Medical Laboratory Scientist Quality Lead, HMC Transfusion Services Lab

University of Washington Medical Center • Seattle, WA

7d • $44 - $65 • Onsite

About The Position

The UW Medicine Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology is seeking a Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) Quality Lead for the Transfusion Services Laboratory at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. This specialized lead role combines advanced transfusion medicine expertise with quality leadership to advance patient safety, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence across UW Medicine. The position is integrated into daily transfusion service operations and requires active MLS certification, advanced technical judgment, and continuing competency in blood bank testing practices.

The Quality Lead is a technical resource for complex serologic investigations, transfusion-related patient safety events, regulatory compliance, and process improvement. The role provides lead-level coordination of quality work, mentorship and operational support for laboratory staff, and may include direct bench work during staffing or operational needs to maintain continuity of patient care. The position also supports inspections, quality systems, validations, equipment and information systems, training, and communication with laboratory and clinical partners.

This is a regular, 1.0 FTE position scheduled Monday through Friday on day shift. The listed pay range is $44.25–$65.23 per hour.

Requirements

• Accredited bachelor's degree in medical laboratory science, or equivalent education and experience.
• Medical Laboratory Science certification with the American Society for Clinical Pathology or equivalent, or certification from a specialty organization appropriate to the laboratory division.
• Three years of professional experience, including one year as a Medical Laboratory Scientist 2 or equivalent.
• Maintain MLS certification and ongoing competency requirements.
• Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for minimum qualifications except where legal requirements, such as licensure, certification, or registration, apply.

Nice To Haves

• Extensive experience in pretransfusion testing, including complex antibody identification, component modification, and automation.
• Previous lead experience.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the lead MLS resource for transfusion service operations, technical quality, and blood bank patient safety practices across campuses.
• Lead technical investigations and resolution of transfusion-related deviations, non-conforming events, and patient safety concerns; evaluate risks, root causes, corrective actions, and process improvements.
• Apply advanced transfusion medicine knowledge to evaluate blood product suitability, donor compatibility, patient safety risks, and operational compliance concerns.
• Coordinate interdisciplinary reviews with laboratory staff, supervisors, medical directors, nursing, anesthesia, and clinical teams.
• Review quality data trends and investigation outcomes to identify systemic risks and improvement opportunities; provide technical consultation and escalation support.
• Provide technical guidance for complex serologic investigations, antibody identification workups, compatibility testing discrepancies, and other transfusion testing issues.
• Coordinate and lead daily transfusion quality operations; assign, organize, instruct, schedule, and review staff quality-related work consistent with lead responsibilities.
• Monitor priorities for investigations, audits, validations, corrective actions, inspection readiness, and operational support.
• Collaborate with laboratory leadership, faculty, supervisors, and medical directors to support operational continuity and regulatory compliance.
• Maintain competency in transfusion service testing and provide bench support during staffing shortages, workflow surges, emergency operations, or other circumstances affecting patient care; perform MLS duties as operationally necessary.
• Evaluate laboratory practices, workflows, and technical operations for compliance with transfusion service standards and patient care requirements.
• Serve as a primary laboratory contact during regulatory and accreditation inspections; coordinate inspector requests, prepare materials, retrieve documentation, and facilitate communication.
• Maintain electronic quality management system workflows and review quality assurance reports, quality control documentation, maintenance records, and operational data.
• Lead corrective and preventive actions resulting from investigations, audits, inspections, and quality reviews.
• Develop, coordinate, and execute validation plans for equipment, methods, procedures, software, and operational processes, ensuring appropriate documentation.
• Lead process improvements and analyze and present quality metrics, audit findings, and investigation outcomes to leadership and committees.
• Collaborate with leadership and technical staff to develop, revise, review, and maintain laboratory procedures and workflows.
• Provide mentorship, technical guidance, and education to MLS staff, trainees, and students on transfusion operations, patient safety, investigations, quality systems, and regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate and review training documentation and competency-related activities associated with quality systems and operational changes; communicate procedure, protocol, regulatory, and quality initiative updates.
• Work with the Transfusion Service Training and Education Lead to identify recurring errors and develop targeted education, competency support, remediation, and training materials where appropriate.
• Use laboratory information systems, electronic quality management systems, databases, and reporting tools to support quality operations.
• Provide quality leadership for equipment calibration, maintenance, quality control, and interface documentation; collaborate with vendors, technical support, and information system personnel on equipment, interfaces, validations, and compliance documentation.
• Represent the laboratory professionally with regulatory agencies, accreditation inspectors, clinical departments, blood suppliers, and interdisciplinary teams; communicate technical and regulatory information clearly and support collaborative problem-solving.
• Maintain advanced knowledge and competency in transfusion medicine, blood bank operations, quality systems, and applicable CAP, FDA, AABB, Joint Commission, and institutional requirements; maintain MLS certification and participate in continuing education and professional development.
• Perform other assigned duties and special projects; may rotate to other sections and perform MLS 1 or MLS 2 duties when needed to support patient care.

Benefits

• Vacation and sick time 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 participating colleges and universities.
• Fully subsidized U-PASS public transit pass covering multiple forms of regional public transportation.
• Healthcare, dental, disability, retirement, and other plan options.
• Fitness, healthy eating, finance, and stress reduction classes through Whole U.

What This Job Offers

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