Lab Technical Specialist Microbiology

Site:
Newton-Wellesley Hospital

Mass General Brigham relies on a wide range of professionals, including doctors, nurses, business people, tech experts, researchers, and systems analysts to advance our mission. As a not-for-profit, we support patient care, research, teaching, and community service, striving to provide exceptional care. We believe that high-performing teams drive groundbreaking medical discoveries and invite all applicants to join us and experience what it means to be part of Mass General Brigham.

The Technical Specialist is a highly specialized role within specialty areas (e.g., Blood Bank, Chemistry, Cytology, Hematology, Microbiology, Cytometry, Molecular Diagnostics) requiring a high level of skill. The Technical Specialist, in their role as Testing Personnel as defined by CLIA, may perform waived and non‑waived testing. Under general supervision, carries out all policies and performs all tests in accordance with the department's standard operating procedures.

Works independently in an efficient and organized manner to assure accurate results and records. The work requires a professional level of knowledge to read and interpret accurately test results used by providers in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. The Technical Specialist, in their role as Technical Supervisor or General Supervisor as defined by CLIA, may be delegated the responsibility of the technical oversight of the training areas including the day‑to‑day supervision or oversight of the laboratory operation related to personnel in training, performing testing, and reporting results.

Under the general supervision of the Technical Director and Clinical Supervisors, the Technical Specialist‑Education is responsible for supervision of trainees at their assigned workstations including Quality Control (QC) review, training, competency assessment of staff.

Does this position require Patient Care? No

The testing personnel are responsible for specimen processing, test performance and for reporting test results. Each individual performs only those tests that are authorized by the laboratory director and require a degree of skill commensurate with the individual's education, training or experience, and technical abilities. After successful completion of orientation, training and competency assessment on all instruments/methods applicable to their role:

• Follow the laboratory's procedures for specimen handling and processing, test analyses, reporting and maintaining records of patient test results.
• Maintain records that demonstrate that proficiency testing samples are tested in the same manner as patient samples.
• Adhere to the laboratory's quality control policies, document all quality control activities, instrument and procedural calibrations and maintenance performed.
• Follow the laboratory's established corrective action policies and procedures whenever test systems are not within the laboratory's established acceptable levels of performance.
• Be capable of identifying problems that may adversely affect test performance or reporting of test results and either must correct the problems or immediately notify the general supervisor, technical consultant, technical supervisor, clinical consultant or director.
• Document all corrective actions taken when test systems deviate from the laboratory's established performance specifications.
• Creates, documents, maintains, plans and implements the training programs including competency assessments for new procedures adapted into the Specialty Labs, and manages the competency review process with Supervisors and Technical Director, including the Compliance Officer as needed. Reviews and approves completed training paperwork and documentation, ensuring that all training documents and signoffs are documented and maintained in Media Lab Compass module, supported by the Senior Technologists, and administrative staff in the Specialty Lab.
  
  Trained on new processes to bring a training and education lens to the development and creation of SOPs for new processes. Assists with determining whether a new competency assessment needs to be created. Reviews and determines…