Medical Laboratory Technologist II, Microbiology

IWK Health; Halifax; On-site; CAD 54,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unionized position

Job summary

IWK Health in Halifax, Nova Scotia, invites applications for a permanent, full-time Clinical Microbiology position within Diagnostics Services & Maritime Medical Genetics. The role entails processing specimens, reading cultures, performing susceptibility testing, and maintaining QA programs.

A BMLS or MLT with CSMLS NSRMLS licensure is required, along with 5 years of related experience. Flexible hours include days/evenings, weekends, and on-call.

Qualifications

• Registered MLT or BMLS required.
• Five (5) years of related experience preferred.
• Recent experience reading/interpreting/reporting human clinical bacterial cultures required.
• Certification or eligibility for CSMLS required.
• Licensed or eligible for NSRMLS licensure required.

Responsibilities

• Microbiology Specimen Processing.
• Reading, interpretation, and reporting of bacterial cultures.
• Susceptibility Testing.
• Operation of laboratory instrumentation systems (e.g., BACTEC, Phoenix, LIAISON XL, MDX, BioFire, GeneXpert, BD MAX).
• Expertise in Gram stain interpretation and reporting.
• Serological/Immunological assays.
• Mycology/Parasitology.
• Quality Management System oversight and QA activities.
• Provides technical guidance to colleagues.
• Ensures compliance with applicable legislation, standards, and policies.

Skills

Leadership

Interpersonal skills

Time management

Teamwork

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science (BMLS)

CSMLS certification

NSRMLS licensure

Tools

BACTEC

Phoenix

LIAISON XL

MDX

BioFire

GeneXpert

BD MAX

Job description

Company : IWK Health
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

Responsibilities

• Microbiology Specimen Processing
• 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
• Mycology/Parasitology
• 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 of IWK Health , please apply through the internal careers page to ensure you are flagged as an internal applicant.