Technical Specialist - Transfusion Services

Advocate Health Care; Park Ridge (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Advocate Health Care in Park Ridge, IL, is seeking an experienced clinical laboratory leader to drive regulatory compliance, accreditation readiness, and continuous quality improvement across the lab operations. You will lead cross‑functional teams, implement corrective actions, and ensure method validation for new equipment.

The role emphasizes collaboration with operational leaders, technical staff, and professional partners to optimize workflows, space planning, and data-driven initiatives,

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree in Medical Technology or related field is required.
• Minimum of five years of leadership experience is required.
• Master's degree in Health Administration or related field is desirable.
• Demonstrated track record of achieving results.

Responsibilities

• Ensure regulatory requirements are satisfied and accreditation readiness is led.
• Facilitate assessments, corrective action plans, and tracer activities.
• Collaborate with operational leaders and staff to implement clinical methodologies.
• Improve quality and efficiency by analyzing workflow and space needs.
• Develop standardized validation plans for new equipment in collaboration with teams.
• Support integrated technology, information systems, and processes to meet patient and operational needs.
• Create standard work and drive continuous quality improvement using PDSA cycles.
• Lead experiments to evaluate new methods to enhance clinical laboratory services.

Skills

Regulatory compliance

Quality improvement

Workflow analysis

Team leadership

PDSA cycle

Education

Bachelor's degree in Medical Technology

Master's degree in Health Administration or related field

Job description

• Ensures all requirements of applicable regulatory agencies (federal, state, local) are satisfied at all times. Leads continuous accreditation readiness efforts and collaborates with others in the development of improvement capabilities.
• Facilitates assessments, develops, implements, and evaluates corrective action plans based on past surveys and preparatory tracer activities.
• Collaborates with key teammates (operational leaders, key operators, technical staff, professional partners) for implementation of technical methods in clinical area of expertise.
• Improves quality and efficiency by analyzing and planning workflow, space requirements, and equipment layout in partnership with department leaders.
• Collaborates with vendors, technical directors, quality, and lab team to create a standardized method validation plan for new equipment. Focuses on streamlining implementation, meeting minimal manufacture requirements, while remaining compliant with accreditation agencies.
• Ensures all equipment is implemented in an integrated fashion, optimizing the mix of technology, information systems, and processes to support operational and customer needs.
• Participates in creation of standard work, sharing technical expertise to optimize efficiencies for continuous improvement
• Practice and teach critical thinking and problem-solving skills to create an environment of continuous quality improvement. Identifies performance improvement opportunities that impact operational & quality metrics. Utilizes the PDSA (Plan-Do-Study-Act) cycle to document improvements.
• Designs and conducts experiments to evaluate new methods with the goal of furthering the scope, quality, and efficiency of clinical laboratory services.
• Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; and participating in professional societies.

Essential Functions

• Ensures all requirements of applicable regulatory agencies (federal, state, local) are satisfied at all times. Leads continuous accreditation readiness efforts and collaborates with others in the development of improvement capabilities.
• Facilitates assessments, develops, implements, and evaluates corrective action plans based on past surveys and preparatory tracer activities.
• Collaborates with key teammates (operational leaders, key operators, technical staff, professional partners) for implementation of technical methods in clinical area of expertise.
• Improves quality and efficiency by analyzing and planning workflow, space requirements, and equipment layout in partnership with department leaders.
• Collaborates with vendors, technical directors, quality, and lab team to create a standardized method validation plan for new equipment. Focuses on streamlining implementation, meeting minimal manufacture requirements, while remaining compliant with accreditation agencies.
• Ensures all equipment is implemented in an integrated fashion, optimizing the mix of technology, information systems, and processes to support operational and customer needs.
• Participates in creation of standard work, sharing technical expertise to optimize efficiencies for continuous improvement
• Practice and teach critical thinking and problem-solving skills to create an environment of continuous quality improvement. Identifies performance improvement opportunities that impact operational & quality metrics. Utilizes the PDSA (Plan-Do-Study-Act) cycle to document improvements.
• Designs and conducts experiments to evaluate new methods with the goal of furthering the scope, quality, and efficiency of clinical laboratory services.
• Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; and participating in professional societies.

Physical Requirements

Works in a busy environment around physicians, technologists, and visitors. Must be able to actively walk and navigate throughout the work area around equipment. Works in an area which contains infectious materials, chemical hazards, and fire and mechanical hazards. Works in an analytical, physical and managerial environment. May be required to stoop, reach, and lift light (20 lbs.) to moderately heavy (50 lbs.) loads.

Education, Experience And Certifications

Bachelor Degree in Medical Technology, business, manufacturing, or related field is required. Master's degree in Health Administration, Business, Science or another related field is desirable. A minimum of five 5 years of relevant leadership experience is required. Can include Group Leader experience. Demonstrated track record of achieving results.