Lead Lab Technician (Molecular)

Lead Technician

The Lead Technician coordinates daily laboratory operations at the bench, ensuring workflow efficiency, quality performance, and adherence to standard operating procedures. Serves as a senior technical resource and operational leader without primary responsibility for personnel management or program ownership. May function as a delegated General Supervisor in accordance with CLIA requirements.

Coordinate workflow across accessioning, extraction, amplification, and data review

Perform and oversee routine testing, including PCR and analysis

Provide real-time troubleshooting for instruments and assays

Monitor QA and QC

Train staff and support competency assessments

Ensure proper specimen handoff between accessioning and testing

Monitor inventory and communicate supply needs

Ensure adherence to SOPs and documentation requirements

Prioritize workflow and assign bench responsibilities

Hold or delay results based on quality concerns

Initiate troubleshooting and reassign tasks as needed

Escalate non-routine issues to Lab Supervisor

Meets CLIA high-complexity testing personnel requirements

Bachelor's degree in a chemical, physical, biological, or clinical laboratory science OR equivalent

24 years of clinical laboratory experience (molecular preferred)

Experience in PCR workflows and troubleshooting

Experience training or mentoring staff preferred

Technical expertise in molecular workflows

Workflow coordination and prioritization

Attention to detail and quality focus

Clear communication and team leadership skills