Senior Medical Technologist

Department: MED-Transplant Center
Salary/Grade: NEX/16

Target hiring range for this position will be between be Salary range is as $29.22-$33.94 per hour. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Job Summary:

This position supports the Northwestern University Comprehensive Transplant Center (CTC) Transplant Immunology Laboratory.

The Senior Medical Technologist (Senior Histocompatibility Technologist) performs laboratory tests specific to the HLA antibody lab and must be skilled in antibody screening/identification assays and crossmatch between recipients and donors. Manages major projects including complex testing and validating of new clinical and research assays functioning as a technical resource providing training and mentoring to other transplant immunology lab staff. May perform up to final review of assigned clinical test results. Ensures lab compliance with all associated rules & regulations by heavily participating in the lab's quality management program.

Technologist is expected to use exceptional judgment to adapt an advanced knowledge of skills, methods, practices, policies &/or procedures & a moderate degree of innovation, analysis & reasoning to complete work that is project oriented & involves some complex problems &/or decisions. Must be able to work under stress due to the complexity and urgency of the testing requests

This position includes participation in a rotating weekday and weekend on-call schedule. During on-call hours, the technologist performs pre-consultation workups to assess transplant recipient and donor compatibility, as well as urgent testing during weekends and holidays. Occasional overtime may be required.

Please note: Employee will require access to NM/Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Lurie Children's Hospital.

Employee affiliation to NM requires yearly influenza vaccination documentation submission or proof of accommodation/ religious/medical exemption.

Specific Responsibilities:

Technical

• Establishes, validates & optimizes protocols & and coordinates multiple complex projects.
• Excels in performing assays (as trained), analyzes, and interprets clinical histocompatibility tests.
• Serves as a resource for colleagues for technical problem resolution.
• Provides resolution for re-occurring instrument/reagent issues and provides insight to supervisor and management, as needed. Contacts and continuously follows up with manufacturers (reagents) and technical support specialists (instruments) in resolving complex issues.
• Continuously participates in validations of new assays/reagents/software packages as a part of a team or independently. Generates presentations - as requested by supervisor/management - for educational or workflow improvement purposes
• Understands, is familiar with, and monitors efficiency of workflow process
• Analyzes & interprets data of assays performed with in-depth knowledge and has ability to correlate the results between methodologies. Recognizes result patterns & alerts the review personnel.
• Recognizes system/test failures, takes necessary actions to solve known issues independently and notifies superiors or supervisors.
• Maintains and ensures quality of laboratory instrumentation and reagents.
• Understands established quality metrics & recognizes deviations from standard. Performs necessary downstream processes and attempts to rectify abnormalities.
• Keeps track of inventory on daily basis per assay, determines reagents' needs & QC involved and proactively communicates with team and/or vendor
• Co-ordinates, performs & evaluates necessary QC.
• Manages clinical lab data and generates appropriate reports.
• Records necessary sensitizing events & evaluates the impact of these on test results.
• Completes daily general lab maintenance.
• Participates in clinical research study projects.
• Performs statistical tests.
• Laboratory performance demonstrating good judgment, conscientiousness, precision, and accuracy.
• An expert level in many of the stated skills below is required.

Cellular Biology:

• Cell culture, cell isolation
• Functional studies

Histology:

• Microscopy

Immunology:

• Flow cytometry

Other (Med Tech Scientific Decision Making):

• Routine problem solving
• Routine decision making
• Complex problem solving
• Complex decision making

Administrative

• Maintains detailed records of results which may include collecting, extracting & entering data.
• Interprets &/or presents results (i.e., involved in presenting of QC data in lab meeting).
• Reviews results & actively revises protocols as necessary to ensure that testing objectives are attained.
• Participates in continuing educational activities meeting.
• Based on level of experience and credentials, may participate in competency evaluation of other medical technologists

Finance

• Tracks & summarizes lab supply expenses.
• Verifies accuracy of invoices.
• Orders &/or maintains inventory of reagent, &/or lab supplies.
• Obtains sales quotes for lab equipment & supplies.
• Oversees repair & maintenance of all specific lab equipment.
• Ensures that lab supplies are ready & available, when necessary, by following up or instructing other med techs to follow up with vendors to ensure inventory will not be compromised due to backorders/shipment issues

Supervises

• Trains students, other technologists or staff in high complexity assays and high-level clinical testing analysis.

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Successful completion of a full 4-year courses of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in science; or related; OR appropriate combination of education and experience.
• Two years of experience in the field of HLA antibody identification/crossmatch, histocompatibility testing or related is required

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Must have the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Must be able to work under stress due to the complexity and urgency of the testing requests.
• Must possess a good eye for detail, manual dexterity and must have the ability to maintain focus and mental concentration, due to the complexity of the work and risks stemming from an incorrect result.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with standard clinical laboratory operating procedures.
• Experience in training new technologists.
• American College of Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (ACHI) Histocompatibility technologist (CHT) or specialist (CHS) certification.
• Experience in data analysis and reporting.

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern's non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.