Medical Laboratory Scientist Lead

Job Summary and Responsibilities

As our Medical Lab Scientist, you will be a critical diagnostic expert, performing complex laboratory tests to ensure accurate, timely results vital for patient diagnosis and treatment. You will execute a wide range of analytical procedures across various lab disciplines (hematology, chemistry, microbiology, etc.), analyze specimens, operate and maintain instruments, interpret results, and conduct quality control, providing crucial data for clinical decisions.

• Serve as Med Technologist Lead on a shift basis in the absence of a lab supervisor, lab manager, or lab director, ensuring adequate staffing and compliance with policies, procedures, and quality/safety standards.
• Perform and report waived, moderately complex, and highly complex test procedures on patient specimens according to Standard Operating Procedures, ensuring accurate and timely reporting.
• Provide excellent patient care through clinical correlation of results, identification of bias patterns, rapid notification of caregivers of critical values, and completion of testing within established turnaround‑time limits.
• Maintain major automated equipment by performing required maintenance, calibration, and troubleshooting; coordinate with instrument vendors for assistance or repair.
• Execute calibration and quality control procedures, maintaining records to confirm tests are performed within established parameters.
• Conduct proficiency testing as assigned and review results with laboratory clinical leaders.
• Assist in evaluation and generation of compliant documentation for validation of new procedures and equipment.
• Participate in continuing education, teaching, and training to enhance technical skills of students, trainees, coworkers, and self.
• Manage inventory of supplies, monitor levels, order, and store received supplies.
• Complete all work within the scheduled shift and appropriately hand off unresolved issues to incoming staff.
• Communicate professionally and with HumanKindness with physicians, hospital staff, patients, coworkers, and the public via email, instant messaging, telephone, or face‑to‑face interactions.
• Adhere to all regulatory requirements.
• Oversee daily workflow, conduct shift start‑up assessments of equipment, workload, and coverage, monitor staff breaks, address workflow bottlenecks, and notify supervisors of critical staffing issues.
• Serve as primary point of contact for client inquiries (physicians, nurses, etc.), resolve issues within guidelines, and escalate unresolved matters to management.
• Provide technical support and troubleshooting assistance to staff.

Job Requirements

Required:

• Bachelor of Science in a biological or chemical science as defined by CLIA.
• 1–3 years of work experience in a clinical laboratory setting.

Preferred:

• International Medical Laboratory Scientist
• Blood Banking
• Chemistry – ASCP
• Clinical Laboratory Scientist
• Clinical Laboratory Technologist
• Technologist in Molecular Biology
• Medical Laboratory Scientist – Med Technologist
• Medical Technologist AAB
• Technologist in Microbiology
• Medical Technologist AMT
• Specialist in Hematology
• Specialist in Microbiology
• Med Technologist – ASCP
• Histotechnologist

Where You’ll Work

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health has a rich history of providing exceptional healthcare since 1891. The organization offers a full spectrum of health‑care services across the Puget Sound area, including 10 hospitals and nearly 300 care sites. Employees join a team dedicated to compassionate, innovative care, research, education, and a commitment to healing the whole person – body, mind, and spirit.

Pay Range

$38.46 – $64.70 per hour