Lab Supervisor

The Kwajalein Project

The project site is the U.S. Army Garrison Hospital, located on the atolls of Kwajalein and Roi-Namur in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, a scenic chain of Islands equidistant from Hawaii, Australia, and the Philippines. It is one of the largest outsourced medical facilities in support of the Department of Defense. Since 2018 International SOS Government Medical Services, has been subcontracted to manage the 10-bed Critical Access Kwajalein Hospital, dental clinic, veterinary clinic, and a medical clinic on Roi-Namur. Kwajalein is a 6.5 square mile atoll where bikes are the primary mode of transportation. The more than 1,500 residents include military personnel, Army Civilians, contractors, and their family members.  Kwajalein is home to one of the world’s largest coral atolls and lagoons. The year-round warm and sunny weather supports a variety of activities, such as scuba diving, sport fishing, sailing, and wind surfing.  The military base also boasts a movie theater, bowling alley, gym, golf course, ceramics studio, and small shopping areas.  

Job Description

Medical Lab Supervisor manages staff and is responsible for oversight of the laboratory department.  

General:
•    In concurrence with Senior Management, formulate short and long-range goals for the clinical laboratory unit, set priorities, assign responsibilities, and establish timetables; project future needs and formulate strategies consistent with projections.
•    Manage the operational policies and procedures of the clinical laboratory department; coordinate with medical staff on issues which impact laboratory services.
•    Prepare weekly and monthly activity reports reflecting volume of work, procedures utilized and output results; and analyses setting forth progress, adverse trends and appropriate recommendations or conclusions.
•    Develop and monitor laboratory programs to include laboratory quality control procedures, installation and maintenance of laboratory equipment and compliance with federal regulations 
•    Perform other related duties incidental to the work described herein or as directed by Senior Management.
•    Maintain sufficient inventory of material supplies and equipment for performance of duties; coordinate preparation and procurement of chemicals, reagents, stains and solutions as appropriate.
•    Demonstrate proficiency with hospital and departmental practices that reflect Joint Commission, COLA, CLIA, CMS, OSHA, HIPAA, Quality Improvement, and EPA Water Testing Standards and performs work at a level to meet these standards; demonstrate technical proficiency through successful participation in laboratory Proficiency Testing programs.
•    Maintain and protects the confidentiality of patient information
•    Is accountable for maintaining and improving own laboratory knowledge and skill competence.
•    Provides patient care that promotes the safety and well-being of all patients in the hospital and clinic departments on a 24-hour basis.
•    Supports the hospital’s philosophy, objectives and goals and Organization mission and vision
•    Respects and supports patient rights.
•    Promotes and practices positive customer and peer relations and cost containment for the Laboratory Department and patient.
•    Fosters constructive relationships as a team member within the Laboratory and with the members of other departments.
•    Maintains professional conduct.
•    Assists in reviewing and revising policies and procedures.  Strong background in computer skills desired.
•    Supports and enforces infection control policies and procedures.
•    Follows the EPA regulations and completing required annual Proficiency Testing for water specimens.
 

Other essential duties

Personnel
•    Develop and monitor recruitment, selection, and personnel orientation for newly hired employees.
•    Develop and monitor performance appraisals for laboratory employees.  Also responsible for in service training, promotions, disciplinary actions. 
•    Responsible for monitoring time and attendance and ensuring laboratory employee completion of required electronic timecards
Pre-analytic
•    Communicate in a professional and courteous manner with patients, family, and other medical personnel, as necessary.
•    Participate in specimen collection either directly by venipuncture or skin puncture; maintains responsibility for patient identification, specimen labelling and collection verification, or instructing patients or other healthcare providers in collection and preservation techniques of specimens for analysis on both adult and pediatric patients. Works with other laboratory staff members in all areas of the laboratory, or as assigned, to complete patient specimen analysis.
•    Performs quality control procedures, ensuring validity and accuracy of test results.
•    Serve to the cover laboratory needs outside of routine hours by sharing on-call duties with other Laboratory Technologists.
Post analytic
•    Coordinate and participate in performance and interpretation of complex technical duties in support of medical laboratory testing; record determinations and results for review by physician/provider staff; perform a variety of assays on human, veterinary and environmental specimens. 
•    Proficiently and consistently complete accurate, concise and legible documentation of laboratory testing results and records. Includes documentation of maintenance, quality control, calibration, and other laboratory records.
•    Ensure remedial action is taken and documented whenever testing systems deviate from established performance specifications.
•    Other duties as assigned.

Experience Required

•    Must possess current skills in Blood Bank, Chemistry, Hematology, Microbiology and Urinalysis
•    Ability to demonstrate dexterity, knowledge, and ability to complete assigned laboratory tasks and skills, attention to detail and compliance with all appropriate regulatory and safety requirements including standard precautions and hazardous chemical handling.
•    Ability to train, orient and evaluate the job performance of personnel
•    Require knowledge and analytic abilities to perform highly complex testing, to interpret findings, perform calculations, calibrate instrumentation and review testing performed by other technologists.
•    Working knowledge of and ability to implement the requirements for COLA, CLIA, and CLIP Laboratory Accreditation.
•    Ability to maintain quality, safety and infection control standards.
•    Considerable knowledge of laboratory equipment, instrumentation and terminology; considerable knowledge of computers and computerized lab equipment.
•    Experience involving patient contact, customer service in a medical setting, strong communication skills both verbal and written.
•    Must possess visual acuity required to distinguish fine gradations of color and/or texture. 
•    Proficient oral and written communication abilities in English.
•    Flexible and willing to work in a culturally diverse environment. 
•    Applicants for the laboratory technologist position must demonstrate the absence of color blindness as evaluated by a color vision screening examination (Ishihara or equivalent). Laboratory personnel must be able to determine and confirm laboratory test results, which requires verification of normal color vision. 

Qualification

Education Required: 
•    Bachelor’s degree in Biology / Chemistry or Medical Laboratory Science, or in a related scientific field with a demonstrated internship in an approved clinical laboratory training program, or equivalent.
•    Current certification with a nationally recognized registry such as MT(ASCP).

Other Special Qualifications:
•    Must be able to read, write and speak English to effectively communicate
•    This position is unaccompanied. 
•    US Citizen or Permanent Resident Card is required.  
•    US DOD NACI clearance or the ability to obtain one is required.
•    Must be able to relocate to the United States Army Kwajalein Atoll. 
•    A valid passport is required and must be in your possession prior to relocation. You must maintain a current passport during your stay on Kwajalein Atoll.