. You’ll perform technical testing, support staff training and development, assist with inventory and purchasing, promote best practices, and serve as a supervisory designee when needed. If you’re ready to build your leadership skills while contributing to high-quality, patient-centered laboratory services, we encourage you to apply.

This is a full-time daylight shift position, 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. ,   Monday to Friday.

Applicants will be placed into the appropriate job title and salary based on their individual experience and education. The Lead Medical Lab Technician title starts at $27.40 hourly.

• ACT AS A SUPERVISOR DESIGNATE. 
  • Assumes supervisory duties and performs in charge duties as needed. 
  • Evaluates problems in the absence of the Supervisor and solves those that are possible. 
  • Communicates problems with the Laboratory Supervisor, Manager or Director as appropriate. 
  • Participates in an extensive administrative call rotation with the other supervisory staff (only for Tissue Typing Laboratory).
• COMPETENCY. 
  • Assists supervisory personnel in the observation and documentation of laboratory staff competency.
• OPERATIONS. 
  • All duties of a Medical Technologist. 
  • Ensures that instrument maintenance and/or function checks are performed and documented accurately, according to procedure. 
  • Troubleshoots instrument malfunctions and informs the Laboratory Supervisor, Manager or Director of problems. 
  • Reviews QC logs. Documents and brings to the attention of the Laboratory Supervisor, Manager or Director any errors, omissions or discrepancies in QC. 
  • Compiles QA data and prepares reports as directed by the Laboratory Supervisor, Manager or Director. 
  • Monitors proficiency testing activity and assists the Director with evaluation of results and documentation of responses to deficiencies. 
  • Assists the Laboratory Supervisor or Manager with staff scheduling as directed.
• SERVE AS A ROLE MODEL. 
  • Maintains confidentiality regarding patient, hospital and laboratory business. Interacts professionally with other departments. 
  • Represents the Laboratory on Hospital committees as needed. 
  • Adheres to abnormal and/or critical results reporting policy and turn-around-time policy. 
  • Participates in and monitors quality assurance indicators. 
  • Adheres to personal appearance standards and displays hospital ID badge. 
  • Telephone / Internet privileges are followed according to policy. 
  • Complies with attendance and tardiness policy. Helps to monitor subordinate attendance and tardiness. 
  • Adheres to the compliance policy and serves as a resource for subordinate questions. 
  • Adheres to all safety policies as outlined in the Laboratory Safety Manual.
• PURCHASING AND INVENTORY. 
  • Demonstrates awareness of appropriate inventory levels in all relevant sections of the laboratory. Takes action to prevent supply shortages or overages. 
  • Performs purchasing of supplies in the absence of the Laboratory Supervisor or Manager as directed.
• TRAINING, DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION. 
  • New procedures are mastered within established time frames. Demonstrates awareness of changes in procedures and protocols. 
  • Performs orientation and training assignments in an organized, thorough manner. 
  • Serves as a resource to other employees by sharing knowledge of procedures or testing outcomes when consulted. 
  • Develops, performs and/or evaluates special projects. 
  • Performs test evaluations and validations of new procedures and/or reagent systems. 
  • Formulates, authors and/or revises procedures according to CLSI guidelines. 
  • Prepares and delivers student lectures and bench instruction where relevant

Medical Laboratory Scientist:

• Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited college/university AND successful completion of an accredited Medical Lab Scientist program, OR 
• Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited college/university with a major in biological, chemical, or clinical laboratory science AND ASCP or equivalent categorical or MLT certification, OR 
• Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited college/university with a major in biological, chemical, physical, or clinical laboratory science AND at least three years' experience in a role equivalent to that of a Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) in a clinical laboratory. 

• Three years' experience as a Medical Lab Scientist is strongly preferred.

   

Lead Medical Laboratory Technician:

• Three years' experience with certification as a Medical Laboratory Technician or Four years' experience without certification required, including two years' experience in the host laboratory preferred. 
• ASCP or equivalent certification in Medical Laboratory Technologist (MLT) or categorical certification preferred.
  
  

Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:

• ASCP or equivalent certification in medical technology (MT) or categorical certification preferred. 
• Certification as a Histocompatibility Technologist (CHT) by the American Board of Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (ABHI) preferred (only for HLA Laboratory). 
• Act 34

UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran