Lead Phlebotomist - North County

Scripps Health; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 43,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

Scripps Health is seeking a Phlebotomy Technician Lead to support daily patient care within the clinical laboratory. The role requires coordination with supervisors for shift coverage and the ability to respond to urgent life‑threatening situations.

Responsibilities include phlebotomy duties, sample handling, and active participation in performance improvement initiatives. The position emphasizes teamwork with clinicians and nursing staff at multiple San Diego sites.

Qualifications

• Certified Phlebotomy Technician I or II, CDPH certificate.
• American Heart Association BLS for Healthcare Professional.
• Proficient with medical terminology and computer systems.
• Good critical thinking and analytical skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Support the laboratory manager in providing excellent patient care.
• Serve as an ambassador for the laboratory with patients, physicians, nurses, and visitors.
• Adhere to safe patient handling standards including infection control protocols.
• Participate in laboratory performance improvement, including error identification and follow up.
• Manage New Hire Orientation & Student Orientation.
• Assist with scheduling, Lawson ordering, and site administration meetings.
• Perform phlebotomy as a Certified Phlebotomy Technician.
• Manage workflow and prioritize draws based on criticality.
• Identify patients and label samples accurately.
• Preserve sample integrity and transport to the lab timely.

Skills

Critical thinking

Written & verbal communication

Medical terminology

Computer systems

Education

Associate Degree

Tools

Epic software

Job description

This is a full-time, benefitted position working 8-hour varied shifts on varied days. This position is scheduled in coordination with the supervisor to help provide full daily coverage. For example, if the supervisor works 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., the Lead will work 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Rotating weekend and holiday coverage is required.

Why join Scripps Health?

At Scripps Health, your ambition is empowered and your abilities are appreciated:

• Nearly a quarter of our employees have been with Scripps Health for over 10 years.
• Scripps is a Great Place to Work Certified company for 2025.
• Scripps Health has been consistently ranked as a top employer for women, millennials, diversity, and as an overall workplace by various national publications.
• Becker's Healthcare ranked Scripps Health on its 2026 list of 150 top places to work in health care.
• We have transitional and professional development programs to create a learning environment that enables you to thrive in your specific field as well as in your overall career.
• Our specialties have been nationally recognized for quality in areas such as cardiovascular care, oncology, orthopedics, geriatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, and gastroenterology.

Why Scripps Clinics Labs?

• Our team offers a collaborative, mission-driven environment where employees are supported in delivering high-quality care and growing professionally.
• What sets us apart is our unique scope of services - One site supports Urgent Care, with select tests resulted on site.
• Two sites include Health Express, creating strong collaboration with nursing and enhancing team-based care.

What You'll Do:

• Support the laboratory manager in providing excellent patient care.
• Serve as an ambassador for the laboratory in interactions with patients, physicians, nurses, and visitors.
• Adhere to all safe patient handling standards including demonstration of pre-analytical safety procedures and Infection control protocols.
• Participate in laboratory performance improvement, which includes error identification and appropriate follow up, investigation, correction, documentation, and notification to appropriate caregiver and lab leadership.
• Responsible for New Hire Orientation & Student Orientation.
• Assist with scheduling, Lawson ordering, mediating for site administration meetings.
• Responsible for performing all functions as a Certified Phlebotomy Technician including the following:
• Manage workflow through distribution of phlebotomy workload between team members and assess priority of draws based on criticality of each situation.
• Assess staffing needs and assignments of team members on each shift.
• Respond to life critical situations such as Trauma, Stroke Codes, Code Sepsis or Code Blues.
• Ensure samples are collected following time-sensitive priorities (STAT, Timed and routine).
• Observe aseptic technique and isolation procedures whenever indicated.
• Clarify unclear orders, resolve any orders or patient identification discrepancies prior to sample collection and document ABN necessity whenever indicated.
• Identify patients according to policy prior to sample collection and label samples accurately.
• Perform phlebotomy through venipuncture or capillary puncture and observe age-specific techniques for all patient age groups.
• Preserve sample integrity by delivering samples to the laboratory within the required amount of time. Process specimens and follow critical sample handling instructions regarding centrifugation, aliquoting, transport, and storage requirements for every test performed in the laboratory or sent out to a reference laboratory.
• Follow HAZMAT regulations when packing samples for transport to the Core Lab or other laboratories Perform crucial pre-analytic and analytic steps of test procedures as required, under supervision of licensed laboratory personnel.
• Demonstrate knowledge of standard office equipment, computers and computer software skills including laboratory and hospital electronic medical records.

Required Education/Experience/Specialized Skills:

• Certified Phlebotomy Technician I or II, valid certificate issued by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH).
• American Heart Association Basic Life Support for the Healthcare Professional (BLS) certificate.
• Good critical thinking and analytical skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficient with medical terminology and of computer systems.

Preferred Education/Experience/Specialized Skills/Certification:

• Associate Degree
• Experience with pediatric and geriatric patients
• Experience with Epic software
• 3-5 years of phlebotomy experience
• 1-2 years of leadership experience or an externship at any one of our Scripps PSC Locations

Job: Lab

Primary Location: Central San Diego County-SAN DIEGO-SCRIPPS MEDICAL LABORATORY

Work Locations: SCRIPPS MEDICAL LABORATORY 9535 WAPLES ST. SAN DIEGO 92121

Other Locations: Northern San Diego County-VISTA-SCRIPPS COASTAL MEDICAL CENTER - VISTA, Northern San Diego County-OCEANSIDE-SCF 78/Jefferson, Northern San Diego County-SAN MARCOS-SCMC San Marcos

Organization: Scripps Clinic

Job Posting: Aug 7, 2026, 7:00:00 AM

Benefit Status: FT - FULL-TIME WITH BENEFITS

Minimum Rate (USD): 30.61

Maximum Rate (USD): 43.79

In compliance with the California Pay Transparency Act, Scripps Health posts the pay range for all jobs. Please note that actual pay will be determined based on relevant experience and internal equity within the pay range. Please also note this range is applicable for employees who reside in California only. A geographical pay differential may be applied for remote employees who reside out of state. Scripps Health strives to ensure that our employees receive equal pay for equal work in line with our commitment to being an equal opportunity employer.

Scripps Health is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity/expression), age, marital status, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability.