Donor Testing Training Specialist

Memorial Blood Centers (MBC.ORG), a division of Innovative Blood Resources (www.innovativebloodresources.org), has been saving and sustaining lives since 1948. We supply blood and blood components, state-of-the-art laboratory services, and biomedical expertise to area healthcare partners, national blood centers, biotechnology companies, research institutions, and international clients. Operating 10 donor centers and conducting hundreds of blood drives each month, we are proud to be an independent nonprofit that supplies over 30 area hospitals and more than a dozen air ambulances with life-saving blood-from our community, for our community.

Summary:

This position responsible for coordinating the Donor Testing department's training and education program. This position facilitates the orientation and onboarding of new Donor Training (DT) staff, provides instructional and hands-on training for DT technical staff, supervises the department annual competency assessments (CLIA and Non-CLIA), and oversees the department continuing education credits.

Schedule: Typical hours are Monday - Friday first shift

Job Responsibilites:

Maintains competency in all donor testing functions and follows current Good Manufacturing Processes.
• As defined by CLIA, this position is responsible for specimen processing (pre-analytic) or testing (analytic), maintaining records of tests and reporting test results in high complexity laboratory.
• This position performs only those tests that are authorized by the CLIA laboratory director and performs only those tests that require a degree of skill commensurate with the individual's education, training or experience, and technical abilities.
• Manages the orientation and onboarding of new Donor Testing staff.
• Positively mentors, coaches, and educates new technical staff on all Donor Testing processes with instructional and hands-on training. Assures technical accuracy and compliance of staff with SOPs, cGMPs and regulatory standards.
  • New staff must be signed off and released to test on one testing platform during their first year of employment.
  • New staff must understand the following policies: compliance standards established by various regulatory agencies, testing and reporting protocols, safety practices, donor and patient confidentiality policies, cGMP, GDP, department and organizational policies
• Conducts post training check-in meetings at 2-week and 6-week intervals after staff are released to perform new tasks. Utilizes feedback from meetings to update and improve training curriculum.
• Acts as a resource for staff to resolve technical problems. Performs LIS administrator functions.
• Develops and revises all department training documents
• Recognizes and reports to supervisor problems encountered during performance of job tasks including equipment malfunction, deviation from standard operating procedure, unusual results, and discrepancy in test controls or controls outside established normal limits.
• Oversees department's competency assessments (CLIA and Non-CLIA). Conducts assessments with appropriate follow-up and recommendations using the competency assessment process/tools.
• Monitors department continuing education credits. Sends routine reminders to team leaders to ensure all staff complete required CEUs by established deadline.
• Assists with department Change Management projects and attends cross-departmental meetings. Acts as liaison to and actively participates in IBR initiatives
• Flexes schedule to provide training for major lab changes/implementations to all shifts.
• Assists with validations of equipment, test assays and laboratory information systems.

Secondary Job Responsibilites:

• Promote and contribute to a culture of safety through compliance with all safety SOP's to include wearing proper personal protective equipment (PPE) i.e. safety goggles, gloves, lab coats and proper shoes. Promptly report all safety violation observations and/or safety concerns.
• Participates and responsible for oversight of team members NYBCe established continuing education requirements, documents required continuing education units timely. Participates in educational activities, leadership training and other corporate initiatives.
• Successful participation in proficiency testing and annual competency assessment programs.
• Participation in continuing education to meet state and national regulatory requirements.

The annual range for this position is $68,000 - $76,000/year

IBR also offers comprehensive benefits (including medical, vision, dental, paid time off, and sick days) to full and part-time employees, as well as the opportunity to participate in a 403(b)-retirement plan with a generous employer contribution.

Education:

• Bachelor of Science in chemical, biological, clinical laboratory science or medical technology

Experience:

• Three years relevant laboratory experience with donor testing experience strongly preferred

Other:

• Must possess attention to detail, accurate transcription of numbers, good written and oral communication skills, and computer input/retrieval skills.
• Ability to work in a team environment or independently, good decision making skills, ability to work irregular hours or overtime as dictated by departmental needs. Must comprehend and apply clinical laboratory procedures and theory.