Lead Senior Phlebotomist

Sr. Phlebotomy Lead

Optum is a global organization that delivers care, aided by technology, to help millions of people live healthier lives. The work you do with our team will directly improve health outcomes by connecting people with the care, pharmacy benefits, data and resources they need to feel their best. Here, you will find a culture guided by inclusion, talented peers, comprehensive benefits and career development opportunities. Come make an impact on the communities we serve as you help us advance health optimization on a global scale. Join us to start Caring. Connecting. Growing together.

Under general supervision of Phlebotomy Leadership, the Sr. Phlebotomy Lead is responsible for overseeing, coordinating, and supporting the daily activities of the phlebotomy team across assigned locations. This role provides hands-on support, ensures safe and compliant specimen collection, and supports quality patient care through effective scheduling, training oversight, and performance monitoring.

The Sr. Phlebotomy Lead serves as a clinical and operational resource, supporting onboarding, remediation, and competency verification of phlebotomy staff. The role also includes performing a broad range of clinical laboratory duties such as specimen collection, waived and moderate complexity testing, and electrocardiograms (EKGs), while maintaining compliance with CLIA, safety, and infection control standards.

Schedule: Office is open seven days a week, 365 days a year. This role would consist of a 40-hour work week, Monday through Friday between the hours of 7:00 am to 4:00 pm. Possible late night and weekend rotation for support services.

Location: 3901 Hoyt Ave. Everett, WA 98201. This is the main office, you will be required to travel 100% of the time to the other Optum Draw Satellites

Primary Responsibilities:

• Provide day-to-day operational support to phlebotomy staff, including daily onsite scheduling, task delegation, workflow coordination, and performance monitoring.
• Assist with daily staffing plans to ensure adequate coverage across all sites, including coordinating coverage when supervisors are on PTO.
• Conduct regular site rounding to observe staff performance, assess workflow efficiency, reinforce best practices, and address operational or training needs in real time.
• Serve as a subject matter expert for phlebotomy practices, policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
• Perform venipuncture and capillary specimen collection in accordance with established protocols, ensuring patient safety, comfort, specimen integrity, and infection control compliance.
• Conduct waived and moderate complexity laboratory testing, including microscopy, in accordance with CLIA standards and organizational policies.
• Perform electrocardiograms (EKGs) and other diagnostic procedures as required.
• Participate in onboarding, training, competency validation, and ongoing education of new and existing phlebotomy staff.
• Assign and coordinate shadowing experiences for teammates who have not successfully passed training or competency assessments, ensuring appropriate supervision and documentation.
• Provide enhanced oversight and support to preceptors working with trainees who demonstrate a high error rate, including reviewing training performance, reinforcing corrective actions, and collaborating on remediation plans.
• Review and verify completion of all training, competency, and required documentation prior to facilitating or approving employee sign-off.
• Support supervisors and leadership with performance improvement initiatives, retraining, and escalation when training or quality concerns are identified.
• Monitor and maintain laboratory and phlebotomy supply inventory to ensure availability of equipment and materials required for daily operations.
• Assist with quality assurance activities, quality control documentation, audits, and compliance with applicable regulatory and accreditation standards.
• Communicate effectively and professionally with patients, providers, leadership, and staff to support coordinated care and efficient operations.
• Maintain patient confidentiality and adhere to all safety, infection control, and organizational policies at all times.

Customer Experience:

• Interact with patients and healthcare providers in a professional and compassionate manner
• Problem solves efficiently and promptly
• Locate missing lab orders and specimens
• Competent and efficient phone skills

Duties Integrated Into All Job Functions:

• All staff members are to promote a positive and productive work environment by acting maturely and responsibly, satisfactorily performing job responsibilities, and conducting themselves professionally, courteously, and respectfully toward fellow employees, physicians, and patients.
• Must relate to other people beyond giving and receiving instructions: (a) get along with co-workers or peers without exhibiting behavioral extreme; (b) perform work activities requiring negotiating, instructing, overseeing, persuading, or speaking with others; and (c) respond openly and appropriately to feedback regarding performance from a supervisor.
• Performs all duties in a manner that promotes and supports the Core Values of Optum.
• Integrates Lean principles, practices, and tools to improve operational efficiency, reduce costs and increase customer satisfaction.
• Must follow written and oral instructions and complete routine tasks independently.
• Complete all compliance training, including but not limited to HIPAA/Privacy/Confidentiality/Non-Discrimination/Harassment/Integrity Statement and signed Agreements.
• Ensures confidentiality of patient information by following HIPAA guidelines and Optum policies.
• Attends training to meet job position requirements and as needed or mandated by Optum policies, Div. of Occupational Safety & Health (DOSH), OSHA, L&I, and other state/federal regulations.
• Have regular and predictable attendance.
• Performs other duties as assigned

What are the reasons to consider working for UnitedHealth Group? Put it all together - competitive base pay, a full and comprehensive benefit program, performance rewards, and a management team who demonstrates their commitment to your success. Some of our offerings include:

• Paid Time Off which you start to accrue with your first pay period plus 8 Paid Holidays
• Medical Plan options along with participation in a Health Spending Account or a Health Saving account
• Dental, Vision, Life& AD&D Insurance along with Short-term disability and Long-Term Disability coverage
• 401(k) Savings Plan, Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Education Reimbursement
• Employee Discounts
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee Referral Bonus Program
• Voluntary Benefits (pet insurance, legal insurance, LTC Insurance, etc.)

You'll be rewarded and recognized for your performance in an environment that will challenge you and give you clear direction on what it takes to succeed in your role as well as provide development for other roles you may be interested in.

Required Qualifications:

• High School Diploma/GED
• Medical Assistant-Phlebotomist (MA-Pbt) certification from the state of Washington to perform capillary and venous invasive procedures for blood withdrawal under the supervision of a health care practitioner
• Completion of a Phlebotomy Certificate program through an accredited school
• BLS (AHA) certification is required or obtained within the first 30 days of employment
• 5+ years of blood draw experience
• 1+ year of computer proficiency with Microsoft Office and demonstrates solid computer skills
• Have reliable transportation and the ability travel 100% of the time to the other draw locations within Optum
• Ability to work a flexible 40-hour week scheduled to include Monday through Sunday between 6:30 am to 7:00 pm
• Able to use muscles to lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects. Occasionally, lifting to 50 pounds and carrying up to 24 pounds may be required
• Ability to abide by the code of conduct per Optum/UHG

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of common safety hazards and precautions to establish a safe work environment
• Knowledge of waived laboratory testing, including sample preparation and analysis, quality control, and troubleshooting.
• Familiarity with EKG procedures and acceptable results.
• Knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, and physiology. Understanding of HIPAA regulations and compliance standards. Knowledge of laboratory information systems and electronic medical records.
• Ability to perform waived testing accurately and efficiently. Skilled in sample handling, processing, and storage