Lab Coordinator

Heartland Community Health Center – Lawrence, KS; Lawrence (KS); On-site; USD 32,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Heartland Community Health Center – Lawrence, KS aims to hire a Lab Coordinator to oversee daily laboratory operations across Heartland locations, ensure CLIA/OSHA compliance, and maintain robust quality assurance programs.

The role involves managing specimen collection processes, inventory, vendor relations, and coordinating inspections while supporting clinical staff and ensuring regulatory standards are met.

Qualifications

• Current Kansas phlebotomy certification or equivalent laboratory credential, if applicable.
• Current American Red Cross/American Heart Association BLS certification.
• Current BLS Instructor certification or ability to obtain within six months of hire.
• Minimum three years of laboratory, ambulatory care, or clinical experience.
• Working knowledge of CLIA regulations and laboratory quality standards.
• Experience with Electronic Health Records; eClinicalWorks experience preferred.
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation.
• Previous laboratory coordination experience.
• Previous CLIA compliance experience.
• Experience serving as a BLS Instructor.
• FQHC experience.
• Public health or ambulatory care experience.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate daily laboratory operations across all Heartland locations.
• Ensure compliance with CLIA, OSHA, HRSA, and all applicable regulations.
• Develop, implement, and maintain laboratory policies and quality assurance.
• Monitor quality control, proficiency testing, calibration, and corrective actions.
• Prepare for inspections and regulatory audits.
• Maintain documentation and certifications.
• Investigate laboratory discrepancies and implement corrective actions.
• Monitor workflow and recommend process improvements.
• Maintain laboratory inventory levels and coordinate vendor relationships.
• Manage preventive maintenance and servicing of equipment.
• Monitor expenses and specimen storage and chain-of-custody procedures.
• Collect, label, process, and prepare patient specimens; perform waived testing where permitted.
• Assist providers and clinical staff with procedures and specimen requirements.
• Monitor turnaround times and resolve specimen-related issues.
• Provide education and competency training for staff.
• Collaborate on quality improvement initiatives and regulatory compliance.

Skills

CLIA regulations

OSHA regulations

Laboratory quality assurance

Specimen collection

Regulatory audits

Inventory management

EHR (eClinicalWorks)

Vaccine program coordination

BLS certification

RN or LPN license

Interdepartmental collaboration

Education

RN or LPN license

Kansas phlebotomy certification

BLS Instructor certification

Tools

eClinicalWorks (eCW)

Job description

Status

Non-Exempt Function (Hourly $23.00 - $32.50)

Job Purpose

The Laboratory Operations Coordinator is responsible for overseeing laboratory operations, regulatory compliance, quality assurance, specimen collection processes, inventory management, and clinical laboratory services across Heartland Community Health Center. This position serves as the organization's subject matter expert for laboratory operations while ensuring compliance with CLIA, OSHA, and other applicable regulatory standards.

Job title

Lab Coordinator

Reports to

Director of Operations

Duties & Responsibilities

Laboratory Operations & Regulatory Compliance

• Coordinate daily laboratory operations across all Heartland locations.
• Ensure compliance with CLIA, OSHA, HRSA, and all applicable federal, state, and local laboratory regulations.
• Develop, implement, and maintain laboratory policies, procedures, and quality assurance processes.
• Monitor laboratory quality control, proficiency testing, calibration, maintenance records, and corrective action plans.
• Prepare for and coordinate laboratory inspections and regulatory audits.
• Maintain laboratory documentation, records, and required certifications.
• Investigate laboratory discrepancies and implement corrective actions.
• Monitor laboratory workflow and recommend process improvements.

Laboratory Inventory & Equipment Management

• Maintain laboratory inventory levels, including supplies, reagents, and equipment.
• Order laboratory supplies and coordinate vendor relationships.
• Maintain preventive maintenance schedules for laboratory equipment.
• Coordinate equipment servicing and repairs.
• Monitor laboratory expenses and inventory utilization.
• Ensure appropriate specimen storage and chain-of-custody procedures.

Specimen Collection & Clinical Support

• Collect, label, process, and prepare patient specimens according to established protocols.
• Ensure accurate specimen identification and handling.
• Perform waived laboratory testing as permitted by CLIA regulations.
• Assist providers and clinical staff regarding laboratory procedures and specimen requirements.
• Monitor laboratory turnaround times and resolve specimen-related issues.

Education & Quality Improvement

• Provide laboratory education and competency training for clinical staff.
• Assist departments with laboratory process improvements.
• Develop educational materials related to laboratory procedures and specimen collection.
• Participate in organizational quality improvement initiatives.
• Promote evidence-based laboratory and patient safety practices.
• Collaborate with clinical leadership on initiatives that improve patient care and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• Current Kansas phlebotomy certification or equivalent laboratory credential, if applicable.
• Current American Red Cross/American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
• Current American Red Cross/American Heart Association BLS Instructor certification or ability to obtain within six (6) months of hire.
• Minimum three (3) years of laboratory, ambulatory care, or clinical experience.
• Working knowledge of CLIA regulations and laboratory quality standards.
• Experience with Electronic Health Records; eClinicalWorks experience preferred.
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation.
• Previous laboratory coordination experience.
• Previous CLIA compliance experience.
• Experience serving as a BLS Instructor.
• Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) experience.
• Public health or ambulatory care experience.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of CLIA, OSHA, CDC, and laboratory regulatory requirements.
• Knowledge of laboratory quality assurance and quality control principles.
• Knowledge of specimen collection, processing, and laboratory workflow.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Ability to coordinate multiple priorities while meeting regulatory deadlines.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong presentation and teaching skills.
• Ability to educate clinical staff and facilitate group training.
• Ability to analyze data and recommend process improvements.
• Ability to establish collaborative relationships across departments.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment.
• Strong attention to detail and problem-solving abilities.
• Current, unrestricted Kansas Registered Nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) license.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
• Minimum of three (3) years of clinical nursing experience, preferably with immunizations, public health, employee health, or quality initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience administering vaccines and maintaining immunization records.
• Proficiency with Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems; eClinicalWorks (eCW) experience preferred.
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation for travel between Heartland locations, as needed.
• Previous Vaccine Coordinator experience.
• Experience managing Vaccines for Children (VFC), Vaccine for Adults (VFA), or other public vaccine programs.
• Employee Health or Occupational Health experience.
• Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), public health, or ambulatory care experience.
• Experience coordinating regulatory or accreditation compliance activities.

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements

• Requires movement throughout Heartland Community Health Center locations to support laboratory operations and employee training.
• Frequently performs specimen collection and laboratory-related duties requiring standing, walking, bending, reaching, and repetitive hand movements.
• May occasionally move or transport laboratory supplies, equipment, and training materials weighing up to 50 pounds.
• May be exposed to bloodborne pathogens, infectious diseases, hazardous materials, and other healthcare-related environmental risks; appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and safety procedures are required.
• Frequently works in close physical proximity to patients, employees, providers, and visitors.
• Requires operation of laboratory equipment, computers, telephones, scanners, printers, tablets, and other office equipment.
• Requires the ability to communicate effectively in person, by telephone, electronically, and while instructing classroom participants.
• Requires the ability to read, interpret, prepare, and maintain laboratory, regulatory, and training documentation.
• Subject to frequent interruptions, changing priorities, and multiple concurrent responsibilities.
• May be required to travel between Heartland locations to provide laboratory support and conduct BLS training.
• Performs work primarily indoors in environmentally controlled healthcare settings.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and applicable federal and state law.

Details

• Schedule: Full-time non-exempt.
  • Typical Hours Mon-Friday 8:00AM-5:00PM (average 40 hours/week)
• Primary Locations: All Heartland Community Health Center locations
  • Schedule may be altered by supervisor(s) as needed to allow for completion of expected duties of the position at any location.