Medical Laboratory Scientist Lead - Chemistry, Renton Central Lab: Core Referenc

The UW Medicine - Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology (DLMP) in Renton, WA has a fantastic opportunity for a **Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) Lead - Chemistry** with the **Core Reference Lab Team** at the Renton Central Laboratory.* Participate in interviewing, hiring, and performance evaluation processes as requested.* Support a culture of professionalism, collaboration, and continuous improvement.* Support Total Laboratory Automation workflow.* Oversee day-to-day operations of the Core Lab section.* Prioritize and distribute work assignments based on staffing, efficiency, workload, and turnaround-time requirements.* Serve as the primary technical resource for technologists and technicians.* Provide real-time guidance, coaching, mentorship, and performance feedback.* Escalate staff performance issues to manager when corrective action is needed.* Assist leadership with workforce planning, scheduling, and staffing adjustments.* Promote a culture of teamwork, respect, and continuous quality improvement.* Act as a backup for the manager, if needed.* Maintain strong theoretical and practical knowledge of all procedures in the section.* Lead development, evaluation, validation, and implementation of new assays and methodologies.* Work with faculty to troubleshoot assay issues, resolve instrument or method problems, and improve test performance.* Develop and manage written current and new instrument/assay validation protocols and perform validation studies.* Oversee preventive maintenance and instrument care performed by staff, SID teams, and vendors.* Maintain expert knowledge of instruments, essays, and analytical processes.* Lead investigation and resolution of instrument failures, QC flags, calibration issues, and workflow disruptions.* Collaborate with medical directors, supervisors, and vendors on instrumentation performance, assay optimization, and workflow improvements.* Support method evaluation, validation, and implementation of new tests and equipment.* Evaluate and optimize workflow to maintain high-volume efficiency and target turnaround times.* Ensure processes comply with CAP, CLIA, and organizational standards.* Review QC, proficiency testing results, and quality dashboards; initiate corrective action as needed.* Oversee section QA activities, including documentation, maintenance logs, and quality indicators.* Maintain inspection readiness by enforcing regulatory standards and participating in audits, corrective actions, improvement plans, and CAP inspections.* Develop and maintain training and competency documentation for all tests performed.* Train new employees, students, and rotating staff on chemistry instrumentation, workflows, and procedures.* Develop and maintain training materials, competency assessments, and procedure documentation.* Provide ongoing education and in-services when updates or changes occur.* Support staff development by identifying knowledge gaps, providing mentorship, feedback, and improvement actions; escalate when appropriate to manager.* Maintain proficiency with email, Word (procedure editing), Excel (data analysis), and procedure management.* Ensure validation of computer interfaces and support CAP-mandated documentation and testing, escalate when appropriate.* Utilize LIS functions for QC review, troubleshooting, sample tracking, and workflow monitoring.* Validate LIS rules, middleware connections, and instrument interfaces.* Participate in system upgrades, validation testing, and configuration changes.* Monitor section expenses and contribute to cost-containment strategies; escalate when appropriate.* Develop and manage division SOPs.* Approve overtime when delegated and support scheduling needs.* Assist leadership in performance evaluations and other administrative tasks.* Oversee and escalate when appropriate adequate inventory, track and order reagents, service contracts, calibrators, supplies, and consumables.* Accredited bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory science OR equivalent education/experience AND* Medical Laboratory Science certification with the American Society for Clinical Pathology or equivalent, or certification with a specialty organization appropriate to the laboratory division AND* Three (3) years of professional experience including one (1) year as a Medical Laboratory Scientist 2 or equivalent.* Experience with Total Laboratory Automation platforms and high-volume core labs.* Experience with Clinical Chemistry automation.* Experience leading teams or functioning in a lead/senior technologist capacity.* Familiarity with middleware/LIS (e.g., Sunquest, Roche Navify, etc).* Experience with workflow optimization and lean process improvement.* Experience with productivity metrics and operational efficiencies.* Advanced technical troubleshooting.* Data analysis and quality management.* Vendor and project coordination.* Regulatory knowledge and audit readiness.* Ability to support troubleshooting and workflow processes that are part of the Total Laboratory Automation.### BenefitsThere are many perks to working for the University of Washington. 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