Genetic Counsellor Assistant, Ambulatory Oncology

Sinai Health; Toronto; On-site; CAD 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Sinai Health in Toronto is seeking a Genetic Counsellor Assistant, Ambulatory Oncology to handle administrative processes that move genetic testing referrals toward results.

Working alongside genetic counsellors, oncologists, and the interprofessional team, you ensure records are available, referrals triaged, testing progressing, and patients and families have the information they need at each stage of care.

Qualifications

• Successful completion of a related bachelor's degree from an accredited institution (e.g. genetics/genetic counseling, biology, chemistry, or other science/health-related field).
• 1 year of recent and related work experience.
• Previous healthcare/clinical genetics/oncology experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate genetic referrals, consultations, testing, and follow-up activities.
• Prepare laboratory requisitions and track genetic testing across laboratories to ensure results are received in a timely manner.
• Assist with referral triage, patient history collection, and preparation of cases for genetics consultations.
• Obtain, organize, and track medical records, imaging, laboratory results, and family genetic test reports from internal and external providers.
• Support clinic preparation, including ensuring required investigations, documentation, and genetic test results are available for scheduled consultations and results calls.
• Assist genetic counsellors with risk assessment preparation, including pedigree development and risk calculations using tools such as IBIS and CanRisk
• Communicate with patients, families, healthcare providers, laboratories, and external partners by telephone and email
• Maintain accurate patient information, databases, EMR documentation, and genetic testing records
• Upload genetic consultation documentation and distribute reports to referring providers as directed
• Support physicians and genetic counsellors with patient follow-up, including imaging, laboratory investigations, and hereditary cancer surveillance
• Assist with research activities, literature searches, patient education materials, and academic placements or observers
• Provide administrative and operational support to the genetics and oncology teams
• Perform other duties consistent with the job classification as required

Skills

Attention to detail

Communication

Organizational skills

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in genetics/genetic counseling or related field

Tools

EMR systems

Laboratory information systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

In cancer care, momentum on a case builds through coordination well before a result reaches a patient. As a Genetic Counsellor Assistant, Ambulatory Oncology you will handle the administrative processes that move a genetic testing referral toward its result. Working directly alongside genetic counsellors oncologists, and other members of the interprofessional team, you gain firsthand insight into how genetic risk is assessed, investigated, and communicated. Your coordination helps ensure that records are available, referrals are appropriately triaged, testing is progressing, and patients and families have the information they need at each stage of their care. Every case you help move forward contributes to a clearer understanding of genetic risk and supports informed clinical decision-making.

Is this you?

In genetics, the details matter. You approach each task with accuracy and care, whether completing a laboratory requisition, entering patient information, organizing medical records, or preparing a case for consultation. You are attentive to inconsistencies and missing information, and you take the initiative to address them before they become delays. This consistency reduces potential setbacks that can require reworking or resubmitting.

Communicating with clarity and empathy comes naturally to you. In this role, that means adapting your approach as you move between patients and families, primary care providers, specialists and laboratories throughout the day. Active listening and thoughtful questions guide how you clarify a patient's history, request records from another institution, or help someone understand what to expect before their appointment. These interactions are what keep information moving smoothly between the care team and the people they serve.

Staying organized across multiple cases at different stages is a strength you're known to excel at. You confidently evaluate competing demands, deciding what needs attention first while keeping tracks of referrals, appointments, outstanding records, lab results and follow-up requests. When information is missing or a result hasn't come back, you follow up rather than waiting for someone else to catch the gap. This mix of judgment, persistence and follow-through is what keeps every case moving toward resolution.

About this team:

Located at Mount Sinai Hospital, our Cancer Care Centre provides specialized care to people living with cancer, providing advanced treatments, consultations and exams. We follow patients on a continuum of care through detection, diagnosis, follow-up, palliative care, treatment, supportive care, and survivorship. We treat patients with a range of cancers, including breast cancer, colon cancer, gastrointestinal cancers, bone cancer and soft-tissue sarcomas. We provide chemotherapy, as well as supportive and palliative care. Our facilities include a chemotherapy suite with eight treatment areas, and exam rooms where prescribers will conduct consultations and examinations. We apply a multidisciplinary and holistic approach to care that is collaborative, patient and family-centred. The team includes oncologists, nurse practitioners, certified chemotherapy trained nurses, chemotherapy pharmacists, social workers, dieticians, genetic counsellors, clinical research team, drug reimbursements specialists and palliative care team. Our standards are based on Canadian Association of Nurses in Oncology (CANO) and we value ongoing professional development in our staff.

In this role you will:

• Coordinate genetic referrals, consultations, testing, and follow-up activities.
• Prepare laboratory requisitions and track genetic testing across laboratories to ensure results are received in a timely manner.
• Assist with referral triage, patient history collection, and preparation of cases for genetics consultations.
• Obtain, organize, and track medical records, imaging, laboratory results, and family genetic test reports from internal and external providers.
• Support clinic preparation, including ensuring required investigations, documentation, and genetic test results are available for scheduled consultations and results calls.
• Assist genetic counsellors with risk assessment preparation, including pedigree development and risk calculations using tools such as IBIS and CanRisk
• Communicate with patients, families, healthcare providers, laboratories, and external partners by telephone and email
• Maintain accurate patient information, databases, EMR documentation, and genetic testing records
• Upload genetic consultation documentation and distribute reports to referring providers as directed
• Support physicians and genetic counsellors with patient follow-up, including imaging, laboratory investigations, and hereditary cancer surveillance
• Assist with research activities, literature searches, patient education materials, and academic placements or observers
• Provide administrative and operational support to the genetics and oncology teams
• Perform other duties consistent with the job classification as required

Job Requirements:

Mandatory

• Successful completion of a related bachelor's degree from an accredited educational institution (e.g. genetics/genetic counseling, biology, chemistry, or other science/ health-related field)
• 1 year of recent and related work experience

Preferred

• Previous experience in a healthcare, clinical genetics, oncology, or laboratory setting
• Previous clinical genetics experience, including experience obtained through a genetics-related academic or clinical program
• Experience working with electronic medical records, clinical databases, or laboratory information systems

Skills and Knowledge

• Familiarity with hereditary cancer, genetic testing, or genetic counselling processes
• Knowledge of basic genetics, cancer, and genetic testing terminology
• Strong critical-thinking, problem-solving, and follow-through skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate clearly and respectfully with patients, families, healthcare providers, and external partners
• Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively within a collaborative, multidisciplinary team
• Demonstrated initiative, adaptability, curiosity, and willingness to learn
• Ability to remain calm and professional in a fast-paced clinical environment
• Demonstrated satisfactory work performance and attendance history

If this sounds like you and you feel ready to build your career within healthcare, let us know why you’d be a great addition to our team.