Lead Medical Laboratory Scientist

This position is day shift with weekend and holiday rotation and offers a $15,000 sign-on bonus with a 2-year commitment to UPMC.

Responsibilities

• Act as a supervisor designate, assuming supervisory duties and performing in-charge duties as needed.
• Evaluate problems in the absence of the Supervisor and solve those that are possible; communicate unresolved issues to the Laboratory Supervisor, Manager, or Director.
• Participate in an extensive administrative call rotation with other supervisory staff (Tissue Typing Laboratory only).
• Assist supervisory personnel in observing and documenting laboratory staff competency; complete all assigned duties within the required time frame.
• Perform all duties of a Medical Technologist, including ensuring instrument maintenance and function checks are performed and documented accurately.
• Troubleshoot instrument malfunctions and report problems to the Laboratory Supervisor, Manager, or Director.
• Review QC logs, document errors, omissions, or discrepancies, and bring them to the attention of supervisory staff.
• Compile QA data and prepare reports as directed; monitor proficiency testing activity and assist the Director with evaluation and documentation of responses to deficiencies.
• Assist the Laboratory Supervisor or Manager with staff scheduling as directed.
• Serve as a role model by maintaining confidentiality, interacting professionally with other departments, and representing the Laboratory on Hospital committees as needed.
• Adhere to abnormal and/or critical results reporting policy, turn-around-time policy, and quality assurance indicators.
• Maintain personal appearance standards, display hospital ID badge, and follow telephone/internet privileges according to policy.
• Comply with attendance and tardiness policy; help monitor subordinate attendance and tardiness.
• Adhere to the compliance policy and serve as a resource for subordinate questions; follow all safety policies outlined in the Laboratory Safety Manual.
• Demonstrate awareness of appropriate inventory levels and take action to prevent supply shortages or overages.
• Perform purchasing of supplies in the absence of the Laboratory Supervisor or Manager as directed.
• Master new procedures within established time frames and stay aware of changes in procedures and protocols.
• Perform orientation and training assignments in an organized, thorough manner; serve as a resource to other employees by sharing knowledge of procedures or testing outcomes.
• Develop, perform, and/or evaluate special projects; perform test evaluations and validations of new procedures and/or reagent systems.
• Formulate, author, and/or revise procedures according to CLSI guidelines.
• Prepare and deliver student lectures and bench instruction where relevant.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited college/university AND successful completion of an accredited Medical Lab Scientist program.
• OR Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited college/university with a major in biological, chemical, or clinical laboratory science AND ASCP or equivalent categorical or MLT certification.
• OR Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited college/university with a major in biological, chemical, physical, or clinical laboratory science AND at least two years' experience in a role equivalent to that of a Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) in a clinical laboratory.

Qualifications

• ASCP or equivalent certification in medical technology (MT) or categorical certification preferred.
• Certification as a Histocompatibility Technologist (CHT) by the American Board of Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (ABHI) preferred (HLA Laboratory only).
• Act 34 clearance required.