Laboratory Technician

Laboratorian Opportunity

This position is associated with a future business opportunity and is currently in the pre-proposal phase. Hiring is contingent upon contract award. Overview DRT Strategies delivers expert management consulting and information technology (IT) solutions to large federal agencies, state and local government and commercial clients in health care, technology, and financial services industries. The three letters of our name, DRT, stand for Driving Resolution Together, which is the core philosophy on which the company was founded. That is, we collaborate with our clients to solve their most pressing challenges - together. We are problem solvers dedicated to your success, combining Fortune 500 experience with small business responsiveness. We have established a reputation with our clients as a forward-thinking consulting firm with demonstrated success in implementing solutions that lead to meaningful results. Our world-class consultants unite people to work collaboratively to achieve project goals and make vision a reality.

Project Description: This opportunity supports a national public health program within the Department of Veterans Affairs, focused on disease surveillance and rapid response to emerging health events across the VA system. The work involves epidemiologic investigations, large-scale patient lookback and notification efforts, and specialized public health laboratory testing in support of clinical care and outbreak response. Personnel collaborate with a multi-disciplinary team of clinicians, epidemiologists, laboratory scientists, data analysts, and communications staff to investigate potential exposure events and deliver timely, accurate findings. This is an onsite role based in Northern California, with occasional travel to affiliated medical facilities in the surrounding region. Ideal candidates bring prior experience in a federal health, public health, or clinical research setting and are comfortable handling sensitive patient information in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.

Job Summary: Put your bench expertise to work where it counts most; supporting rapid, high-complexity testing that informs clinical care and public health response across the VA system. You'll work across multiple laboratory disciplines on biological and environmental samples, maintaining the rigorous quality standards that high-stakes diagnostics demand. This role is ideal for a detail-driven laboratorian who can move fast without cutting corners and wants to be part of a national public health mission.

Responsibilities:

• Perform and oversee high-complexity clinical and public health laboratory testing on biological specimens and/or environmental samples using manual and automated techniques.
• Conduct testing across a range of laboratory disciplines, which may include bacteriology, molecular biology, flow cytometry, genetics, immunology, mycology, parasitology, serology, and virology.
• Understand, apply, and maintain quality control procedures throughout all testing.
• Manage competing workloads and multitask effectively to sustain throughput and a high level of performance.
• Support the technical and project-management aspects of laboratory testing operations.

Required Experience:

• Hands-on experience performing high-complexity laboratory testing on biological specimens and/or environmental samples using manual or automated techniques.
• Working experience across one or more laboratory disciplines: bacteriology, molecular biology, flow cytometry, genetics, immunology, mycology, parasitology, serology, or virology.
• Demonstrated ability to understand and maintain quality control procedures and sustain high performance under heavy, multitasked workloads.
• Technical and/or project-management experience in the oversight of laboratory testing operations.

Preferred Experience:

• Prior experience in a VA/VHA clinical laboratory or the VA Public Health Reference Laboratory (PHRL) at Palo Alto.
• Experience in a CLIA-certified, CAP-accredited laboratory environment.
• Molecular methods experience relevant to public health response (e.g., RT-PCR, sequencing, MLST) and surge testing during outbreak or public health emergencies.
• Familiarity with laboratory information management systems (LIMS) and laboratory surveillance/lookback workflows.

Education & Training:

• Bachelor's degree in medical laboratory science, clinical laboratory science, biology, microbiology, or a related life science (Associate's degree with additional qualifying experience may be considered).
• ASCP certification (MLS or MLT) or equivalent strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of CLIA and CAP accreditation requirements.

Work Authorization, Clearance Requirement, & Additional Information:

• This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government Public Trust clearance. Due to contract requirements, candidates must be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents (green card holders) to be eligible.
• No agencies, third parties, or Corp-to-Corp submissions.

Salary Range:

• $70,000 - $90,000
• Salary commensurate with experience.

DRT Strategies, Inc. (DRT) follows the guidelines outlined by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to provide all employees and qualified applicants employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related conditions, transgender status, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, genetic information, disability, protected veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under federal, state, or local law.

Reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities will be provided. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact Human Resources.