Lead Technical Coordinator

Bloodworks Northwest • Seattle, WA

5d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Lead Technical Coordinator provides leadership, technical expertise, coordination, and support in Bloodworks Northwest’s HLA/Immunogenetics Laboratory in Seattle. The role coordinates ordering, scheduling, and billing for HLA testing and independently performs, reviews, interprets, approves, and reports clinical laboratory testing, including emergency testing. It also creates and releases official reports, troubleshoots advanced technical issues, trains and mentors staff, advises on protocols and procedures, and exercises independent judgment during assigned on-call rotations. The Lead Technical Coordinator acts as Supervisor when department management is absent.

As a lead on-call General Supervisor, the position supports after-hours laboratory oversight, reviews and approves final reports before release, advises on result interpretation, and provides data and interpretation to Immunogenetics Directors for clinical consultation and virtual crossmatches. The role responds to calls within 10 minutes, performs remote or in-laboratory final report review for emergency testing, communicates results to transplant coordinators, and assists with equipment alarm monitoring and coordination of emergency testing.

As a member of the HLA leadership team, the Lead Technical Coordinator maintains confidentiality, communicates with and supports peers, and contributes to department goals and effective team practices. Responsibilities also include antibody specificity assignment and epitope analysis; laboratory scheduling; maintaining accurate procedures and references; supporting productivity and cost-effectiveness; participating in interviews; and performing Technical Specialist functions. These include managing validation protocols, equipment and reagent quality control, calibration and maintenance, new method and equipment implementation, nonconformance review, training and competency assessments, performance metrics, and quality indicators.

The role requires compliance with applicable procedures, regulations, accreditation requirements, and quality-control obligations; participation in meetings, continuing education, competency evaluations, and read-only training; and timely submission of on-call scheduling preferences. The position is highly regulated and may involve substantial overtime, on-call work, extended or consecutive shifts, and emergency work at another location. Telecommuting is occasional, not permanent.

Requirements

• Qualify as a General Supervisor under ASHI Standards section E.1.4 and as a General Supervisor for high-complexity testing under CLIA personnel requirements in Subpart M.
• Bachelor of Science degree in clinical laboratory science, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Current ACHI-Certified Histocompatibility Technologist (CHT) certification.
• Maintain active certification and submit required continuing education credits every three years: 6.0 CEC (60 contact hours) for CHT and 8.0 CEC (80 contact hours) for CHS.
• Proficiency in functions equivalent to a Technologist IV or Technical Specialist, typically reflecting at least six years of HLA experience.
• At least three years of experience in an assigned on-call rotation within the last five years.
• Demonstrated technical and procedural expertise in HLA/Immunogenetics testing.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Ability to participate in an independent on-call rotation, answer calls within 10 minutes, and respond during inclement weather and emergencies.
• Ability to perform independent work accurately; prioritize and reprioritize under tight deadlines and varying workload; work effectively under stress; demonstrate initiative, organization, and multitasking skills.
• Ability to understand the criticality and financial implications of testing related to transfusion blood components and transplanted organs, and to follow applicable AABB, CFR, EU, CLIA, HIPAA, state, and FDA Good Manufacturing Practices requirements.
• Required mental activities include discretion, decision-making, teamwork, interpersonal skills, problem analysis, training, independent judgment or action, English reading, writing, speaking and comprehension, creativity, customer service, mentoring, supervising, basic math, presentations and teaching; advanced math is used occasionally and basic programming rarely.
• Required physical activities include continuous handling of items, seeing, and hearing; frequent sitting, standing, walking, stooping, talking, reaching, and repetitive hand/wrist motions; occasional bending, feeling, and repetitive foot motions; and rare crawling, climbing, and kneeling.
• Ability to push up to 30 pounds and lift and carry up to 20 pounds, including lifting a 20-pound freezer rack from a liquid nitrogen freezer from 3 to 6 feet while using protective gloves.
• Significant manual dexterity to operate instruments and enter required data.
• Ability to work weekends and holidays as assigned and scheduled on-call for up to 4–5 days each month.
• Preparedness to work extended or consecutive shifts and potentially at a different location during inclement weather or other emergencies.

Nice To Haves

• ACH​I-Certified Histocompatibility Specialist (CHS) certification.
• One year of experience leading and/or managing complex laboratory quality assurance programs.
• Two years of prior laboratory leadership experience.
• Functional proficiency with Crystal Reports and SQL.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate ordering, scheduling, and billing of HLA testing.
• Independently perform, review, interpret, approve, and report clinical laboratory testing in accordance with regulations, manufacturer requirements, and SOPs, including emergency testing.
• Create, review, approve, and release official reports to appropriate customers.
• Perform advanced troubleshooting; train, mentor, and advise staff on protocols, policies, and procedures.
• Use independent judgment during assigned on-call rotations and act as Supervisor in the absence of department management.
• Assist in setting department goals and objectives consistent with Bloodworks’ mission; model organizational values and coach staff to the same expectations.
• Ensure department documents, procedures, and actions comply with applicable laws, regulations, standards, and policies; report discrepancies to management.
• Meet customer needs and maintain cooperative relationships with coworkers and customers.
• As lead on-call General Supervisor, perform required Technologist IV duties and review and approve final reports before release in accordance with ASHI standards.
• Provide after-hours oversight of the HLA/Immunogenetics Laboratory and assist Directors with clinical interpretation and data for virtual crossmatches.
• Advise on-call Technologists on interpretation of test results.
• Carry an appropriate electronic communication device and respond to calls within 10 minutes.
• Perform final report review remotely or in the laboratory for emergency testing, including deceased donor initial workups, final crossmatching, post-transplant monitoring, and transfusion support.
• Report test results verbally or electronically to appropriate transplant coordinators.
• Assist with oversight of 24-hour REES equipment alarm monitoring and send morning updates to the HLA Coordinator shared mailbox to ensure emergency testing is ordered.
• Maintain confidentiality as a member of the HLA leadership team; communicate frequently, provide timely feedback, and support peers.
• Assign antibody specificities, including epitope analysis and appropriate epitope nomenclature.
• Participate in laboratory operations scheduling, maintain current procedures and references, and support productivity and cost-effectiveness.
• Participate in interviews and assess candidates’ qualifications based on position needs.
• Manage HLA/Immunogenetics Laboratory validation protocols; quality control, calibration, and maintenance of assigned equipment; and reagent quality control for the assigned area.
• Serve as a subject matter expert for department software and coordinate implementation of new laboratory methods and equipment.
• Participate in nonconformance reviews and serve as subject matter expert for training and competency assessments in the assigned area.
• Track performance metrics and quality indicators and represent HLA in organization-wide projects related to the role.
• Complete quality-control testing, competency evaluations, and read-only training accurately and promptly; earn ASHI-mandated continuing education credits.
• Attend staff meetings and Bloodworks-sponsored or ASHI-approved educational seminars; conduct periodic Lead Technical Coordinator meetings.
• Follow SOPs and applicable policies, processes, procedures, and regulations; perform other duties as assigned.
• Participate in an independent on-call rotation, including responding during inclement weather and emergencies; work weekends and holidays as assigned.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance for employees regularly scheduled for 24 or more hours per week; family coverage is also available.
• Retirement plans (401a and 401b).
• Consolidated paid leave program accruing 4.8–6.8 weeks of time off per year, based on length of service.
• Subsidized transit program.
• Educational reimbursement.
• Relocation assistance bonus may be available to candidates hired from outside the service area, subject to conditions.

What This Job Offers

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