Discover Vanderbilt University Medical Center: Located in Nashville, Tennessee, and operating at a global crossroads of teaching, discovery, and patient care, VUMC is a community of diverse individuals who come to work each day with the simple aim of changing the world. It is a place where your expertise will be valued, your knowledge expanded, and your abilities challenged. Vanderbilt Health recognizes that diversity is essential for excellence and innovation. We are committed to an inclusive environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and where your diversity of culture, thinking, learning, and leading is sought and celebrated. It is a place where employees know they are part of something that is bigger than themselves, take exceptional pride in their work and never settle for what was good enough yesterday. Vanderbilt’s mission is to advance health and wellness through preeminent programs in patient care, education, and research.

Organization:

Specialty Labs

Job Summary:

The primary functions of the Technical Specialist in the lab are to independently perform a wide variety of duties within their area of specialty, in close collaboration with the team leader, manager and laboratory section medical director. These duties include investigation/development of new/modified test procedures, verification and validation of testing, technical review and monitoring of existing procedures. Coordination of quality control, quality assurance, and proficiency testing activities are performed in collaboration with laboratory quality coordinator. Responsibilities may include identification of staff training needs and evaluating the competency of testing personnel. Act as technical consultant and resource for other team members.

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The VUMC Specialty Labs Department is in need of a Toxicology Technical Specialist to join the team at our new Metro Center lab location!

Department Summary:

Our new 110,000-square-foot diagnostic core laboratory supports the needs of Vanderbilt University Medical Center's inpatient hospitals, outpatient clinics, regional hospitals, and extramural practice customers. Located five miles north of the 21st Avenue Nashville campus, the laboratory has expanded capacity to bring more testing to Vanderbilt, deploy innovative technology, improve patient care, and enhance team collaboration. The laboratory offers an expanded test menu supporting routine and specialized testing and aims to become the preferred reference laboratory provider in the southeast region.

The Toxicology Technical Specialist will be dedicated to the development of the Toxicology lab. They will work closely with the Special Testing DYAD developing methods for drug confirmation testing with the potential of adding vitamins and anti-fungal testing in the future. With the fast-evolving pace of toxicology novel agents, we are looking for technical expertise to perform surveillance proactively. The Technical Specialist will be dedicated to establishing and growing the Toxicology department.

Shift:

Monday - Friday - 1st Shift

Key Responsibilities:

• Verify the test procedures performed and establish the laboratory's test performance characteristics, including the precision and accuracy of each test and test system.

• Evaluate test kits and/or equipment which may have application in the routine laboratory.

• Collect and analyze data, providing appropriate written information for protocol evaluation and test interpretation.

• Compare present methodology to new or modified test methods to determine if the latter may be more appropriate for use in routine testing.

• Recommend and develop new test procedures or modify existing procedures for implementation in the routine laboratory.

• Develop, review, and update written protocols, as needed, in the approved VUMC laboratory procedure format.

• Survey the literature and communicate with authorities to obtain the information necessary to maximize efforts related to developmental projects.

Technical Capabilities:

• TECHNICAL CAPABILITY ONE (Intermediate): Ensure that patient test results are not reported unless the test systems are functioning properly.

• TECHNICAL CAPABILITY TWO (Intermediate): Suggest, develop, and implement quality assurance projects and prepare reports as required.

• TECHNICAL CAPABILITY THREE (Intermediate): Establish a quality control program appropriate for the testing performed in cooperation with the section quality coordinator, team leader and medical director.

• TECHNICAL CAPABILITY FOUR (Intermediate): Establish the parameters for acceptable levels of analytic performance and ensure that these levels are maintained throughout the entire testing process from the initial receipt of the specimen, through sample analysis and reporting of test results.

• TECHNICAL CAPABILITY FIVE (Intermediate): Review quality control procedures and investigate problems and alternative methods when necessary.

Allied health is among the fastest growing occupations in healthcare today. This area can be defined as credentialed professionals who perform supportive, diagnostic, and therapeutic health care services to promote health and prevent disease in a variety of settings.

These areas are crucial to Vanderbilt Health’s reputation for excellence in these areas that has made us a major center for patient referrals from throughout the Mid-South.

Each year, people throughout Tennessee and the southeast choose Vanderbilt Health for their health care because of our leadership in medical science and our dedication to treating patients with dignity and compassion.

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Core Accountabilities:

• Organizational Impact: Performs tasks that are typically routine that may impact team's performance with occasional guidance. * Problem Solving/ Complexity of work: Utilizes some discretion and research to solve routine problems. * Breadth of Knowledge: Applies knowledge of standards, established processes and procedure that apply to your own job. * Team Interaction: Provides guidance to entry level co-workers.

Core Capabilities :

Supporting Colleagues : Develops Self and Others: Continuously improves own skills by identifying development opportunities.- Builds and Maintains Relationships: Seeks to understand colleagues' priorities, working styles and develops relationships across areas.- Communicates Effectively: Openly shares information with others and communicates in a clear and courteous manner. Delivering Excellent Services: - Serves Others with Compassion: Invests time to understand the problems, needs of others and how to provide excellent service.- Solves Complex Problems: Seeks to understand issues, solves routine problems, and raises proper concerns in a timely manner. - Offers Meaningful Advice and Support: Listens carefully to understand the issues and provides accurate information and support. Ensuring High Quality: - Performs Excellent Work: Checks work quality before delivery and asks relevant questions to meet quality standards. - Fulfills Safety and Regulatory Requirements: Demonstrates basic knowledge of conditions that affect safety and reports unsafe conditions to the appropriate person or department. Managing Resources Effectively : - Demonstrates Accountability: Takes responsibility for completing assigned activities and thinks beyond standard approaches to provide high-quality work/service. - Stewards Organizational Resources: Displays understanding of how personal actions will impact departmental resources. - Makes Data Driven Decisions: Uses accurate information and good decision making to consistently achieve results on time and without error. Fostering Innovation : - Generates New Ideas: Willingly proposes/accepts ideas or initiatives that will impact day-to-day operations by offering suggestions to enhance them. - Applies Technology: Absorbs new technology quickly; understands when to utilize the appropriate tools and procedures to ensure proper course of action. - Adapts to Change: Embraces changes by keeping an open mind to changing plans and incorporates change instructions into own area of work.

Position Qualifications:

Responsibilities:

Certifications:

Work Experience:

Relevant Work Experience

Experience Level :

5 years

Education:

Bachelor's (Required)

Vanderbilt Health recognizes that diversity is essential for excellence and innovation. We are committed to an inclusive environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and to the principles of equal opportunity and affirmative action. EOE/AA/Women/Minority/Vets/Disabled