Clinical Laboratory Scientist I/II

County of San Mateo; California (MO); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sign-on bonus

Health benefits

Continuous recruitment

Job summary

The County of San Mateo is seeking qualified Clinical Laboratory Scientists to join SMMC. This role includes performing complex tests and overseeing laboratory technicians. Candidates should have a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field and possess a Clinical Laboratory Scientist license from California.

The position offers a sign-on bonus of up to $30,000 and requires 2-5 years of medical laboratory experience. Additional qualifications in hematology and blood banking are preferred. Apply to support the healthcare needs of San Mateo County.

Qualifications

• Possession of a Clinical Laboratory Technologist license issued by the State of California is required.
• 2 - 5 years of experience in a medical laboratory as a licensed technologist is strongly preferred.
• Experience with hematology, chemistry, and/or blood banking.

Responsibilities

• Perform high and moderate complexity testing.
• Oversee testing of medical laboratory technicians.
• Prepare culture media, stains, reagents, and stock solutions.

Skills

Microbiological examinations

Biochemical analysis

Blood banking

Quality control

Immunology

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Biology, Chemistry, Medical Technology

Job description

Overview

NOTE: This recruitment was amended on April 8, 2026 to remove a hold on accepting new applications. New applications are now being accepted. Exciting news! Candidates can receive a sign-on bonus of up to $30,000. First-time external new hires or current staff promoted internally or from other County departments into a regular Clinical Laboratory Scientist I/II position in San Mateo Medical Center (SMMC) may be eligible to receive a sign-on bonus of up to $30,000 (subject to discontinuation at any time). The sign-on bonus will be in 3 phases and will be prorated for part-time positions.

About the Employer

San Mateo Medical Center is a public hospital and clinic system fully accredited by The Joint Commission. SMMC operates outpatient clinics throughout San Mateo County and an acute-care hospital in San Mateo, with a mission to "partner with patients to provide excellent care with compassion and respect." As part of an integrated San Mateo County Health, SMMC serves the healthcare needs of all residents of San Mateo County, with an emphasis on education and prevention.

Opportunities

SMMC Laboratory is looking for experienced Clinical Laboratory Scientists to join our team! Positions are available for Clinical Laboratory Scientists/Medical Technologists in various shifts. Generalists are encouraged to apply as clinical areas include hematology, chemistry, coagulation, and blood banking.

Responsibilities

Under general supervision, the Clinical Laboratory Scientist I/II (Medical Technologist/Generalist) will perform high and moderate complexity testing and oversee testing of medical laboratory technicians and specimen management by phlebotomists during their shift in order to provide data used in the diagnosis and therapeutic management of diseases.

Distinguishing characteristics

Clinical Laboratory Scientist I is the journey level class in the medical technologist series with incumbents performing routine and specialized laboratory tests. This class is flexibly staffed with Clinical Laboratory Scientist II and incumbents are expected to advance to the higher level after gaining experience and demonstrating the required proficiency.

Clinical Laboratory Scientist II is the advanced journey level class in the medical technologist series with incumbents independently performing a variety of complex and specialized laboratory tests.

Possession of a Clinical Laboratory Scientist (MTA) license issued by the State of California is required, and 2 - 5 years of experience in medical laboratory work as a licensed technologist is strongly preferred.

The ideal candidate will also possess:

• A Bachelor\'s Degree in Biology, Chemistry, Medical Technology/Clinical Laboratory Science, or another related field.


• Experience with hematology, chemistry and/or blood banking.

NOTE for the Relief positions: The hourly wage for Relief Clinical Laboratory Scientist classifications is currently 4% above the rate for Regular employees in the same classification.

NOTE: The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, term, unclassified, and regular classified vacancies.

Examples Of Duties

• Perform microbiological examinations on a variety of specimens using morphological, cultural, biochemical, and serological identification of micro-organisms.


• Perform qualitative and quantitative analysis of blood and urine using standard procedures.


• Perform routine hematological examinations such as complete blood count, coagulation studies, sedimentation rate, etc.


• Perform blood banking procedures including typing, grouping, and cross matching of blood for transfusion.


• Perform serological examinations using a variety of techniques on various clinical specimens.


• Prepare culture media, stains, reagents and stock solutions.


• Operate and care for laboratory equipment and assumes responsibility for preventive maintenance.


• Perform all quality control tests required by procedures and prepare quality control reports.


• Maintain records of laboratory results, quality control data, and laboratory procedures.


• Assist in laboratory quality assurance procedures, data gathering and problem-solving.


• Compile and prepare periodic reports.


• Assist in training and guiding laboratory assistants and paraprofessional employees, as well as teaching other technologists\' new procedures.


• Perform related duties as assigned.

If designated as the CLS-Blood Bank Specialist

• Perform and document proficiency testing in the same manner as patient samples.


• Communicate, liaison, instruct, and dialog appropriately with health care providers, patients, and vendors on issues such as test interpretation, recommendations for alternate testing, instrumentation and problems with specimens/methodology


• Identify all simple and some complex antibodies.


• Investigate and develop new/modified blood bank procedures and technical review and monitoring of existing procedures.


• Provide technical expertise in the Blood Bank to establish compliance with regulatory/accreditation agencies\' requirements related to testing, training and education, competency evaluation, proficiency testing, validation, standard operating procedures, and performance improvement.


• Manage Blood Bank inventory.


• Review Crossmatches and off shift Antibody IDs.


• Review Transfusion reactions with Lab Director.

Qualifications

Licensure/Certification:

• Possession of a Clinical Laboratory Technologist license issued by the State of California; and/or Clinical Immunohematologist Scientist (MTD) license issued by the State of California.

Education and Experience:

Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to qualify is:

• Education: Bachelor\'s Degree (baccalaureate) in biology, clinical laboratory science, or equivalent major that includes 25 semester or equivalent quarter units of biology courses, which must include genetics and immunology.


• Experience: Minimum of two years of experience performing medical laboratory work as a licensed technologist, including at least one year of experience in immunohematology.

Knowledge of:

• Current technology, principles and application of medical examinations such as those commonly used in biochemistry, microbiology, blood banking, hematology and or serology.


• Operation and care of laboratory equipment and instrumentation.

Skill/Ability to:

• Make independent judgments in evaluating the validity of completed laboratory tests.


• Maintain and analyze quality control programs.


• Follow written and oral directions, procedures or instructions.


• Perform serological, parasitological, bacteriological, immunological, hematology, and biochemical tests.

If designated as Blood Bank Specialist:

• Perform biochemical tests and technical test interpretations


• Understand regulatory requirement specific for one\'s area of expertise

Application/Examination

Anyone may apply.

Responses to the supplemental questions must be submitted in addition to our regular employment application form. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required employment application and supplemental questionnaire.

This is a continuous recruitment which may close at any time. The final filing date will be posted 5 days in advance in the County of San Mateo Human Resources Department.

The examination process will consist of an application screening (weight: pass/fail) based on the candidates\' application and responses to the supplemental questions. Candidates who pass the application screening will be invited to a panel interview (weight: 100%). Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations or further evaluation of work experience may be conducted to group applicants by level of qualification . All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in San Mateo County, California and applicants must participate at their own expense.

IMPORTANT : Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County\'s website, you may click the “Apply” button. If you are not on the County\'s website, please go to https://jobs.smcgov.org/ to apply. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.

This is a continuous recruitment which may close at any time. The final filing date will be posted 5 days in advance in the County of San Mateo Human Resources Department.

Apply immediately. This recruitment is open on a continuous basis and selections may be made at any time within the process.

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE:

Final Filing Date: Continuous

About The County