Laboratory Quality Specialist-Chemistry

Harris Health; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Harris Health in Houston, Texas, is seeking a Laboratory Quality Specialist to coordinate Quality Assurance activities in a dynamic lab environment. The role requires a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field and involves ensuring compliance with regulatory and safety standards.

Preferred qualifications include experience in Quality Assurance, certifications in healthcare quality, and strong analytical skills. The position offers a flexible schedule, with a commitment to quality management and inspection readiness.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a chemical, physical, biological or clinical laboratory science.
• 6 months of experience in Quality Assurance and/or compliance preferred.
• Certified Professional for Healthcare Quality or Six Sigma certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate Quality Assurance activities within the laboratory department.
• Support compliance with clinical lab regulatory standards.
• Assist in implementing and maintaining quality management plans.

Skills

Analytical problem-solving skills

Strong communication skills

Basic statistics knowledge

MS Word

MS PowerPoint

MS Excel

MS Outlook

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field

Tools

Medical Technologist

Medical Laboratory Scientist

Quality Improvement Associate

Quality Process Analyst

Quality Technician

Job description

About Us

Harris Health System is the public healthcare safety‑net provider established in 1966 to serve the residents of Harris County, Texas. As an essential healthcare system, Harris Health champions better health for the entire community, with a focus on low‑income uninsured and underinsured patients, through acute and primary care, wellness, disease management and population health services. Ben Taub Hospital (Level 1 Trauma Center) and Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital (Level 3 Trauma Center) anchor Harris Health's robust network of 39 clinics, health centers, specialty locations and virtual (telemedicine) technology. Harris Health is among an elite list of health systems in the U.S. achieving Magnet nursing excellence designation for its hospitals, the prestigious National Committee for Quality Assurance designation for its patient‑centered clinics and health centers and its strong partnership with nationally recognized physician faculty, residents and researchers from Baylor College of Medicine; McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth); The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; and the Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine at the University of Houston.

Job Summary

Assists in coordinating Quality Assurance activities within the assigned laboratory department/section. This position supports compliance with clinical lab regulatory standards (CLIA, CAP, etc.) and lab safety standards. The role involves basic judgement, analytical ability, and problem‑solving skills in dealing with data and situations. The laboratory quality specialist assists in implementing and maintaining the quality management plan and performance improvement activities for the assigned area, ensuring inspection readiness at all times.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a chemical, physical, biological or clinical laboratory science, or medical technology

Licenses & Certification

• Medical Technologist OR Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS), Histotechnician (HT), Histotechnologist (HTL) Cytotechnologist (CT), Molecular Biology (MB), Molecular Diagnostics or equivalent certification within the following organizations: ASCP, AMT, ABB or equivalent
• Quality Improvement Associate (CQIA), Quality Process Analyst (CQPA) or Quality Technician (CQT); Must obtain one of these certifications from ASQ within 18 months of employment

Work Experience

• 6 Months Experience in Quality Assurance and/or compliance preferred
• Certified Professional for Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) or Six Sigma certification preferred
• Project management certification preferred
• Two (2) Years Experience in a Clinical laboratory area such as Blood bank, Chemistry and hematology, Point of Care Testing (POCT), Microbiology, Histology or cytology, Molecular / flow cytometry
• Communication Skills: Writing/Correspondence, Writing/Reports
• Proficiencies: MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Excel, MS Outlook, P.C.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

• Analytical: Strong problem‑solving skills
• Statistical: Demonstrates knowledge of basic statistics (mean, CV, SD, control charts, etc.)

Work Schedule & Travel

Flexible: Laboratory departments are open 24/7, some weekend, evening and night work is expected.

Travel: >75%, Travel is primarily limited to Harris Health System hospitals and clinics.

Telecommute

Telecommute