Lead Senior Phlebotomist

UnitedHealth Group • Everett, WA

2d • $18 - $32 • Onsite

About The Position

Under general supervision of Phlebotomy Leadership, the Sr. Phlebotomy Lead is responsible for overseeing, coordinating, and supporting the daily activities of the phlebotomy team across assigned locations. This role provides hands-on support, ensures safe and compliant specimen collection, and supports quality patient care through effective scheduling, training oversight, and performance monitoring. The Sr. Phlebotomy Lead serves as a clinical and operational resource, supporting onboarding, remediation, and competency verification of phlebotomy staff. The role also includes performing a broad range of clinical laboratory duties such as specimen collection, waived and moderate complexity testing, and electrocardiograms (EKGs), while maintaining compliance with CLIA, safety, and infection control standards.

Requirements

• High School Diploma/GED
• Medical Assistant-Phlebotomist (MA-Pbt) certification from the state of Washington to perform capillary and venous invasive procedures for blood withdrawal under the supervision of a health care practitioner
• Completion of a Phlebotomy Certificate program through an accredited school
• BLS (AHA) certification is required or obtained within the first 30 days of employment
• 5+ years of blood draw experience
• 1+ year of computer proficiency with Microsoft Office and demonstrates solid computer skills
• Have reliable transportation and the ability travel 100% of the time to the other draw locations within Optum
• Ability to work a flexible 40-hour week scheduled to include Monday through Sunday between 6:30 am to 7:00 pm
• Able to use muscles to lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects. Occasionally, lifting to 50 pounds and carrying up to 24 pounds may be required
• Ability to abide by the code of conduct per Optum/UHG

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of common safety hazards and precautions to establish a safe work environment
• Knowledge of waived laboratory testing, including sample preparation and analysis, quality control, and troubleshooting.
• Familiarity with EKG procedures and acceptable results.
• Knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, and physiology.
• Understanding of HIPAA regulations and compliance standards.
• Knowledge of laboratory information systems and electronic medical records.
• Ability to perform waived testing accurately and efficiently.
• Skilled in sample handling, processing, and storage
• Skilled in sample handling, processing, and storage.
• Ability to perform EKGs and accurately determine acceptable readings
• Ability to collect and process specimens accurately and efficiently.
• Ability to maintain a clean, safe, and efficient work environment.
• Ability to troubleshoot and resolve issues related to specimen collection, testing, and equipment.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-volume environment with a high degree of accuracy and efficiency.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality and privacy of patient information.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including weekends and holidays, as needed.
• Ability to adapt to changing technologies and procedures.
• Ability to participate in quality assurance and quality control activities.
• Ability to work with a diverse patient population, including infants, children, adults, and geriatric patients.
• Ability to perform phlebotomy techniques, including venipuncture and capillary blood collection
• Ability to work independently and maintain good judgment and accountability
• Ability to acclimate working on a small or large team
• Demonstrated ability to work well with health care providers
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Ability to multi-task and prioritize tasks to meet all deadlines
• Ability to work well under pressure in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to speak clearly and concisely, conveying information in a manner that others can understand, as well as ability to understand and interpret information from others
• Must be able to frequently stand and walk from place to place for long periods with intermittent breaks
• Must be able to run during an emergency
• Must be able to frequently use hands and fingers to handle, grasp or feel objects, tools, controls, and medical or office equipment
• Must be able to repeat the same movements frequently
• Must be able to make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls and move arms and legs quickly
• Must speak clearly so listeners can understand and be able to understand the speech of another person
• Must be able to hear sounds and recognize the difference between them
• Must have a level of visual acuity to see details of objects from near and far, see differences between colors, shades, and brightness, and determine the distance between objects. May have periods of prolonged sitting in connection with telephone or computer usage
• Must be able to use muscles to lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects. Occasionally, lifting 50 pounds and carrying up to 24 pounds may be required
• Must be able to bend, stretch, stoop, twist, squat, kneel, crawl, push/pull, grasp, handle, or reach out
• Must be able to move two or more limbs together while remaining in place
• Must be able to coordinate the movements of several body parts, such as arms and legs, while the body is moving
• Must demonstrate proper body mechanics to support physical activity for long periods without getting tired or out of breath
• Must be able to keep or regain the body's balance or stay upright when in an unstable position
• Can have frequent exposure to communicable/infectious diseases, toxic substances, ionizing radiation, medicinal preparations, and other conditions common to a clinical environment. Interaction with others is busy, constant, and occasionally interruptive. Typical office conditions and noise levels are usually quiet. Work may be demanding at times. It may require the ability to work irregular hours

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day operational support to phlebotomy staff, including daily onsite scheduling, task delegation, workflow coordination, and performance monitoring.
• Assist with daily staffing plans to ensure adequate coverage across all sites, including coordinating coverage when supervisors are on PTO.
• Conduct regular site rounding to observe staff performance, assess workflow efficiency, reinforce best practices, and address operational or training needs in real time.
• Serve as a subject matter expert for phlebotomy practices, policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
• Perform venipuncture and capillary specimen collection in accordance with established protocols, ensuring patient safety, comfort, specimen integrity, and infection control compliance.
• Conduct waived and moderate complexity laboratory testing, including microscopy, in accordance with CLIA standards and organizational policies.
• Perform electrocardiograms (EKGs) and other diagnostic procedures as required.
• Participate in onboarding, training, competency validation, and ongoing education of new and existing phlebotomy staff.
• Assign and coordinate shadowing experiences for teammates who have not successfully passed training or competency assessments, ensuring appropriate supervision and documentation.
• Provide enhanced oversight and support to preceptors working with trainees who demonstrate a high error rate, including reviewing training performance, reinforcing corrective actions, and collaborating on remediation plans.
• Review and verify completion of all training, competency, and required documentation prior to facilitating or approving employee sign-off.
• Support supervisors and leadership with performance improvement initiatives, retraining, and escalation when training or quality concerns are identified.
• Monitor and maintain laboratory and phlebotomy supply inventory to ensure availability of equipment and materials required for daily operations.
• Assist with quality assurance activities, quality control documentation, audits, and compliance with applicable regulatory and accreditation standards.
• Communicate effectively and professionally with patients, providers, leadership, and staff to support coordinated care and efficient operations.
• Maintain patient confidentiality and adhere to all safety, infection control, and organizational policies at all times.
• Interact with patients and healthcare providers in a professional and compassionate manner
• Problem solves efficiently and promptly
• Locate missing lab orders and specimens
• Competent and efficient phone skills
• All staff members are to promote a positive and productive work environment by acting maturely and responsibly, satisfactorily performing job responsibilities, and conducting themselves professionally, courteously, and respectfully toward fellow employees, physicians, and patients.
• Must relate to other people beyond giving and receiving instructions: (a) get along with co-workers or peers without exhibiting behavioral extreme; (b) perform work activities requiring negotiating, instructing, overseeing, persuading, or speaking with others; and (c) respond openly and appropriately to feedback regarding performance from a supervisor.
• Performs all duties in a manner that promotes and supports the Core Values of Optum.
• Integrates Lean principles, practices, and tools to improve operational efficiency, reduce costs and increase customer satisfaction.
• Must follow written and oral instructions and complete routine tasks independently.
• Complete all compliance training, including but not limited to HIPAA/Privacy/Confidentiality/Non-Discrimination/Harassment/Integrity Statement and signed Agreements.
• Ensures confidentiality of patient information by following HIPAA guidelines and Optum policies.
• Attends training to meet job position requirements and as needed or mandated by Optum policies, Div. of Occupational Safety & Health (DOSH), OSHA, L&I, and other state/federal regulations.
• Have regular and predictable attendance.
• Performs other duties as assigned

Benefits

• Paid Time Off which you start to accrue with your first pay period plus 8 Paid Holidays
• Medical Plan options along with participation in a Health Spending Account or a Health Saving account
• Dental, Vision, Life& AD&D Insurance along with Short-term disability and Long-Term Disability coverage
• 401(k) Savings Plan, Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Education Reimbursement
• Employee Discounts
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee Referral Bonus Program
• Voluntary Benefits (pet insurance, legal insurance, LTC Insurance, etc.)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: High school or GED