Job Summary:

Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) is seeking to hire a Laboratory Technical Specialist, whom will report to the Manager of our new Histocompatibility and Immunogenetic Laboratory, and whom will have responsibility for independently performing a wide range of duties within their area of specialty, in close collaboration with the Team Leader (Supervisor), Manager/Medical Director Dyad.

The individual selected for this position will have the unique opportunity to build this new laboratory in cooperation with the Histocompatibility and Immunogenetic Laboratory Manager/Medical Director Dyad, working as a team to integrate laboratory testing with clinical activities to optimize patient care, as well as define the clinical performance standards and quality measures for the lab. This individual is also responsible for the investigation/development of new/modified test procedures and the technical review and monitoring of existing procedures.

Additional responsibilities include assisting the management of staff, supporting staff training needs, evaluating team member proficiency, developing and maintaining the operating budget, participating in capital budget management, and coordinating quality control, quality assurance, and proficiency testing activities, which are performed in collaboration with the laboratory quality coordinator.

The Technical Specialist acts as a technical consultant and resource for other team members. In support of the MLS programs, the Technical Specialist supports in enabling team members to serve as instructors for the primary training of the MLS students.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Function as technical resource person within the area of specialty to resolve technical problems and ensure that remedial actions are taken whenever test systems deviate from the laboratory's established performance specifications
• Recommend and develop new test procedures or modify existing procedures for implementation in the routine laboratory
• Verify the test procedures performed and establish the laboratory's test performance characteristics, including the precision and accuracy of each test and test system
• Collect and analyze data, providing appropriate written information for protocol evaluation and test interpretation
• Develop, review, and update written protocols, as needed, in the approved VUMC laboratory procedure format
• Function as a liaison and technical expert to vendors including support of equipment selection, obtaining quotes, and making recommendations.
• Suggest, develop, and implement quality assurance projects and prepare reports as required;
• Establish a quality control program appropriate for the testing performed in cooperation with the section quality coordinator, team leader and medical director;
• Review quality control procedures and investigate problems and alternative methods when necessary;
• Review proficiency testing results and provide a mechanism for education and corrective action;
• Serve as representative for peer review processes (e.g. CAP inspection);
• Evaluate the competency of all testing personnel in area of specialty and assure that the staff maintain their competency to perform test procedures and report test results promptly, accurately and proficiently;
• Identify training needs and assure that each individual performing testing receives regular in-service training and education appropriate for the type and complexity of the laboratory services performed.
• Influences others positively in work situations without having commensurate authority.
• Supports VUMC MLS program by mentoring, teaching and precepting as appropriate.
• Assist in developing short and long-range goals for area of specialty;
• Assist in planning work activities to ensure efficient and cost-effective operations;
• Assist with interviewing and selecting of staff as required;
• Provides feedback for evaluation of the performance of staff as requested

Position Shift:

• VUMC, Main Campus, Nashville, Tennessee. Exempt, Monday-Friday, Day Shift. This position may support the lab during on call time, usually the Technical Specialist does not do on call, but should be available to resolve any personal or infrastructure issues.

VUMC Diagnostic Laboratories Summary

Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) has been rated the #1 Hospital in Nashville and the state of Tennessee by the US News & World Report. VUMC's Diagnostic Laboratories are undergoing an exciting time of change, including a planned expansion to a new state-of-the-art 110,000 sq ft laboratory. This, along with an established Professional Advancement Ladder (PAL), provides additional opportunities for growth within our system. VUMC is an academic medicine environment, providing team members frequent interaction with clinical teams and exposure to complex and novel infectious cases.

Histocompatibility & Immunogenetics Laboratories Department Summary

An exciting part of our "Laboratory Transformation" project is the creation of our Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics Laboratory. This high-complexity laboratory will provide services to our transplant center, one of the country's largest and busiest transplant programs. The VUMC transplant center performs renal, cardiac, liver, lung, pancreas, and bone marrow/HSC transplants, as well as multi-organ procedures.

Our laboratory team will work closely with transplant surgeons/physicians/coordinator to measure and minimize the pre-transplant immunological risk. Following transplantation, we will monitor the early onset of allo-antibodies for a rapid treatment to prevent rejection complications.

We are looking for bright, energetic, and creative candidates with a record of independent work under complex conditions. They must be curious learners, self-motivated and capable of conducting multiple tasks with great attention to details. They should have a strong desire for ownership in developing this new laboratory, excellent communications skills, and strong work ethic.

The ideal candidate should have previous experience of clinical histocompatibility or, previous experience performing next generation sequencing and/or detecting antibodies using liquid arrays and flow cytometric assays.

A preferred skill set will be to have previous experience in the implementation of a Histocompatibility & Immunogenetics Laboratory specific lab information system and solid MS Office Suite experience.

Discover Vanderbilt University Medical Center:

Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) has been rated the #1 Hospital in Nashville and the state of Tennessee by the US News & World Report. VUMC's Diagnostic Laboratories are undergoing an exciting time of change, including a planned expansion to a new state-of-the-art 110,000 sq ft laboratory. This, along with an established Professional Advancement Ladder (PAL), provides additional opportunities for growth within our system. VUMC is an academic medicine environment, providing team members frequent interaction with clinical teams and exposure to complex and novel infectious cases.

VUMC Recent Accomplishments

Because we are committed to providing the best in patient care, education and research, we are proud of our recent accomplishments:

• US News & World Report: #1 Adult Hospital in Tennessee and metropolitan Nashville, named to the Best Hospitals Honor Roll of the top 20 adult hospitals, 10 nationally ranked adult specialty programs, with 3 specialties rated in the top 10 nationally, Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt named as one of the Best Children's Hospital in the nation, with 10 out of 10 pediatric specialties nationally ranked.
• Healthcare's Most Wired: Among the nation's 100 "most-wired" hospitals and health systems for its efforts in innovative medical technology.
• Becker's Hospital Review: named as one of the "100 Great Hospitals in America", in the roster of 100 Hospitals and Health Systems with Great Oncology Programs and to its list of the 100 Hospitals with Great Heart Programs.
• The Leapfrog Group: One of only 10 children's hospitals in the to be named at Leapfrog Top Hospital.
• American Association for the Advancement of Science: The School of Medicine has 112 elected fellows
• Magnet Recognition Program: Received our third consecutive Magnet designations.
• National Academy of Medicine: 22 members, elected by their peers in recognition of outstanding achievement
• Human Rights Campaign Healthcare Equality Index: 6^th year in a row that Vanderbilt University Medical Center was a Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality.

TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES:
LEADERSHIP - (FUNDAMENTAL AWARENESS):- Understands the difference between managing people and leading people. Demonstrates leadership with peers and as a member of a team. Influences others positively in work situations without having commensurate authority. Shows technical leadership by taking responsibility for projects and assignments. Demonstrates company values, high ethical principles and personal integrity in everyday activities.
OPERATIONS PLANNING - (NOVICE):- Demonstrates ability to realistically anticipate resource needs, identify discrete tasks, set priorities, define dependencies, schedule activities, meet deadlines, and organize work within areas of direct responsibility. Appropriately matches equipment and capital resources to task demands. Achieves results within budget. Competently handles multiple assignments simultaneously. Reshapes project during life-cycle evolution, if needed. Demonstrates ability to break down work into manageable and measurable units. Accepts changes to assignments with minimal disruption and loss of productivity. Able to absorb changes to major assignments while maintaining a high level of performance. Uses available time efficiently. Follows up to assure problems and issues are resolved.
EMPLOYEE MANAGEMENT (FUNDAMENTAL AWARENESS):- Understands the need for motivation, job satisfaction, performance feedback and communication. Demonstrates the ability to work well with others and build effective relationships. Distributes work assignments fairly, clearly defining tasks, roles and responsibilities. Establishes a positive work environment. Keeps people focused on the big picture and motivates them to perform at a high level.
COMPLIANCE - (NOVICE):- Can explain and apply basic statutory instructions in normal situations on the job. Understands the principles upon which the rules and regulations are based. Appropriately escalates problems relating to rules and regulations in timely and effective manner.
BUSINESS RESULTS - (FUNDAMENTAL AWARENESS):- Implements appropriate measures for attaining business results and tracks progress in meeting goals and objectives. Demonstrates the ability to deliver products and services on time, within budget, and in accordance with organizational standards and goals. Continuously demonstrates a strong focus on quality. Responds effectively to customer or client needs. Recognizes incipient problems and communicates them to management.
QUALITY MANAGEMENT - (NOVICE):- Has provided continuous analysis and evaluation of assignment work processes, constantly striving for improvement in the way tasks and activities are accomplished by questioning their value to the process and contributing creative solutions. Has participated in the process of establishing, communicating and monitoring standards for quality and excellence. Demonstrates the ability to actually work on and improve a current business process, product or service.
LABORATORY PRACTICES (INTERMEDIATE):- Demonstrates mastery of laboratory practices in practical applications of a difficult nature. Possesses sufficient knowledge, training, and experience to be capable of successfully delivering products and services using laboratory practices without requiring support and instruction from others. Able to train and educate by setting the example, giving technical instruction, providing leadership, and generally raising the level of performance of others while on the job.

CORE ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Organizational Impact: Plans and sets day to day objectives for the team that have a direct effect on the results of the department or area that the job is in.
• Problem Solving/ Complexity of work: Resolves technical and operational problems within provided guidelines.
• Breadth of Knowledge: Applies advanced subject matter knowledge within a specific technical area
• Team Interaction: Provides technical expertise to team as needed and is proactive in approach to innovation of new technologies and services
• Has a working knowledge of facility and safety management; supplier and inventory management; equipment management; process improvement; record management
• Development of quality benchmarks for the tests under evaluation, assessment of those benchmarks as the test is developed and continual improvement to implement new tests into clinical production

CORE CAPABILITIES:

SUPPORTING COLLEAGUES (M1):

• - Develops Self and Others: Invests time, energy and enthusiasm in developing self/others to help improve performance and gain knowledge in new areas.
• - Builds and Maintains Relationships: Maintains regular contact with key colleagues and stakeholders using formal and informal opportunities to expand and strengthen relationships.
• - Communicates Effectively: Recognizes group interactions and modifies one's own communication style to suit different situations and audiences.

DELIVERING EXCELLENT SERVICES (M1):

• - Serves Others with Compassion: Seeks to understand current and future needs of relevant stakeholders and customizes services to better address them.
• - Solves Complex Problems: Approaches problems from different angles; Identifies new possibilities to interpret opportunities and develop concrete solutions.
• - Offers Meaningful Advice and Support: Provides ongoing support and coaching in a constructive manner to increase employees' effectiveness.

ENSURING HIGH QUALITY (M1):

• - Performs Excellent Work: Engages regularly in formal and informal dialogue about quality; directly addresses quality issues promptly.
• - Ensures Continuous Improvement: Applies various learning experiences by looking beyond symptoms to uncover underlying causes of problems and identifies ways to resolve them.
• - Fulfills Safety and Regulatory Requirements: Understands all aspects of providing a safe environment and performs routine safety checks to prevent safety hazards from occurring.

MANAGING RESOURCES EFFECTIVELY (M1):

• - Demonstrates Accountability: Demonstrates a sense of ownership, focusing on and driving critical issues to closure.
• - Stewards Organizational Resources: Applies understanding of the departmental work to effectively manage resources for a department/area.
• - Makes Data Driven Decisions: Demonstrates strong understanding of the information or data to identify and elevate opportunities.

FOSTERING INNOVATION (M1):

• - Generates New Ideas: Proactively identifies new ideas/opportunities from multiple sources or methods to improve processes beyond conventional approaches.
• - Applies Technology: Demonstrates an enthusiasm for learning new technologies, tools, and procedures to address short-term challenges.
• - Adapts to Change: Views difficult situations and/or problems as opportunities for improvement; actively embraces change instead of emphasizing negative elements.

Position Qualifications

Required

• Successful completion of CAHEA or NAACLS accredited Medical Technology program or BS from accredited institution with major in biological, chemical, physical or clinical laboratory science and ASCP technologist generalist or categorical certification or equivalent certification; or equivalent education and experience per CLIA and TN Medical Laboratory Board (1200-06-01-.22)for personnel performing high complexity testing.
• Bachelor's Degree (or equivalent experience) from accredited institution
• 3 years relevant experience
• Licensed Medical Laboratory Technologist
• American College of Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (ACHI) certification

Preferred:

• PhD in a biological, chemical, physical or clinical laboratory science from accredited institution, and 5 years of experience in the section of the laboratory that technical specialty is being provided
• Bachelor's Degree (or equivalent experience meeting requirements for a CLIA technical consultant) from accredited institution
• Prior Histocompatibility experience
• Certified Histocompatibility Specialist (CHS), Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS), or categorical Certification with either ASCP or AMT
• Categorical Medical Technologist licensure in the state of Tennessee
• Categorical Medical Technologist - Supervisor license in the state of Tennessee

Physical Requirements/Strengths needed & Physical Demands:

Light Work category requiring exertion up to 20 lbs. of force occasionally and uses negligible amounts of force to move objects.

Movement

Occasional: Walking: Moving about on foot.

Occasional: Lifting over 35 lbs: Raising and lowering objects from one level to another, includes upward pulling over 35 lbs, with help of coworkers or assistive device

Occasional: Carrying under 35 lbs: Transporting an object holding in hands, arms or shoulders, with help of coworkers or assistive device.

Occasional: Push/Pull: Exerting force to move objects away from or toward.

Occasional: Balancing: Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling when walking, standing, crouching or maneuvering self, patient and equipment simultaneously while working in large and small spaces

Occasional: Climbing: Ascending or descending stairs/ramps using feet and legs and/or hands and arms.

Occasional: Kneeling:Bending legs at knees to come to rest on knee or knees.

Occasional: Crouching/Squatting: Bending body downward and forward by bending legs and spine.Reaching above shoulders: Extending arms in any direction above shoulders.

Occasional: Reaching above shoulders: Extending arms in any direction above shoulders.

Frequent: Sitting: Remaining in seated position

Frequent: Standing: Remaining on one's feet without moving.

Frequent: Lifting under 35 lbs: Raising and lowering objects under 35 lbs from one level to another

Frequent: Bending/Stooping: Trunk bending downward and forward by bending spine at waist requiring full use of lower extremities and back muscles

Frequent: Reaching below shoulders: Extending arms in any direction below shoulders.

Frequent: Handling: Seizing, holding, grasping, turning or otherwise working with hand or hands.

Frequent: Fingering: Picking, pinching, gripping, working primarily with fingers requiring fine manipulation.

Frequent: Bimanual Dexterity: Requiring the use of both hands.

Sensory

Continuous: Communication: Expressing or exchanging written/verbal/electronic information.

Continuous: Auditory: Perceiving the variances of sounds, tones and pitches and able to focus on single source of auditory information

Continuous: Vision: Clarity of near vision at 20 inches or less and far vision at 20 feet or more with depth perception, peripheral vision, color vision.

Continuous: Smell: Ability to detect and identify odors.

Environmental Conditions

Frequent: Chemicals and Gasses: Medications, cleaning chemicals, oxygen, other medical gases used in work area.

Frequent: Pathogens: Risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens and other contagious illnesses.

Vanderbilt Health recognizes that diversity is essential for excellence and innovation. We are committed to an inclusive environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and to the principles of equal opportunity and affirmative action. EOE/AA/Women/Minority/Vets/Disabled.

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