Clinical Laboratory Technician Lead, Genetics & Solid Tumors Lab

University of Washington Medical Center • Seattle, WA

5d • $64,260 - $92,004 • Onsite

About The Position

The UW Medicine - Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology (DLMP) in Seattle, WA has a fantastic opportunity for a Clinical Laboratory Technician Lead with the Genetics & Solid Tumors Team at the University of Washington Medical Center – Montlake. This role serves as a key operational and leadership partner within the Genetics Preanalytic service, ensuring high-quality specimen processing and seamless coordination between pathology, molecular genetics, and laboratory teams. The position combines hands-on clinical laboratory expertise with oversight of training, workflow management, quality improvement, and compliance with regulatory standards. Acting as a liaison across divisions, this role proactively resolves specimen issues, supports staff development, maintains documentation and inventory, and drives continuous process improvement ensuring accurate, timely genetic testing while maintaining smooth laboratory operations and patient safety. Work schedule: 100% FTE Monday through Friday 0930 – 1800 Day shift

Requirements

• High school graduation or equivalent AND three (3) years of chemical, clinical, or public health laboratory experience.
• Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license, certification, and/or registration.
• Able to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing.

Nice To Haves

• Associate or bachelor’s degree in science.
• Anatomic pathology OR Genetics Preanalytical Service experience.
• Leadership experience.
• Experience with electronic health record information systems.

Responsibilities

• Supports the Genetics Preanalytical Service team, including pulling information from pathology reports and requesting blocks needed for testing, ordering cuts for single blocks, and answering or triaging lower complexity inquiries, etc.
• Solves specimen problems in a timely, thorough and accurate manner, providing appropriate documentation for supervisor review.
• Makes constructive suggestions for improvements in the laboratory and staffing distribution.
• Keeps laboratory staff informed regarding specimen and/or handling problems or procedural changes.
• Oversees training of new staff to ensure that training is completed and documented on a timely basis.
• Work with the supervisor to annually perform, assess and document competency evaluations of current employees,
• Maintains confidentiality regarding concerning staff and personnel issues.
• Provide mentorship to current staff and communication about opportunities for continuing education to all staff.
• Act as a liaison between laboratories by ordering FFPE tissue cuts in EPIC Beaker, and troubleshooting with Molecular Genetics Director if tissue is scant or exhausted.
• Ensure that staff follow established departmental policies and division specific processes and guidelines at all times.
• Integrates new or revised processes into the workplace.
• Perform biennial review of current documentation per CAP requirements.
• Helps to maintain, archive and retrieve records or materials.
• Reports equipment and/or facility problems in a timely manner and provides adequate notice to staff.
• Maintains and/or notifies appropriate person of supply inventory needs.
• Under the direction of manager and/or supervisor, may serve in several specialized roles. These include serving as a representative on committees to implement new systems or processes, as division’s envoy for specialized department or hospital related initiatives, and/or work on other projects as assigned by manager or supervisor.
• Ability to perform all Clinical Laboratory Technician tasks. Must be able to perform tasks on all benches in processing areas to oversee and fill in on all bench whenever needed during short staffing periods.
• Perform other duties as required or as assigned by manager or director.
• Plans, organized and assigns staff work assignments and breaks in a manner that maintains smooth workflow regardless of workload.
• Communicates with supervisor concerning laboratory’s operational status, training needs, personnel issues, and staff concerns.
• Works with supervisor to review workplace procedures and policies.
• Reports issues or concerns from other laboratory division or hospital staff through HC1 or other reporting mechanism i.e., Quality Improvement tracking mechanism, incident reports, or Patient Safety Network.
• Applies principles and techniques related to surgical pathology and histopathology within the scope of practice to pull information form pathology reports that indicate good tumor specimens for genetic testing.
• Generates corrective action forms for non-conformance events, including investigating root cause, identifying or proposing corrective action, and reviewing with leadership.
• Perform other duties as required or assigned by supervisor or manager.

Benefits

• $3,000 recruitment incentive for eligible new employees joining UW Medicine.
• Vacation time and sick time off that accrue monthly, including 12 paid holidays.
• State Employee Tuition Exemption Program covering up to 6 credits of qualifying coursework per quarter at the University of Washington or other participating colleges or universities.
• Fully subsidized public transit pass (U-PASS) that covers multiple forms of public transportation in the region.
• Excellent healthcare, dental, disability, retirement, and other plan options.
• Lots of free fantastic fitness, healthy eating, finance, and stress reduction classes offered through the Whole U.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees