Job Description

Bloodworks Northwest is backed by more than 70 years of Northwest history and 250,000 donors. A national leader in transfusion medicine, Bloodworks has been chosen to serve more than 90 hospitals in Washington, Oregon and Alaska – partnering closely with local hospitals to deliver the highest level of patient care. Patients with traumatic injuries, undergoing surgeries or organ transplantation, or receiving treatment for cancer and blood disorders all depend on our services, expertise, laboratories and research. We are local, nonprofit, independent, volunteer-supported and community-based.

We have a fantastic new job opportunity for a technical specialist will have specific responsibilities and possess a high level of primary expertise and/or Center of Excellence in one of these areas: Transfusion Services Laboratory Information Systems, Technical Development and Training, Equipment Management, Process Management, Reagent Management, Clinical Trials and Remote Allocation, with an expectation to serve as backup for each other from time to time. Provide technical expertise and leadership associated with development and implementation of new and revised methods for the Transfusion Service Laboratory (TSL). Support departmental projects and participate in interdepartmental projects in accordance with established priorities and timelines. Coordinate Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) revisions and validations. Design, coordinate, and establish appropriate evaluation of new or revised methods to ensure changes are effective.

Principal responsibilities include, but are not limited to: As a member of the leadership team:
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Demonstrate trust in each other and have assurance that issues discussed will be kept in confidence.
• Provide timely, honest feedback to team members on how the team functions.
• Challenge and support peers to ensure each department/group contributes to the organization's success.
• Function effectively within the team and participate and contribute constructively to produce results in a collaborative manner
• Ensure department's actions comply with laws, regulations, and Blood Center policies and practices.
• Recognize potentially hazardous materials, equipment, and situations, and follow safety procedures to minimize risk to oneself and nearby individuals.
• Responsibly support the department budget.
• Proactively recommend systems, resources, and procedures to achieve the department's success.
• Participate in internal and external audits and inspections, such as AABB and FDA inspections.

Within the department:
• Assist in setting department goals and objectives consistent with Blood Center's mission.
• Consistently model values of Blood Center and coach for the same expectation; contribute and build upon current practices and procedures in support of values, mission, and goals.
• Ensure that all applicable departmental documents and procedures are adhered to by staff, and report any discrepancies to departmental management.
• Participate in interviews and assess qualifications based on needs of positions.
• Establish and maintain cooperative relationships with coworkers and customers.
• Exhibit respect for others and help others willingly.

Technical Specialist - Center of Excellence: Technical Training and Competency Specialist:
• Develop and maintain the TSL staff training and competency assessment programs to meet all applicable regulatory requirements.
• Collaborate with SMEs to develop training documents to support new and revised processes and procedures.
• In conjunction with the Dept. Quality Specialist, please ensure the training documentation system reflects all required training.
• Guide other TSL staff members performing training. Coordinate and standardize training.
• Investigate, analyze, and resolve training and competency problems or other incidents involving unusual circumstances. Prepare reports detailing investigation and resolution.
• Maintain documentation of all training and competency assessments performed in TSL.
• Provide input to the TSL Manager and Supervisors concerning staff training, work performance, and competency.
• Respond to questions and requests from internal or external auditors
• Act as the liaison between TSL and other Blood Center departments in matters concerning staff training, competency assessment, or new process implementation.
• Develop and revise Standard Operating Procedures, validation plans, forms, and job aids for the Technical Development Training and Competency Program.
• Serve as Subject Matter Expert (SME) for Antibody Identification and related training.
• Comply with all applicable Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) as written.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS:
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:
Must qualify as Testing Personnel, High Complexity Testing, under CLIA personnel requirements found in Subpart M of the Code of Federal Regulations.
• Medical Technologist or Medical Laboratory Technician, or Bachelor of Science degree in clinical laboratory science (or equivalent combination of education and experience).
• MT (ASCP), MLT (ASCP), or similar certification preferred.
• Two years of relevant supervisory and/or team leadership experience preferred. Must maintain TS bench skill proficiency, equivalent to a Technologist III level.

Specific job skills include, but are not limited to:
• Required mental activities include the continual (≥81%) use of discretion, decision-making, interpersonal skills, teamwork, and customer service, as well as the ability to read, write, speak, and comprehend English. Other required mental activities used less often include negotiation, independent judgment and/or independent action, presentations/teaching, problem analysis, creativity, and the performance of basic math (all used frequently – 51-80%); and mentoring and training, the performance of basic programming, and the performance of advanced math (all used occasionally – 21-50%).
• Required physical activities include the continual use of hearing. Other required physical activities used less often include sitting, walking, talking, and repetitive motions of hands/wrists (all used frequently); standing, bending, stooping, kneeling, reaching, handling, and feeling (all used occasionally); and crawling, climbing, and repetitive motions of feet (all used rarely – 1-20%).
• The ability to lift and carry up to 20 pounds and push up to 40 pounds is required.
• Must be able to prioritize activities effectively and continuously reprioritize to accommodate tight deadlines and a varying workload.
• Significant manual dexterity is required to operate various instruments and to perform required data entry.
• Ability to express ideas clearly in written and verbal communication.
• Intermediate-level proficiency with MS Word and MS Excel is required; expert-level proficiency is preferred.
• Intermediate-level proficiency with Visio, MS Access, MS Project, and MS PowerPoint preferred.
• ABloodworks'omply with Bloodworks’ Mandatory Vaccinations policy
• Requires ability to comprehend the criticality of the testing being performed, as it relates to the blood components being prepared for transfusion, or organs being transplanted. Includes a fundamental understanding of the financial value of the testing reagents, blood components being prepared, and the necessity to follow all regulatory rules and regulations (AABB, CFR, EU, CLIA, HIPAA, andFDA'st"te), including FDA’s “Good M"nufacturing Practices”.
• Required mental activities involve continuous use of teamwork. Required mental activities used less frequently include interpersonal skills, and the ability to read, write, speak and comprehend English (all used frequently); decision making, creativity, customer service, independent judgment and/or independent action, the performance of basic mathematics, and the performance of accurate proofreading and correct spelling (all used occasionally); and the use of discretion, presentations/teaching, problem analysis, negotiation, mentoring, the performance of basic mathematics and programming, and the performance of advanced programming (all used rarely).
• Required physical activities include frequent standing, walking, talking, reaching, feeling, hearing, handling, and repetitive hand/wrist motions. Required physical activities used less frequently include stooping, sitting, bending, and repetitive foot motions (all used occasionally), as well as kneeling, crawling, and climbing (all used rarely).
• The ability to push, pull, and lift an average of 40 pounds throughout the day is required, as is the ability to carry an average of 20 pounds throughout the day.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• This is a highly regulated position subject to the rules and regulations of various regulatory agencies and accrediting bodies. These may include, but are not limited to, FDA, AABB, CLIA, CAP.
• Job conditions to be expected include: extensive travel; substantial overtime; on-call status (frequent); heavy lifting; constant standing; extensive close and CRT work; sleep deprivation (occasional); and evening meetings (rare).
• Full vaccination against COVID-19 (defined as two weeks after receiving final vaccine dose), or approved medical or religious exemption to the vaccine, is a condition of this role"
• Ability to work scheduled “on call” for up to 12 days each month.
• Bloodworks is a community-supported non-profit organization. As such, (from time to time) the incumbent can expect to work with volunteers.
• As this is an essential position with direct responsibility to donors and/or patients, the incumbent should be prepared to work extended and/or consecutive shifts and/or possibly at a different location during periods of inclement weather or other emergencies.
• Ability to work scheduled holidays and weekends.
• This position has direct exposure to bloodborne pathogens.

Benefits and Perks:
Employees regularly scheduled for 24+ hours per week are covered by medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, with family coverage also available. Also able to participate in retirement plans (401a & 401b), consolidated paid leave program (4.8 – 6.8 weeks of time off accrued per year, based on length of service), subsidized transit program, and educational reimbursement. Candidates hired from outside of our service area may be eligible for a relocation assistance bonus*
*Conditions apply

#INDHP

Bloodworks Northwest is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, age, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law.