Clinical Lab Scientist

Laboratory Technical Lead

This position supports Mercy's philosophy of patient centered care through technical leadership in the Laboratory. The Technical Lead provides functional supervision of Lab staff in their area of responsibility including competency assessment and new staff training. The Technical Lead directs and reviews the performance of all tests in the lab or lab section implements and maintains quality control and quality management programs for the lab or lab section maintains and reviews instrument records for the lab or lab section develops policies and procedures related to testing in the section and adheres to various accrediting agency standards.

Job Duties

• Ensure that accurate and clinically relevant information is communicated with patients their families and co-workers at hand offs and other times as needed.
• Properly identifies patients and samples during the pre-analytical analytical and post-analytical phases of testing.
• Maintains and improves skills by participating in at least one continuing education activity annually.
• Actively seeks and identifies opportunities for process improvement.
• Responsible for procedure writing updating and validating.
• Ensures compliance with all regulatory requirements that apply to the lab or lab section.
• Acts as a resource for laboratory medicine information to providers and others.
• Uses laboratory information system to access information and enter information.
• Educates and trains new staff and students.
• Provides leadership to technical staff and role models professional behavior.
• Works with the Lab Manager to recommend further disciplinary action and to assist in performance management and evaluation.
• Responsible for submission and review of proficiency testing including working with the Lab Manager as needed on corrective action.
• Maintains technical competencies as outlined in staff level job descriptions by working at the bench at least 25 of the time. This includes a regular weekend and/or holiday rotation.
• Actively participates in Laboratory Leadership activities and other teams committees and councils as assigned.
• Serves as primary resource and troubleshooter for lab/section instrumentation.
• Ensures proper inventory and ordering of department supplies.
• Assists Lab Manager with staffing and scheduling needs and works on the bench as needed to meet minimum staffing levels and during periods of high patient census.
• Adjusts scheduled activities tasks projects and obligations as needed to meet fluctuating staffing and patient needs.
• Follows Mercy's safety guidelines carries out job-specific safety duties and responsibilities and promptly reports any unsafe conditions situations incidents and injuries.

Department Specific Job Duties Core Laboratory-Transfusion Services Lead: Responsible for technical oversite of the Transfusion Services section of Core Laboratory. Provides support to Transfusion Services staff. Acts as a resource concerning transfusion for staff providing direct patient care.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities Knowledge of laboratory testing procedures Knowledge of regulatory requirements including CAP COLA CLIA DNV and FDA Ability to work quickly and efficiently under pressure without sacrificing quality Ability to multi-task prioritize and work with interruptions Skilled in use of standard laboratory instrumentation Skilled in use of the laboratory information system (LIS) Ability to think critically about test results in relation to patient condition Ability to recognize and correct problems with quality control Ability to recognize problems and troubleshoot laboratory equipment Ability to be detail-oriented Ability to complete appropriate documentation and paperwork clearly and completely Knowledge of basic management principles Ability to coach and hold staff accountable

Professional Experience At least 2 years in a clinical laboratory setting with at least one year in the area of responsibility. Education Required: Associate's degree in medical laboratory biological or chemical science completion of a 50 week US military medical laboratory training program or completion of other laboratory training program. Licensure Certification Registration Required: Certification with American Society for Clinical Pathology - ASCP or American Medical Technologists - AMT as a Medical Laboratory Technician Medical Laboratory Scientist or Medical Technologist or other prior CLIA recognized certifications may be acceptable.

Physical Requirements Light: Exert up to 20 lbs. of force occasionally and/or up to 10 lbs. of force frequently Pay Rate Type Hourly

Mercy is an independent community-based organization supporting the Cedar Rapids area for over 120 years. Mercy is an equal-opportunity employer. We value diversity equity and inclusion and therefore evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race color ethnicity ancestry sex sexual orientation gender identity marital status civil union status parental status religion national origin age disability veteran status and other legally protected characteristics.