Laboratory Operations Specialist

Company Description

Since 1970, Salud has been committed to providing a Medical Home to patients, where medical, dental, behavioral health services, and clinical pharmacists work together and coordinate efforts in a team-based system of care. We strive to improve the quality of our patient's lives who would otherwise have limited access to health care. We serve all individuals regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay.

Job Description

Laboratory Operations Specialist

The Laboratory Operations Specialist is responsible for overseeing all aspects of internal laboratory operations, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards, as well as overseeing occupational health program within Salud. The LOS is also Salud’s liaison to our external laboratories to ensure that lab orders are collected internally and follow external lab specimen collection requirements, specimens are resulted by Quest, and entered into our system per protocol and to monitor quality concerns. This role includes maintaining Salud’s CLIA certification, coordinating employment-related vaccination compliance, and serving as the primary liaison with the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) team. The ideal candidate will combine strong technical expertise with leadership skills to ensure safe, efficient, and compliant in-house laboratory operations and employee health practices.

This is a hybrid role requiring travel to the  Ft Lupton administration building as needed. Must also be able to travel to all Salud clinic locations throughout Colorado as needed.

The Laboratory Operations Specialist approaches his/her tasks in a team-based care fashion that supports patients and their families in self-management, self-efficacy and behavior change.  Adheres to the spirit of the SALUD Mission Statement and Core Values while performing assigned duties.

 We offer:

• $21.50 to $28 per hr. 
• Monday to Friday – 8 am to 5 pm

Comprehensive Benefits Package includes:

• Medical PPO Plan (Similar to ACA Exchange Platinum Benefit Coverage Levels)
  • Low employee premiums, especially given rich benefits
  • $25 Primary Care Physician and Specialist Co-pays (in-network)
  • Low deductibles and co-insurance
  • Free provider visits and services at all Salud facilities
  • Preferred prescription pricing at Salud pharmacies
• Dental PPO plan
  • Includes Employee Discounts at All Salud Dental Facilities
• Vision
• Generous vacation accrual
• 10 Paid Holidays per year (includes 2 Floating Holidays and paid Birthday) 
• Up to 8 Paid accrued Sick Days per year
• Defined Contribution Pension Plan.   Salud contributes 5% of your compensation each month (no matching employee contribution is required…you receive the contribution no matter what).  Employees who have worked at least 1,000 hours within a 12-month period are eligible.
• 403b Retirement savings plan.  You can contribute pre-tax or after-tax (Roth) towards your retirement savings.
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Basic Life and AD&D
• Supplemental Life and AD&D
• Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
• Accident & Critical Illness Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program

Our Mission is to provide a quality, integrated healthcare home to the communities we serve

Specific Duties:

Laboratory Management

• Oversee Internal laboratory operations, including specimen handling, testing, and quality control
• Ensure compliance with CLIA, OSHA, and other applicable regulatory standards
• Maintain accurate documentation for audits and inspections
• Implement and monitor internal laboratory safety protocols

Occupational Health & Vaccination Compliance

• Oversee employee health programs, including vaccination tracking and compliance with organizational and regulatory requirements
• Coordinate pre-employment and annual health screenings
• Develop and maintain policies for infection control and immunization compliance

Regulatory & Certification Management

• Manage CLIA certification process, including renewals, proficiency testing, and compliance audits
• Stay current with federal and state regulations impacting laboratory and occupational health operations

Vendor & EMR Coordination

• Act as the primary point of contact for external laboratory service providers
• Ensure seamless integration and data accuracy between laboratory systems and EMR
• Troubleshoot and resolve issues related to lab orders, results, and reporting
• Work with the laboratory vendor to oversee on-site phlebotomists, with adherence to all Salud credentialing procedures
• Coordinate with reporting agencies for communicable disease follow-up and tracking

Leadership & Training

• Train and supervise laboratory staff on procedures, compliance, and safety
• Work with the Medical Training Department to identify lab-related training needs

Foster a culture of continuous improvement and regulatory excellence.

Qualifications

Education:

• High school diploma or equivalent required.  MA, LPN, RN, or Laboratory-related degree preferred

Experience:

• Minimum 3–5 years in laboratory operations required
• Experience in occupational health compliance preferred

Licensure:

• Medical Assistant Certification, LPN, RN, or a degree in a laboratory-related field preferred

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of CLIA regulations required
• Strong understanding of EMR systems and laboratory information systems
• Excellent organizational, communication, and leadership skills
• Excellent written communication skills
• Excellent computer knowledge and skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Willingness to learn new software programs and work processes
• Working knowledge of office equipment such as copiers, scanners, digital cameras, fax machines, etc.
• Passion for working in a non-profit that provides health care services for low-income individuals and families.  Sensitivity to the low-income and ethnic minority communities is a must.
• Must be comfortable working with a diverse group of skill sets

SAL123

  The application window is anticipated to close by 3/31/25

Additional Information

Salud Family Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We prohibit unlawful discrimination against applicants or employees on the basis of age 40 and over, race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other applicable status protected by federal, state, or local laws.  All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.