Supervisor, Clinical Invest Technician

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston is one of the world's most respected centers focused on cancer patient care, research, education and prevention. It was named the nation's No. 1 hospital for cancer care in U.S. News & World Report’s 2019 rankings. It is one of the nation's original three comprehensive cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute.

KEY FUNCTIONS

Laboratory Operation  

•      Supervises day-to-day operations to ensure smooth functioning of the LCRS lab. Plans work load distribution, directs work flow and provides quality control to ensure accurate sample collection, processing, performing ECG, and shipment according to specific protocol requirements.
•           Schedules personnel coverage and coordinates the delegation of work assignments for night-shift, weekends, and institutional holidays. Initiates changes in work schedules to assure adequate coverage during absences or staffing shortages. Manages these schedules to ensure adequate coverage while avoiding unnecessary overtime.
•           Assumes responsibility for retrieving daily patient schedules, reconciling performed assessments and following up on no-shows. Maintains an accurate daily log of all the patients and procedures scheduled for lab visits; follows up on no-shows to clarify reasons and documents all such findings.
•           Assumes responsibilities of a CIT as necessary in an overload situation to ensure protocol requirements are met.

Quality Control & Supervision and Training   

 •  Ensures implementation of adequate quality control measures to avoid missing protocol-specified assessments. Interacts with data entry personnel to ensure all daily performance data is captured in the database.
•           Ensures implementation of adequate quality control measures to ensure that all research specimen shipments are conducted according to protocol requirements with regard to shipping conditions and destination.
•           Supervises CITs and Sr. CITs. Ensures they have been properly certified and completed all required training courses.
•           Implements cross training on complex processing lab samples for CITs and Sr. CIT
•           Provides initial assessment and evaluation of the performance of CITs and Sr. CITs;
•           Participates in the hiring process of CITs and Sr. CITs, evaluates competencies and makes hiring recommendations to the lab management.
•           Orients new employees as to their responsibilities and the LCRS lab policies and procedures. Ensures all new hires complete mandatory training courses. Counsels employees with regard to problems encountered in daily operations.
•           Propose and implement new process improvement projects that will increase the lab efficiency and productivity.
•           Manages customer service interactions and relationships with diplomacy and professionalism. Must communicate effectively with physicians, nurses, patients, laboratory personnel and the general public in a polite and professional manner, and maintain composure in a stressful patient care environment.

Lab Equipment, Supplies & Safety    

•      Maintain sample freezer log and keep it up-to-date. Assign/perform batch shipment as requested.
•           Ensures all lab equipment is in working order at all times; schedules routine maintenance and repair of lab equipment. Ensures all sponsor-provided equipment is properly certified by the Biomedical Department prior to usage.
•           Ensures adequate quantities of daily supplies are on hand at all times. Works with the manager to place monthly orders and monitors inventories. Ensures the inventory room is always in order.
•           Ensures compliance with all regulatory and safety standards and enforces policies and procedures. Conducts regular lab safety audits and keeps records of these audits. Ensures adherence to hygiene and infection control standards.