Laboratory Supervisor, Blood Bank Lab - Full-Time, Day Shift

University of Chicago • Harvey, IL

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Ingalls Memorial Hospital is seeking a Laboratory Supervisor for its Blood Bank laboratory. The supervisor trains, supervises, and evaluates laboratory staff; provides technical and operational guidance; ensures accurate and timely testing; and supports department operations, compliance, quality, and customer service. The role works closely with pathologists and hospital departments on critical values, workload analysis, method changes, validation, accreditation readiness, and other technical matters. It is a 100% onsite position based in the greater Chicagoland area.

The supervisor supports departmental budgeting, cost containment, inventory management, staffing, safety, and document control. They oversee staff competency, performance appraisals, training, and corrective action; maintain laboratory policies and regulatory compliance; troubleshoot equipment and LIS/HIS issues; and lead or participate in quality and performance improvement initiatives. The role also coordinates proficiency testing, evaluates quality control and patient results, communicates critical values, and helps ensure STAT testing is completed within required timeframes.

The position requires a bachelor's degree in a qualifying laboratory science, MT (ASCP) or equivalent, and at least five years of clinical laboratory experience, including at least one year of training and/or experience in high-complexity testing. Leadership experience in a Blood Bank laboratory is preferred.

Requirements

• At least five years of experience in a clinical laboratory workplace, with no more than a two-year gap.
• At least one year of training and/or experience in high-complexity testing.
• B.S. or B.A. in medical technology or in chemical, physical, biological, or clinical laboratory science.
• MT (ASCP) certification or equivalent.
• Working knowledge of scientific principles attained through a baccalaureate degree and/or laboratory experience as prescribed by CLIA-88.
• Considerable problem-solving ability and skill in evaluating results.
• Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with physicians, patients, visitors, and hospital staff.
• Computer experience with LIS, PC, HIS, Microsoft Office, or similar systems.

Nice To Haves

• Leadership experience in a Blood Bank laboratory.
• Successful challenge of an accredited proficiency examination and/or certification through ASCP, NAACLS, HEW, or an equivalent agency.

Responsibilities

• Train, supervise, assign tasks to, and evaluate laboratory staff; maintain competency documentation and oversee staff development and corrective action.
• Ensure appropriate staffing and productivity based on anticipated workload.
• Provide input on departmental budgets, review financial reports, submit variance reports when required, and support cost containment and revenue enhancement.
• Manage inventory and supplies cost-effectively and assist with vendor selection and approval for budgeted purchases.
• Maintain departmental policies, procedures, forms, and manuals in compliance with document control standards and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Develop and monitor compliance with safety and waste management procedures and adhere to Standard Precautions.
• Perform standard and specialized automated and non-automated laboratory techniques and operate instruments, equipment, and related devices.
• Troubleshoot equipment, LIS, and HIS issues; ensure remedial action when test systems deviate from performance specifications.
• Maintain accurate records and documentation and prepare, review, and communicate required reports.
• Serve as the primary technical and operational resource for the designated department and support pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical processes.
• Investigate specimen collection, result reporting, and turnaround-time issues to ensure the quality and timeliness of patient results.
• Prepare samples, assess sample acceptability, evaluate quality-control statistics, identify trends, and implement and monitor corrective actions.
• Take primary responsibility for departmental proficiency testing and participate in proficiency testing activities.
• Evaluate and interpret test results, recognize abnormal values, and ensure critical values are called and documented; ensure STAT tests meet required timeframes.
• Correlate laboratory findings with available clinical data and use problem-solving to distinguish technical, instrument-related, and physiological causes of abnormal results.
• Collaborate with pathologists on critical value levels, workload analysis, method changes, validation, accreditation readiness, and system modifications.
• Instruct staff on laboratory procedures, theory, new technologies, instruments, and methods; pursue ongoing professional development.
• Develop annual written goals and objectives with the manager and participate as a lead resource on hospital and laboratory committees.
• Support Lean initiatives, use PDCA methods to improve workflows, and lead departmental performance improvement initiatives.
• Evaluate and recommend instrumentation, equipment, or processes to support timely and accurate testing.
• Communicate operational information across shifts and sections and hold monthly staff meetings.
• Interact with physicians, patients, visitors, hospital staff, and reference laboratory contacts to address questions, explain results, and support service delivery.
• Communicate with physicians about results, turnaround times, test limitations, and follow-up testing strategies when appropriate.
• Provide technical support to reference laboratory accounts and staff, and train, supervise, and assign tasks to reference laboratory personnel in coordination with the business representative.
• Assist with implementation of new tests by providing technical specifications for system setup and billing.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager