Laboratory Services Shift Leader

The Laboratory Services Shift Leader oversees clinical laboratory testing activities, coordinates staffing to ensure timely and quality testing, and supports organ transplantation efforts with dignity and compassion.  

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

PRIMARY FUNCTIONS

1. Provides guidance and direction to laboratory staff in real time to optimize workload, donation opportunities, and patient safety.
2. Responsible for ensuring laboratory staff clinical performance is consistent with policies and procedures
3. Conducts huddle with team to ensure work is planned accordingly for shift and reports deviations or issues to laboratory leadership.
4. Coordinates shift staffing to call in extra assistance or develop plans with technical specialists or laboratory leaders in instances of high case activity.
5. Maintains an awareness of pending testing and donor case activity to ensure optimal use of available resources.
6. Performs responsibilities of administrative on-call (AOC) on assigned shift:
   1. Maintains on-call responsibilities as necessary to ensure coverage of the assigned shift.
   2. Maintains competency in IDD, HLA typing, flow cytometry, antibody screening, DCU, and ABO testing as applicable to provide appropriate feedback and to provide oversight of assigned shift.
   3. Reviews donor documentation in TrueNorth, HistoTrac, and UNET, prior to allocation.
   4. Reviews results for HLA Molecular Typing, Infectious Disease testing, T and B crossmatch, Virtual crossmatch, and STAT antibody testing as part of AOC duties during assigned shift.
7. Skilled in creating an environment that promotes learning and effective explanations of clinical laboratory testing activities.
8. Listens and communicates effectively with other staff including use of the lab distribution email, verbal communication, and updates the communication board to maintain continuity of workload among staff.
9. Coordinates with director on-call to share patient information and provide key test details to support director consultation.
10. Serves as a role model for the MTN B-REAL behavioral competencies by actively supporting, reinforcing, and exhibiting behaviors in alignment with the B-REAL core values.

SECONDARY FUNCTIONS

Provides timely feedback to laboratory department leadership on employee education and training needs.

1. Problem solves with laboratory team members and provides clinical and logistical expertise in all areas of the donation process.  Communicates deviations from standard behavior and/or practices to appropriate laboratory leader for follow-up.
2. Provides timely feedback to Laboratory Manager on entries of the laboratory call schedules.
3. Completes necessary follow-up with laboratory manager regarding shift related issues or occurrences.
4. Serves as a member of the administrative on-call team (AOC).
   1. Maintains on-call responsibilities and competency as necessary to ensure coverage of the AOC call schedule.
5. Keeps laboratory management informed of variances in application of MTN/department policies and procedures.

QUALIFICATIONS AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS

1. Have earned a doctoral, master’s, or bachelor’s degree in chemical, biological, clinical or medical laboratory science, or medical technology from an accredited institution.
2. Meets the personnel requirements for CLIA General Supervisor of High Complexity Testing.
3. Minimum three years HLA typing, HLA antibody testing, flow cytometry, infectious disease and/or molecular diagnostics experience.
4. Ability to work a minimum of 40 hours per week.  Required to work for extended periods of time with few breaks.
5. Participates in a 24-hour AOC call schedule as needed to support holiday and weekend AOC duties.
6. Must maintain continuing education requirements either by holding a current ACHI certification or obtain 27 hours of continuing education hours each year. A minimum of 50% of these hours must be directly related to the science and application of histocompatibility and/or immunogenetics testing.
7. Certification as Certified Histocompatibility Technologist (CHT) or Certified Histocompatibility Specialist (CHS) ACHI certification strongly preferred.
8. Must maintain a valid driver’s license in accordance with MTN motor vehicle policy.  Must have reliable automobile transportation to be used with company reimbursement using IRS guidelines. 
9. Excellent organization and time management skills; ability to function independently and collaboratively; demonstrated problem-solving and creative thinking skills and well-developed personal stress management skills.
10. Effective written and verbal communication skills; ability to speak and communicate clearly and accurately to convey information in person and by phone; written documentation of relevant information in a professional manner.
11. Ability to lift 50 pounds and transfer short distances.
12. Possess the ability to operate telephones, computers, and laboratory equipment.
13. OSHA Category I – Exposed regularly to bloodborne pathogens while performing assigned job duties. 
14. Bloodborne pathogens protection is required.
15. Home internet and wireless phone access is required.

MTN BEHAVIORAL COMPETENCIES

Belonging: Intentionally connects with colleagues by embracing differences and finding commonalities to create a workplace where all employees feel safe and genuine at work. Models the philosophy that lived experiences make individuals unique by respecting and seeking to understand beliefs, values and opinions that are new or different from their own. Represents through actions and influence, the idea that diverse perspectives make MTN stronger as we serve our mission.

Respect: Builds a positive and supportive foundation inviting open, honest, and clear communication. Fosters a sensitive, supportive, and trustworthy environment, which promotes active listening and strengthens rapport throughout all interactions. Cultivates teamwork through acceptance and inclusion by valuing differences and empowering strengths.

Excellence: Demonstrates excellence by going above and beyond, while maintaining compassion and humility in all interactions. Demonstrates a high rate of achievement and success for the organization through proactive objectives centered on the overall mission and vision. Consistently models a positive attitude, a willingness to help others, and a dedication to improvement. Takes full responsibility for their role and challenges themselves to find workable solutions.

Accountability: Demonstrates the highest ethical standards, by honoring commitments to each other and professional partners. Executes all interactions through honesty and transparency. Demonstrates responsibility and integrity through ownership of the mission. Utilizes resources appropriately.

Leadership: Empowers, mentors and encourages all staff, while displaying a high-level of professionalism. Demonstrates ability to cultivate teams and relationships through open lines of communication, honesty and respect. Handles challenges with compassion by developing trust through respectful feedback and support. Acts as a resource by providing the tools, which enable others to reach their highest potential.

It is the policy of Midwest Transplant Network (MTN) to provide equal opportunity in employment to all employees and applicants for employment.  No person will be discriminated against in employment because of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, ethnic origin, age, genetic information, disability, protected veteran status, arrest record, or any characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.  In addition, the organization complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the organization has facilities.  This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, training, employee activities and general treatment during employment

MTN is committed to complying with state and federal disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability to enable the applicant or employee to be considered for the position they desire, to perform the essential functions of the position in question, or to enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment as are enjoyed by other similarly situated employees without disabilities, unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of MTN’s mission.