Travel Clinical Lab Scientist (CLS)
La Mesa, California
Sharp Memorial Hospital

Clinical Laboratory Scientist

Location: San Diego, California
Employment Type: Travel - Clinical Allied
Shift: 12-hour shifts, 36 hours per week, every other weekend with variable weekdays
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Job Description

• Perform analytic testing procedures following written policies and procedures; identify and submit necessary revisions.
• Conduct new procedures within acceptable training intervals and meet department turnaround time goals.
• Document activities and results thoroughly and legibly; proofread work to ensure zero defects and harm.
• Review operational reports for clerical and analytical errors and correct as needed.
• Evaluate data accuracy and investigate questionable findings with appropriate follow-through.
• Perform pre-analytical tasks including patient reception, sample collection, and processing.
• Assess testing factors considering patient age and population-specific groups.
• Demonstrate emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and logical decision-making, especially under stress.
• Serve as a key resource for employee and student training, development, and competency assessment.
• Operate and validate testing equipment, analyzers, and technology; perform preventive and corrective maintenance.
• Manage equipment issues, including reporting, documentation, removal of defective equipment, and follow-up on repairs.
• Participate in evaluation, selection, and decision-making regarding analyzers and test methodologies.
• Manage inventory and evaluate consumables to prevent shortages; communicate needs to ordering personnel.
• Coordinate and complete quality assurance processes to meet established standards and continuous improvement goals.
• Represent the laboratory in committees, task forces, or workgroups as needed.
• Supervise Medical Lab Technicians, Certified Phlebotomy Technicians, and Laboratory Assistants, promoting accountability and teamwork.
• Complete and assess quality control performance, proficiency testing, test validation, calibration, and linearity testing with corrective actions.
• Monitor quality assurance indicators and work with the team to meet or exceed thresholds.
• Identify errors and conduct investigations, corrections, documentation, and notifications to caregivers and lab leadership.
• Perform shift lead duties as necessary.
• Participate in regulatory and safety compliance activities.
• Engage in self-improvement through feedback reception and provision.

Required Qualifications

• Valid Clinical Lab Scientist (CLS) license in California
• Clinical Lab Scientist (CLS) (3 years of experience)
• Clinical Lab Scientist (CLS) experience within the last year
• Educational background necessary for California State Clinical Laboratory Scientist licensing or specialized education within the Clinical Laboratory Scientist field
• Experience in Supervisory roles

Key Skills and Competencies

• Analytic testing and validation
• Patient reception, sample collection, and processing
• Critical thinking and logical decision-making
• Calibration, preventive and corrective maintenance
• Equipment and inventory management
• Quality assurance and quality control performance assessment
• Proficiency testing and test validation
• Error investigation and regulatory compliance
• Emotional intelligence and teamwork
• Supervisory skills and employee training
• Policy writing and revision
• Effective communication using tools like Closed Loop and SBAR

This position requires strong technical expertise, leadership ability, and commitment to quality and safety standards in a clinical laboratory setting.