Medical Laboratory Scientist/Medical Technologist Technical Lead

Position Overview

Fairview is seeking a Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) Technical Lead for its Acute Care Laboratory at M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center-East Bank. This full‑time, day shift position (Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–3:30 PM, including every third weekend and occasional holidays) oversees inpatient collection services and guides a team of phlebotomists. The institution is recognized for excellence, being the 2025 recipient of the Foster G. McGaw Prize and ranked the No.1 hospital in the Twin Cities Metro by U.S. News & World Report, reflecting its commitment to innovation, clinical leadership, and high‑quality patient care.

Key Responsibilities

• Follows established guidelines to obtain specimens and prioritize work.
• Obtains specimens from patients of all ages and varying abilities and properly verifies patient identity.
• Assesses specimen integrity and verifies correct identification before testing.
• Determines and revises specimen procurement priorities per departmental guidelines and clinical information.
• Performs a wide variety of complex diagnostic and therapeutic testing, including waived, moderate, or high‑complexity tests as defined by CLIA ’88.
• May conduct method development research, instrument correlation, and method validation.
• In the absence of a supervisor, directs workflow and provides problem‑solving guidance for laboratory functions.
• Operates laboratory instrumentation and information systems according to standard procedures and completes routine maintenance.
• Recognizes problems, initiates safety or emergency responses, and consults with a supervisor when necessary.
• Exercises critical thinking to enhance departmental productivity and efficiency, and assists in designing and evaluating new work processes.
• Evaluates testing results for accuracy, intervening as needed, and recognizes age‑specific reference ranges.
• Demonstrates commitment to Laboratory Quality Assurance, Performance Improvement, and Compliance Programs by documenting deviations, reagent/test kit checks, and QC actions.
• Assumes responsibility for laboratory performance improvement by suggesting, collecting, reviewing, and recommending action steps.
• Collaborates with laboratory customers to promote appropriate resource use.
• Orients and mentors new employees and students, monitors training progress, completes checklists and evaluations, and assists in developing learning plans.
• Performs final quality checks on work prior to release.

Required Qualifications

• Possess a baccalaureate or higher degree in chemical, biological, clinical, or medical laboratory science (or medical technology) from an accredited institution with the appropriate laboratory practicum, OR provide documentation through transcript or diploma.
• Alternatively, meet course requirements with 16 semester hours in biology (including one semester in microbiology) and 16 semester hours in chemistry (including one semester in organic or biochemistry), or completion of a 50‑week U.S. military medical laboratory training course plus a baccalaureate degree.
• Alternatively, a Master’s degree in molecular biology, biotechnology, chemistry, biology, cytology, immunology, immunohematology, microbiology, allied health, medical laboratory science, or a related field with proper documentation.
• Have a minimum of 1 year (or 2 years, as applicable) of laboratory training/experience in high‑complexity testing.
• Must possess or be eligible to receive an HHS‑approved laboratory certification within 1 year (e.g., ASCP, ASCPi, or AMT – MLS/MT or HEW Medical Technologist certification).

Compensation

$36.64 - $51.73 Hourly