Medical Laboratory Assistant II - Full-time Evenings

About the role

Come lead with us at Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital. This is a full‑time, evening shift position in the Laboratory focusing on processing specimens. The Medical Laboratory Assistant II is responsible for processing, organizing, labeling, and transporting specimens for laboratory testing, performs advanced functions such as phlebotomy and/or section‑specific specialty tasks, and serves as a role model and preceptor for other staff.

Responsibilities

• Input and extraction of data from the Laboratory Information System
• Clerical tasks such as answering phones and filing documents
• Processing, organizing, labeling, and transporting specimens for laboratory testing
• Performing advanced functions such as phlebotomy and/or section‑specific specialty tasks
• Serving as a preceptor/role model for less experienced staff and students
• Preparing specimens for courier pick‑up and delivery to referral labs
• Communicating with laboratory personnel regarding specimen transport
• Performing various Laboratory Information System functions
• Filing requisitions, reports, and other pathology materials appropriately
• Answering the telephone and referring requests for delivery of results to physician offices
• Independently handling resolution of complex problems and notifying management
• Serving as escalation support for less experienced staff
• Organizing workload, setting priorities, and troubleshooting workflow issues
• Utilizing all available work time by assisting others and performing additional tasks
• Receiving, triaging, ordering, labeling, and transporting specimens for laboratory testing
• Processing specimens, aliquots, and/or slides/blocks according to procedure
• Handling STAT samples expeditiously
• Assisting pathologist and/or other laboratory personnel with specimen grossing as needed
• Recognizing problems (mislabels, incorrect tube type, etc.), identifying causes, and taking corrective action
• Operating automated instrumentation following all safety measures
• Performing and documenting processing equipment maintenance
• Performing pre‑analytic functions: phlebotomy and other specialized specimen collection procedures in outpatient and inpatient settings
• Performing specialty area functions (e.g., assisting with frozen sections, special stain procedures, cytology processing, fine needle aspirations, etc.) as per section scope
• Maintaining a safe environment within the Laboratory, following all policies and procedures for safety, hazardous materials, security, and emergency preparedness
• Adjusting work schedule to accommodate departmental/organizational needs
• Appropriately utilizing the time recording system
• Using department resources/equipment/supplies properly and efficiently
• Guiding and mentoring section employees and students to build confidence in skills, knowledge, and abilities
• Participating in departmental projects and seeking continuing education opportunities to expand learning beyond baseline competencies

Requirements

• High School diploma or equivalent education (e.g., GED, verification of homeschool equivalency, partial or full completion of post‑secondary education)
• Minimum of 3 years of related experience required
• Preferred: Relevant certification (e.g., phlebotomy, medical laboratory assistant)
• Work attire: scrubs (department approved)
• May be required to be on‑call during emergencies (e.g., disaster, severe weather)