Lead Clinical Lab Scientist — Diagnostics & Process Improvement

Gift of Hope NA; Itasca (IL); On-site; USD 85,000 - 96,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision, disability & 

Life insurance

Generous PTO

403(b) with company match

Tuition reimbursement

Learning & development opportunities

Cell phone stipend

Parental leave

Lifestyle Spending Accounts

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network seeks a skilled laboratory professional to perform high-complexity testing, including molecular HLA typing, flow cytometry, and infectious disease assays. You will serve as section lead, guiding testing areas and providing technical leadership to ensure accuracy and regulatory compliance.

The role requires a minimum of two years in relevant high-complexity testing and expects you to sign off on clinical cases, support quality assurance, and drive process

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in biological, chemical, or medical sciences.
• Certification as CHT or CHS or ability to obtain certification within 18 months of hire or promotion.
• Minimum 2 years' experience in high complexity testing in histocompatibility, immunology, infectious disease or virology.

Responsibilities

• Perform high-complexity laboratory testing using established methodologies (molecular HLA typing, flow-cytometry, genetic analysis, HLA antibody screening, ABO typing, infectious disease testing).
• Serve as section lead, overseeing designated testing areas and providing technical guidance with at least two years of expertise in infectious disease testing.
• Sign off on clinical cases as final reviewer in all testing aspects (technical, quality, billing).
• Document test results and interpret complex patterns; identify causes for irregular results.
• Compile and prepare section quality assurance reports.
• Lead on process improvement initiatives.
• Communicate results to clinicians, transplant coordinators, and other personnel.
• Enter, retrieve, and transmit data in LIS; support testing procedures and QC.
• Provide instruction and guidance to new employees in procedures and QC.
• Perform competency assessments and staff development as requested.
• Assist with development, validation, and implementation of new procedures.
• Preserve donor cells and serum samples for future testing if needed.
• Process blood samples from patients waiting for a transplant.
• Set up and monitor equipment; maintain preventive maintenance schedules.
• Maintain quality control records and logs; monitor supplies.
• Work with leadership to ensure regulatory compliance and quality metrics.
• Support audits and inspections; participate in corrective actions.
• Complete continuing education and other duties as assigned.

Skills

Critical thinking

Decisive judgment

Excel and Word basics

Laboratory software systems

Attention to detail

Analytical ability

Prioritizing tasks

Multitest capacity

Education

Bachelor's degree in biological/chemical/medical sciences

CHT or CHS certification (ACHI)

Certification within 18 months of hire/promotion

Tools

Laboratory software systems

Job description

Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network seeks a skilled laboratory professional to perform high-complexity testing, including molecular HLA typing, flow cytometry, and infectious disease assays. You will serve as section lead, guiding testing areas and providing technical leadership to ensure accuracy and regulatory compliance.

The role requires a minimum of two years in relevant high-complexity testing and expects you to sign off on clinical cases, support quality assurance, and drive process