Medical Laboratory Technologist II, Microbiology

Nova Scotia Health Authority; Halifax; Hybrid; CAD 54,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

IWK Health in Halifax is seeking a Medical Laboratory Technologist II for the Microbiology Lab. The role supports diagnostic services, academic and research needs, under the Division Head.

Responsibilities include culture interpretation, susceptibility testing, and quality management, with opportunities for professional development and team leadership. Rotating days, evenings until 7pm, weekends and holidays; start date ASAP.

Qualifications

• Registered MLT or BMLS is required.
• CSMLS certification is required or eligible.
• NSRMLS licensure is required or eligible.
• Five years related experience preferred.
• Experience reading human clinical bacterial cultures required.
• Experience in a diagnostic Clinical Microbiology Laboratory is required.
• Commitment to ongoing professional development and quality management.

Responsibilities

• Read, interpret, and report bacterial cultures.
• Perform susceptibility testing.
• Operate and troubleshoot lab instrumentation (e.g., BD MAX, GeneXpert, BioFire).
• Provide technical guidance to colleagues and ensure quality management.
• Ensure compliance with PHAC/WHMIS/OHS and accreditation standards.

Skills

Leadership

Time management

Teamwork

Critical thinking

Communication

Problem solving

Education

MLT or BMLS

CSMLS certification

NSRMLS licensure

Tools

BACTEC

Phoenix

LIAISON XL

MDX

BioFire

GeneXpert

BD MAX

Job description

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Medical Laboratory Technologist II, Microbiology

Req ID: 226060
Department/Program: Microbiology Lab , Diagnostic Services & Maritime Medical Genetics
Location:Halifax
Type of Employment: Permanent Hourly FT ( 100% FTE) x 1 position(s)
Start Date: ASAP
Union Status: NSGEU Hlthcare , Healthcare Bargaining Unit
Compensation: $ 38.9148 - $49.6341 /hour
Closing Date: 22-Sep-26 (Applications are accepted until 23:59 Atlantic Time)

IWK Health is a respected academic health sciences centre located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, providing tertiary and primary care for two million children, youth, adults and families each year across the Atlantic region. We have a team of approximately 4000 employees, physicians, volunteers and learners at sites across Nova Scotia . People build careers with IWK Health with our focus on training and mentorship opportunities. We recognize each other’s talent and celebrate our successes. We collaborate in modern facilities or virtually from home, align our work to our values , and enjoy access to enhanced benefits and wellness programs. We are proud to support our patients, families and communities and are grateful for the generous donor support we receive.

Promoting an anti-racist environment, and calling out discrimination as we work and provide care, is important to us. We are located in Mi’kma’ki, the unceded and ancestral territory of the Mi’kmaq people. Working in Mi’kma’ki and providing care to those across Atlantic Canada is a shared privilege with the original inhabitants who have lived here for many thousands of years prior to colonization. There are 13 First Nation communities across Nova Scotia, and more than 50 historic African Nova Scotian communities who also have a long, deep, and complex history dating back over 400 years. We have the highest percentage of people with disabilities in the country. Nova Scotia has the highest proportions of transgender and non-binary people than any other province or territory in the country. We are active in our work to eliminate discrimination, but have more work to do to build that trust, acknowledge our biases and reduce the barriers our diverse communities face. We want IWK Health to be a safe and supportive space of equity and belonging in the care we provide and the employment we offer. We welcome all interested persons who self-identify as Indigenous, Black/African Nova Scotians, Persons of Colour, Immigrants/Newcomers, Persons with Disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ to apply to support our goal for our workforce to be representative of the patients, families, and communities that we care for at all job levels.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Manager, the Medical Laboratory Technologist II performs duties in the provision of laboratory services for diagnostic purposes and to support clinical care, as well as academic and research needs. They work in conjunction with the Manager to support the quality management program for the Microbiology Service under the direction of the Division Head. Responsibilities include resource and equipment management, scheduling support, and providing day-to-day operational guidance within the Microbiology Laboratory. Other duties will include but are not limited to:

• Reading, interpretation, and reporting of bacterial cultures
• Susceptibility Testing
• Operation of and technical expertise in laboratory instrumentation systems (e.g., BACTEC, Phoenix, LIAISON XL and MDX, BioFire, GeneXpert, and BD MAX)
• Expertise in Gram stain interpretation and reporting
• Serological/Immunological assays
• Implementation and ongoing support of the Quality Management System (QMS) within the Microbiology Laboratory, including oversight of equipment, competency programs, external quality assessment (EQA) programs, and internal audits
• Provides technical guidance and acts as a resource for colleagues
• Ensures compliance with applicable legislation, standards, and policies, including Public Health reporting requirements, WHMIS, OHS, Biosafety, PHAC Guidelines, and relevant accreditation standards

Hours of Work

Rotating days, evenings (to 7pm), weekends & holidays, standby and call-back

Your Qualifications

• Registered Medical Laboratory Technologist (MLT) or Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science (BMLS) required.
• Five (5) years of related experience preferred.
• Recent experience reading/interpreting/reporting human clinical bacterial cultures required.
• Recent experience in a diagnostic Clinical Microbiology Laboratory required.
• Experience with laboratory quality management activities considered an asset.
• Experience developing, reviewing, and maintaining Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) considered an asset.
• Demonstrated technical expertise in the operation and troubleshooting of laboratory instrumentation considered an asset.
• Certification or eligible for certification with Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS) required.
• Licensed or eligible for licensure with the Nova Scotia Regulator of Medical Laboratory Sciences (NSRMLS) required.
• Demonstrates excellent interpersonal and leadership skills.
• Demonstrates effective organizational, time management, and prioritization skills.
• Understands and has a proven ability to apply teambuilding dynamics/techniques.
• Demonstrates critical thinking in problem solving.
• Candidates must demonstrate an ongoing commitment to technical expertise and professional development.
• Candidates must be able to work within a team, work independently, and take initiative when required.
• Competencies in other languages an asset.

Thank you for your interest in IWK Health.

Please note that we only contact applicants selected for interview/testing. If we invite you to participate in an assessment process (such as an interview or testing) you have the right to request accommodation. Please discuss your needs when invited to the assessment process.

This is a Healthcare bargaining unit position. Preference is given to bargaining unit employees for unionized positions. Successful applicants changing unions, bargaining units or employment status, are advised to seek clarification regarding their seniority, benefits, and vacation entitlement and/or usage, prior to accepting the position.

An offer of employment is conditional upon the completion and satisfactory results of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials.

I f you are an employee ofIWK Health , please apply through the internal careers page to ensure you are flagged as an internal applicant.

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