Laboratory Supervisor - Microbiology

WVU Medicine

9d•Onsite

About The Position

The Laboratory Supervisor – Microbiology supervises the operation of the microbiology laboratory, personnel, and day-to-day workflow. The position oversees daily lab operations and works with the Lab Manager, Technical Director, and Laboratory Medical Director to ensure the lab functions properly. It is responsible for staff compliance with testing procedures and quality assurance, contributes to staff performance evaluations, supports maintenance and updating of the procedure manual and validation of new tests, and monitors specimen turnaround time, workload, and staffing. The supervisor maintains laboratory quality control and quality assurance measures, reviews CAP checklists and implements required changes, and performs microbiology technologist duties as needed. The supervisor also assists with broader laboratory operations, including staffing coverage, staff orientation, reference laboratory specimens, equipment operation, standard operating procedures, customer service, workload prioritization, turnaround-time monitoring, and communication with laboratory staff and other hospital departments. The role may participate in technical and theoretical instruction, supervision, and evaluation of residents and students. The position requires a bachelor's degree in Medical Technology, Cytotechnology, Histotechnology (Medical Laboratory Science), or a related field, or an associate's degree in Medical (Clinical) Laboratory Technology or a related field. Four years of experience as a Medical Technologist, Medical Laboratory Technician, Histotechnologist, or Cytotechnologist is required. State licensure is required in West Virginia in an eligible category; the posting states there is no state license requirement in Pennsylvania, Ohio, or Maryland. The work is scheduled for 40 hours per week on the day shift. The role is based at WVUH Clinical Labs Microbiology in Morgantown, West Virginia.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Medical Technology, Cytotechnology, Histotechnology (Medical Laboratory Science), or a related field; alternatively, an associate's degree in Medical (Clinical) Laboratory Technology or a related field.
Four years of experience as a Medical Technologist, Medical Laboratory Technician, Histotechnologist, or Cytotechnologist.
For work in West Virginia, current licensure as High Complexity Testing Personnel (HCTP), Cytotechnologist, or Histotechnologist; the posting lists no state license requirement for Pennsylvania, Ohio, or Maryland.
Competency in providing service to neonatal, pediatric, adolescent, adult, and geriatric patient populations.
Knowledge of medical technology and management principles.
Excellent written and oral communication skills.
Ability to sit for extended periods.
Ability to lift or pull up to 25 pounds.
Ability to tolerate foul or unpleasant specimen odors.

Nice To Haves

National certification through ASCP or AMT as a Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT), Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS), Cytotechnologist (CT), or Histotechnologist (HTL).

Responsibilities

Oversee daily operation of the microbiology laboratory and work with the Lab Manager, Technical Director, and Laboratory Medical Director to ensure proper lab functioning.
Assist managers with supervising laboratory areas and ensuring appropriate personnel coverage and staffing.
Participate in the orientation of new staff and provide input for annual performance appraisals, disciplinary actions, and terminations based on documented performance.
Coordinate sending reference laboratory specimens to the appropriate laboratory and ensure results are received within the specified time frame.
Coordinate computer downtime activities with LIS personnel and technical staff in accordance with standard operating procedures.
Operate and supervise laboratory equipment and prepare patient specimens according to standard operating procedures and policies.
Solicit and provide input for developing and revising standard operating procedures and department policies.
Maintain knowledge of hospital and laboratory administrative and safety policies and procedures, and applicable collective bargaining agreements; apply policies consistently and seek management guidance as needed.
Respond to, research, and answer customer inquiries; monitor customer service, Specimen Processing, and/or Phlebotomy activities to identify potential problems and solutions.
Request input and direction from Medical Directors, the Administrative Director, and/or Managers regarding medical and technical issues, employee training, and quality assurance and quality control procedures.
Organize and prioritize time, materials, resources, workload, and staffing to support patient care and efficiency across laboratory sections.
Participate in staff meetings, in-services, and other activities to communicate information to laboratory staff and other relevant groups.
Maintain laboratory communication and ensure new policy and procedure information is shared with staff promptly and incorporated into routine practice.
Review and evaluate quality control records and test results to identify analytical errors, shifts, and trends and help ensure quality patient test results.
Ensure daily workload is completed within established turnaround times by adjusting work according to test priority and reviewing pending results.
Communicate with supervisory and laboratory personnel, other hospital departments, and patients or the public to share information and identify or resolve problems.
Provide input to performance evaluations for laboratory personnel.
Assist the Technical Director with maintaining and updating the procedure manual and validating new tests.
Ensure staff compliance with testing procedures and quality assurance measures; maintain laboratory quality control and quality assurance.
Review CAP checklists and implement required changes to maintain compliance.
Perform microbiology technologist duties as needed.
May participate in instruction, supervision, and evaluation of School of Medicine residents and students in accordance with laboratory policies.