Technical Specialist - Laboratory

Laboratory Technical Specialist

Fairview is looking for a Laboratory Technical Specialist at Fairview Community Health and Wellness Hub. This is a full-time, benefit-eligible opportunity. Weekday hours are: 8hr shifts, 6:00am or 7:00am start time (6:00am-2:30pm or 7:00am-3:30pm). Weekend and holiday hours: 4hr shifts, 6:00am-10:00am. The Laboratory at Fairview Community Health and Wellness Hub offers a focused range of high-quality diagnostic testing services, including hematology, urinalysis, and urine pregnancy tests. We also support our patient care unit through efficient and responsive point-of-care testing. Staffed by a team of nearly 30 dedicated laboratory professionals (LCT, MLT, MLS at various FTE level) who are united in their commitment to delivering accurate and timely results, this laboratory emphasizes patient comfort while ensuring rapid turnaround times. Located in Downtown St. Paul, our facility plays a key role in a broader community initiative to advance health equity and improve access to care.

Responsibilities

The Technical Specialist role is essential to managing the department's core technical and operational responsibilities. This position serves as a key technical resource, performs complex diagnostic testing, and directs workflow to ensure accurate, efficient, and cost-effective laboratory operations. In addition, the Technical Specialist acts as the primary point of contact for specimen collection and the receiving area, ensuring smooth intake, coordination, and communication across teams. The role also provides critical oversight of staff scheduling by reviewing schedules prepared by the centralized scheduling department prior to publication and assisting with schedule-related issues after publication. This position also plays a vital role in compliance, regulatory oversight, and quality assurance activities, helping to maintain high standards, ensure appropriate coverage, and reduce operational risk.

Responsibilities include:

• Directs workflow in the daily operations of a laboratory section and is a technical resource for staff in problem solving and in the evaluation of testing results for accuracy, determining when recheck or other intervention is needed.
• May be responsible for method development research, instrument correlation, and method validation.
• Assures the performance of accurate testing.
• Performs laboratory information systems functions; ensures that change requests are communicated to LIS.
• Acts as resource for laboratory information systems (LIS) functions coordinating change and implementation requests as needed.
• Ensures LIS changes are implemented once made.
• Participates in system standardization teams.
• Performs a wide variety of complex diagnostic procedures including waived, moderate, or high complexity testing as defined by CLIA '88.
• Functions independently in performing all major work responsibilities of professional laboratory practice.
• Operates laboratory instrumentation and information systems according to procedures.
• Completes specified maintenance on instruments.
• Acts as a resource for problem solving, action steps and troubleshooting for lab procedures and unexpected events in lab operations.
• Initiates proper safety or emergency responses.
• Consults with supervisor/manager if unable to resolve issues.
• Exercises critical thinking to maintain and improve department productivity and efficiencies.
• Assists supervisor/manager in designing, implementing, and evaluating new work processes or methods.
• Partners with key stakeholders to ensure appropriate quality and performance measures are in place to meet any policy, compliance, or regulatory requirements.
• Coordinates the preparation of the lab section for inspection by accrediting agencies.
• Documents deviations and action taken.
• Takes action to evaluate and resolve QC outliers. Consults with supervisor/manager for assistance if needed.
• Assumes responsibility for the lab Performance Improvement program by suggesting areas for improvement, collecting data, reviewing the results, and recommending action steps to be taken.
• Documents compliance with and demonstrates working knowledge of regulations of governmental or voluntary agencies.
• Collaborates with the customers of the laboratory to promote appropriate use of laboratory resources.
• Orients individuals in laboratory operations including routine and complex testing methodology, instrumentation, and laboratory information systems.
• Responsible for monitoring and documenting the progress of the orientation and training; provides feedback to trainee.
• Completes training checklists and evaluations as appropriate.
• Assists supervisor/manager in developing learning plans.
• Checks work prior to release.

Required Qualifications

The following are required qualifications for this position:

• Baccalaureate or higher degree from an accredited college/university in a related laboratory field including the related lab practicum or equivalent routes meeting qualifications as a general supervisor for high complexity testing as specified in CLIA '88.
• Bachelor of Science from an accredited college/university in chemical, biological, clinical or medical laboratory science, or medical technology. (Diploma with field of study listed or transcript must be provided); or
• B.S./B.A. from an accredited college/university with 16 semester hours in biology including one semester in microbiology and 16 semester hours in chemistry including one semester in organic or biochemistry meeting qualifications as a general supervisor for high complexity testing as specified in CLIA '88. (Transcript must be provided); or
• Combination Education & Experience including completion of a 50-week U.S. military medical laboratory training course and a Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college/university with 16 semester hours in biology including one semester in microbiology and 16 semester hours in chemistry including one semester in organic or biochemistry meeting qualifications as a general supervisor for high complexity testing as specified in CLIA '88. (Transcript must be provided); or
• Master of Science from an accredited college/university in molecular biology, biotechnology, chemistry, biology, cytology, immunology, immunohematology, microbiology, allied health, medical laboratory science, or an appropriately related field meeting qualifications as a general supervisor for high complexity testing as specified in CLIA '88. (Diploma with field of study listed or transcript must be provided)
• 1 year laboratory training or experience, or both, in high complexity testing required for candidates with baccalaureate or higher degree in chemical, biological, clinical or medical laboratory science, or medical technology; or
• 2 years laboratory training or experience, or both, in high complexity testing required for candidates qualifying by baccalaureate degree and semester hours.
• Applicant should possess or be eligible to receive appropriate Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) approved laboratory certification. Labs-Acute Care – ASCP, ASCPi, or AMT – MLS or MT HEW Medical Technologist certification may be considered. Labs-Admin – ASCP, ASCPi, or AMT – MLS or MT Labs-Outreach – ASCP, ASCPi, or AMT – MLS or MT Labs-Point of Care – ASCP, ASCPi, or AMT – MLS or MT Labs-Electron Microscopy – ASCP or ASCPi – HTL Labs-Blood Bank – ASCP or ASCPi – BB or SBB Labs-Cytology – ASCP – CT or SCT Labs-Cytogenetics – ASCP or ASCPi – MLS, MT, CG, MB, SH, or SMB AMT – MLS or MT Labs-IFC – ASCP or ASCPi – MLS, MT, SCYM, or SH AMT – MLS or MT Labs-Histology – ASCP – CT or HTL ASCPi – HTL Labs-Immunology/HLA – ASCP or ASCPi – MLS or MT AMT – MLS or MT ACHI – CHT or CHS Labs-Infectious Disease – ASCP or ASCPi – MLS, MT, M, SM, MB, SMB, V or SV AMT – MLS or MT Labs-Molecular Diagnostics – ASCP or ASCPi – MLS, MT, MB, or SMB AMT – MDT, MLS or MT Labs-Special Chemistry – ASCP or ASCPi – MLS, MT, C or SC AMT – MLS or MT * Lab - Andrology *ASCP - MLS *AAB - ALS (Andrology Laboratory Scientist within 1 Year

Preferred Qualifications

The following are preferred qualifications for this position:

• 2 years experience in area of specialty or subspecialty.

Benefit Overview

Fairview offers a generous benefit package including but not limited to medical, dental, vision plans, life insurance, short-term and long-term disability insurance, PTO and Sick and Safe Time, tuition reimbursement, retirement, early access to earned wages, and more! Please follow this link for additional information.

Compensation Disclaimer

An individual's pay rate within the posted range may be determined by various factors, including skills, knowledge, relevant education, experience, and