Laboratory Supervisor

Job Description Job Description

Reports To

Medical Laboratory Director

Working Hours

Tuesday through Saturday, 9 am to 6 pm

Key Responsibilities

• Oversees daily laboratory workflow across all sections, ensures appropriate bench staffing and workload distribution, monitors testing progress, and provides qualified bench coverage when needed.
• Provides daily guidance and support to laboratory staff and the Accessioning Department.
• Reviews pending specimens and outstanding tests in all areas, assigns follow-up responsibilities, and ensures testing is completed within established turnaround times.
• Coordinates documented shift-to-shift handoffs covering pending work, testing priorities, instrument status, unresolved issues, and responsibility for follow-up.
• Monitors inventory of supplies, reagents, calibrators, and QC materials for availability, expiration, and proper storage. Communicates shortages and coordinates replenishment needs.
• Oversees accessioning activities and works closely with staff to ensure specimens are accurately received, identified, processed, and routed promptly.
• Reviews, verifies, and releases patient results within the supervisor's qualifications and authorization.
• Ensures required QC is performed, reviewed, acceptable, and documented for all applicable tests before patient results are released.
• Ensures scheduled maintenance, calibrations, function checks, temperature monitoring, and associated records are completed and reviewed.
• Ensures proficiency testing is assigned, performed, and reviewed on time according to laboratory procedures and program requirements.
• Assists with onboarding, training, cross-training, competency assessments, and related documentation within the supervisor's qualifications and delegated authority.
• Monitors attendance, punctuality, breaks, bench availability, productivity, and completion of assigned duties.
• Ensures staff follow approved SOPs, laboratory policies, safety practices, PPE requirements, and patient confidentiality standards.
• Helps investigate errors, complaints, specimen issues, corrected reports, and quality events.
• Supports audit and inspection readiness, regulatory compliance, SOP updates, validation activities, and implementation of new instruments, assays, and workflows as assigned by laboratory leadership.
• Works closely with the Laboratory Operations Supervisor, Medical Laboratory Director, and laboratory management to align staffing, testing priorities, and operational needs.
• Performs additional laboratory duties and special projects as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in medical laboratory science, clinical laboratory science, medical technology, chemistry, biology, or a related qualifying field from an accredited institution.
• At least one year of documented clinical laboratory experience in high-complexity testing of human specimens.
• Meets applicable CLIA qualifications for General Supervisor and high-complexity testing personnel.
• Previous laboratory lead or supervisory experience preferred.
• Experience across multiple laboratory sections preferred.
• Knowledge of laboratory testing, quality control, instrumentation, maintenance, proficiency testing, and applicable regulatory and accreditation requirements.
• Proficiency with laboratory information systems and computer applications.
• Strong communication, organization, problem-solving, and staff leadership skills.
• Ability to provide bench coverage for testing procedures for which the individual is trained, competent, and authorized.
• Ability to follow laboratory safety procedures and perform duties involving potential exposure to blood and body fluids.