Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist-Infectious Disease Testing

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

Overview Summary

Responsible for performing laboratory testing, quality control procedures and maintenance of equipment and work area; serves as section lead; serves as lead on process improvement initiatives; responsible for employee training and task assignment; assists with work scheduling and personnel management. This position is a 10-hour shift role, with assignments on either the first or second shift scheduling contingent upon departmental needs and candidate discussion. Flexibility is necessary to accommodate departmental needs. Starting compensation range for this position: $85,126 - $95,757

Our Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance options for full‑time employees
• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) plan
• 403(b) retirement plan with company match
• Tuition Reimbursement up to the IRS-allowed maximum
• Personalized learning and educational development opportunities
• Monthly cell phone and internet stipends
• Paid Parental Leave
• Annual Employer-funded Lifestyle Spending Accounts to support wellness needs
• Support and counseling for personal, work financial or family needs through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and our partnership with Critical Incident Stress Consultants (CISC)

Responsibilities Essential Functions

Advance Gift of Hope's mission, vision and core values: providing compassionate service, contributing to outstanding teams and engaging as one of our passionate people committed to a positive culture that respects the dignity and worth of each individual. Adhere to all policies and procedures in carrying out the responsibilities of this position.

• Perform high-complexity laboratory testing using established methodologies, including molecular HLA typing, flow-cytometry, genetic analysis, HLA antibody screening (if applicable), ABO typing, and 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.
• Serve as the final reviewer to sign off clinical cases in all aspects of testing including technical, quality, billing, etc., as designated by laboratory management
• Document test results and all pertinent information; interpret different and complex reaction patterns; identify probable causes for any irregular or atypical test results
• Responsible for compiling and preparing section quality assurance reports
• Serve as lead on process improvement initiatives
• Accurately communicate results to internal and external customers including clinicians, transplant coordinators, and other OPO personnel
• Accurately enter, retrieve, and transmit test data into laboratory information systems
• Assist laboratory staff in testing procedures, quality controls and standard operating protocols.
• Provide instruction and guidance to new employees in testing procedures, quality controls and standard operating protocols
• Perform laboratory employee competency assessment, as required
• Provide laboratory employee support, direction and management, as requested by laboratory management
• Assist with personnel management as designated, including but not limited to, one-on-one meetings, performance evaluation, coaching, and disciplinary actions
• Assist with development, validation and implementation of new and/or revised procedures and protocols
• Preserve donor cells and serum samples for potential future testing, if needed
• Process blood samples received from patients waiting for a transplant
• Prepare reagents required to perform analysis and ensure reagents are available and usable
• Set up and monitor equipment required to perform tests
• Maintain established preventive maintenance schedules for assigned equipment
• Perform minor equipment repairs such as adjustments and calibration of equipment
• Maintain quality control records and logs; prepare, record and store data for future reference
• Monitor supply levels to ensure adequate levels are maintained
• Ensure cleanliness and organization of work area in accordance with safety standards
• Serve as on-call off-hours technical consultant for laboratory employees
• Work with laboratory leadership to develop, plan, implement, monitor and assess the laboratory quality assurance and performance improvement programs
• Identify non-conformances and deficiencies and manage the corrective action process
• Promote the culture of quality assurance and performance improvement throughout the laboratory
• Work with laboratory leadership to ensure compliance with all pertinent regulatory agencies, such as CMS/CLIA, FDA, UNOS, ASHI, and CAP
• Responsible for determining, tracking, trending and reporting of relevant quality metrics, including, but not limited to, turnaround times, error rates, customer satisfaction score, etc.
• Assist laboratory leadership with preparation for all internal and external audits and inspections; assist with follow-up as needed, including responses and corrective actions
• Complete continuing education
• Other duties as assigned

Education and Training Required

Bachelor's degree in one of the biological, chemical or medical sciences
Certification as a Certified Histocompatibility Technologist (CHT) or Certified Histocompatibility Specialist (CHS) issued by the American College of Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (ACHI), or the ability to obtain certification within 18 months of hire or promotion

Experience and Skills Required

• Minimum 2 years' experience in high complexity testing in histocompatibility, immunology, infectious disease or virology
• Technical competency in a minimum of three clinical testing areas specific to the Gift of Hope Laboratory including infectious disease, HLA typing, crossmatching, and HLA antibody testing
• Critical thinking skills, decisive judgment and the ability to work with minimal supervision
• Basic skills in Excel and Word
• Proficient with laboratory software systems
• Familiarity with procedures for quality control of reagents and maintenance of equipment
• Demonstrated capacity to learn and apply new laboratory testing methods, processes, and equipment
• Capable of managing and performing multiple tests simultaneously in a timely and organized manner
• Ability to prioritize tasks to meet deadlines and laboratory objectives
• Attention to detail to conduct and interpret laboratory tests
• Analytical ability to evaluate test results and identify atypical results

Physical Demands

• Ability to lift and move 30 lbs.
• Ability to position self to file documents at varying height levels
• Ability to communicate information effectively, clearly, and accurately
• Ability to perform tasks requiring precision, such as conducting tests and repair equipment
• Visual acuity to read and record test results and conduct equipment maintenance

Work Environment

• Clinical laboratory
• Required to use personal protective equipment (PPE), as needed to perform essential job functions
• Work outside normal business hours, including weekends, evenings, and holidays
• Carry a personal cell phone to be accessible outside regular business hours

Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified candidates and does not discriminate with regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, military or veteran status, family medical history or genetic information or any other classification protected by applicable law. All employment decisions are made based on an individual's job‑related qualifications and abilities.