Lead Lab Technician (Molecular)

National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care is seeking a Lead Technician to coordinate daily laboratory operations, ensuring workflow efficiency and adherence to SOPs. This senior technical resource operates with limited personnel management responsibilities and may act as a delegated General Supervisor under CLIA guidelines.

The role involves coordinating workflow across accessioning, extraction, amplification, and data review, performing routine testing including PCR, and providing

Qualifications

• Meets CLIA high-complexity testing personnel requirements.
• Bachelor’s degree in chemical, physical, biological, or clinical laboratory science or equivalent.
• 2–4 years of clinical laboratory experience (molecular preferred).
• Experience in PCR workflows and troubleshooting.
• Experience training or mentoring staff preferred.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate workflow across accessioning, extraction, amplification, and data review.
• Perform and oversee routine testing, including PCR and analysis.
• Provide real-time troubleshooting for instruments and assays.
• Monitor QA and QC.
• Train staff and support competency assessments.
• Ensure proper specimen handoff between accessioning and testing.
• Monitor inventory and communicate supply needs.
• Ensure adherence to SOPs and documentation requirements.

Skills

CLIA high-complexity

Molecular lab experience

PCR workflows troubleshooting

Staff training experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in chemical/physical/biological or clinical lab science or equivalent

Tools

PCR instruments

Job description

Position Summary

• The Lead Technician coordinates daily laboratory operations at the bench, ensuring workflow efficiency, quality performance, and adherence to standard operating procedures.


• Serves as a senior technical resource and operational leader without primary responsibility for personnel management or program ownership.


• May function as a delegated General Supervisor in accordance with CLIA requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate workflow across accessioning, extraction, amplification, and data review


• Perform and oversee routine testing, including PCR and analysis


• Provide real-time troubleshooting for instruments and assays


• Monitor QA and QC


• Train staff and support competency assessments


• Ensure proper specimen handoff between accessioning and testing


• Monitor inventory and communicate supply needs


• Ensure adherence to SOPs and documentation requirements

Decision-Making Authority

• Prioritize workflow and assign bench responsibilities


• Hold or delay results based on quality concerns


• Initiate troubleshooting and reassign tasks as needed


• Escalate non-routine issues to Lab Supervisor

Qualifications

• Meets CLIA high-complexity testing personnel requirements


• Bachelor’s degree in a chemical, physical, biological, or clinical laboratory science OR


• equivalent


• 2–4 years of clinical laboratory experience (molecular preferred)


• Experience in PCR workflows and troubleshooting


• Experience training or mentoring staff preferred

Core Competencies

• Technical expertise in molecular workflows


• Workflow coordination and prioritization


• Attention to detail and quality focus


• Clear communication and team leadership skills