Clinical Laboratory Associate I (PM Shift)

Company Description

Guardant Health is a leading precision oncology company focused on guarding wellness and giving every person more time free from cancer. Founded in 2012, Guardant® is transforming patient care and accelerating new cancer therapies by providing critical insights into what drives disease through its advanced blood and tissue tests, real-world data and AI analytics. Guardant tests help improve outcomes across all stages of care, including screening to find cancer early, monitoring for recurrence in early-stage cancer, and treatment selection for patients with advanced cancer. For more information, visit guardanthealth.com and follow the company on LinkedIn, X (Twitter) and Facebook.


Position Summary:

The Clinical Laboratory Associate I (CLA) is responsible for supporting the daily operations of the Clinical Laboratory and assisting the Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) during patient testing. In addition to the primary role of CLA, there may be a need to provide back-up support to other groups (Reporting, Biospecimen Management, QC, etc.).

The nature of the work requires excellent attention to detail, effective written and verbal communication skills, the ability to multitask and be flexible with tasks and schedules, and the ability to work independently in a team environment in both our Palo Alto and Redwood City locations, depending on the direction of management on a day to day schedule. This opportunity is for our PM shift with working hours from 2:00pm - 10:30pm PT. In addition to the base compensation, this shift also provides a 20% shift differential.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

In accordance with California Business and Professions Code BPC § 1269, the following activities may be performed under the supervision of the laboratory director or appropriately licensed personnel:

• Sample collection or receipt, sample preparation, labeling, handling, preservation or fixation, assay processing or preparation, and/or transportation and storage of samples;
• Assist the CLSs in a licensed clinical laboratory in performing sample processing;
• Assist the CLSs during automated methods of patient testing;
• Perform routine equipment maintenance according to the laboratory's standard operating procedures;
• Create sample batches, print labels and label tubes and plates;
• Assist licensed testing personnel in troubleshooting activities;
• Prepare and store reagents for sample processing and sample archiving;
• Order and stock laboratory supplies;
• Print and file of laboratory records;
• In the case of qualitative and semi-quantitative tests, the unlicensed personnel may add the test reagent to the specimen or vice versa, but the results must be read by the laboratory director or appropriately licensed personnel.
• Check, monitor and resolve routine cold storage temperature and laboratory temperature and initiate a service request as necessary;
• Perform general laboratory tasks include cleaning of racks, laboratory equipment and benches;
• Document all corrective actions taken when test systems deviate from the laboratory's established performance specifications;
• Assist with internal audits and inspection preparation,
• Ensure calibration of laboratory equipment is scheduled and performed on time;
• Ensure laboratory equipment is properly labeled;
• Write and revise standard operating procedures under supervisor instruction, as needed;
• Perform other duties as assigned; and
• Report all concerns of test quality and/or safety to the Laboratory Supervisor, Laboratory Director or Safety Officer.

The following duties may NOT be performed by unlicensed personnel:

• Perform any test or part thereof that involves the quantitative measurement of the specimen, or test reagent, or any mathematical calculation to determine the results or the validity of a test procedure;
• Perform any phase of clinical laboratory testing or examinations in the specialty of immunohematology beyond the initial collection and centrifugation;
• When any of the following mechanical or electronic instruments are employed, unlicensed personnel shall not perform any of the following activities:
  
  
  • Standardization or calibration of instruments or assessment of instrument performance by monitoring results of standards and controls; and
  • Recording of test results (but may transcribe results that have been previously recorded, either manually by licensed personnel or automatically by a testing instrument); and
  • Quantitatively measuring any sample or reagents unless done automatically by the instrument during its normal operation or by using previously calibrated and approved automatic syringes or other dispensers.

Qualifications:

• Minimum of Associate degree or equivalent required;
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Biomedical Laboratory Science, Clinical Science or related field preferred;
• Guardant Health Clinical Laboratory experience or equivalent high complexity and volume laboratory experience preferred;
• Previous laboratory work experience preferred, with skills including (but not limited to) proper specimen collection or retrieval, patient preparation, labeling, handling, assay assist or assay preparation, preventive maintenance and troubleshooting, and/or transportation and storage of specimens.
• Ability in giving and receiving constructive feedback, fostering open communication and continuous improvement;
• Demonstrates strong practical reasoning and sound judgment;
• Skilled in making informed and effective decisions;
• Exhibits attention to detail and a strong commitment to precision in all tasks;
• Strong computing skills;
• Knowledge of Good documentation practices;
• Working knowledge of reagent stability and storage, quality control policies, and factors that influence test results;
• Strong communicator with ability to maintain open communication with internal employees, managers;
• Able to integrate and apply feedback in a professional manner; and
• Ability to work as part of a team.

Work Environment:

• Hours and days may vary depending on operational needs;
• Standing or sitting for long periods of time may be necessary;
• May be exposed to hazardous materials, blood specimens and instruments with moving parts, heating or freezing elements, and high-speed centrifugation;
• Repetitive manual pipetting may be necessary; and
• Some lifting (up to 25 pounds) may be necessary.

Hybrid Work Model: This section is applicable to onsite employees who are eligible for hybrid work location as specified by management and related policies. Guardant has defined days for in-person/onsite collaboration and work-from-home days for individual-focused time. All U.S. employees who live within 50 miles of a Guardant facility will be required to be onsite on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. We have found aligning our scheduled in-office days allows our teams to do the best work and creates the focused thinking time our innovative work requires. At Guardant, our work model has created flexibility for better work-life balance while keeping teams connected to advance our science for our patients.


The annualized base salary ranges for the primary location and any additional locations are listed below. This range does not include benefits or, if applicable, bonus, commission, or equity. Each candidate's compensation offer will be based on multiple factors including, but not limited to, geography, experience, education, job-related skills, job duties, and business need.Primary Location: Redwood City, CAPrimary Location Base Pay Range: $38 - $52Other US Location(s) Base Pay Range: $32 - $44If the role is performed in Colorado, the pay range for this job is: $34 - $47

Employee may be required to lift routine office supplies and use office equipment. Majority of the work is performed in a desk/office environment; however, there may be exposure to high noise levels, fumes, and biohazard material in the laboratory environment. Ability to sit for extended periods of time.

Guardant Health is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in our hiring processes for candidates with disabilities, long-term conditions, mental health conditions, or sincerely held religious beliefs. If you need support, please reach out to View email address on click.appcast.io

A background screening including criminal history is required for this role. GH will consider qualified applicants with criminal arrest or conviction histories in a manner consistent with applicable law including but not limited to the LA County Fair Chance Policies and the Fair Chance Act (Gov. Code Section 12952).

Guardant Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

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