Job Description

Position Summary:

The Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) Technical Specialist Lead provides first-level supervisory and technical leadership for all laboratory operations, with primary responsibility for quality assurance, staff competency, and regulatory compliance. This position designs, implements, and evaluates training programs, proficiency testing, and occurrence reporting to ensure staff maintain high standards across all laboratory specialties. This position serves as the primary technical resource for complex analytical testing, critical decision-making, and remediation, escalating issues to the Laboratory Manager as needed. This position also supports the implementation of new systems, including the Laboratory Information System (LIS), and ensures continuity of safe, accurate, and compliant laboratory services essential to patient care, student health, and institutional standards.

Essential Job Duties:

• Perform and interpret complex clinical laboratory testing across multiple disciplines, including microbiology, chemistry, and hematology, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and patient safety

• Apply independent judgment to identify anomalies, determine need for additional or confirmatory testing, and communicate findings to providers and laboratory staff

• Maintain laboratory quality systems, including quality control, proficiency testing, competency assessment, documentation of occurrence reports, and ongoing compliance with professional certification and regulatory standards

• Ensure compliance with CLIA, CAP, state, and institutional regulatory requirements, supporting inspections, audits, and continuous quality improvement

• Provide first-level supervision and technical leadership to laboratory staff, including mentoring, training, and performance feedback

• Develop, implement, and evaluate staff training, competency, proficiency, and remediation programs in collaboration with the Laboratory Manager

• Act as the supervising authority in the absence of the Laboratory Manager to ensure continuity of safe and compliant laboratory operations

• Collect and process patient specimens and communicate effectively with patients, providers, and internal stakeholders to support high-quality clinical service

Conditions of Employment:

• Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires).

• Shift Work - This position works rotating weekends and or holidays, for a limited number of hours based on volume, where microbiology is performed independently.

• Special Requirements - The CSU Health Network follows CDC guidelines for Employee Health in a healthcare setting, including proof of vaccinations. Employees must show proof of compliance/willingness to comply by start date.

Supervision:

• Provides first-level supervision of laboratory staff, overseeing daily operations, training, and competency.

• Escalates issues to the Laboratory Manager as needed and serves as the primary supervisory authority in the Manager’s absence, documenting staff performance to inform annual reviews.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences, or a related medical/science field with appropriate MLS certification

• Current national certification by a recognized board, such as: American Society for Clinical Pathologists (ASCP); American Medical Technologists (AMT); American Association of Bioanalysts (AAB)

• Must maintain required continuing education units (CEUs) per certifying body

• Minimum of five years of clinical laboratory experience, including comprehensive microbiology

Preferred Qualifications:

• At least one year of experience in a supervisory, lead, or technical specialist role

• Expertise in laboratory testing, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance (CLIA, CAP, state/federal standards)

• Strong technical and interpretive skills for complex specimen analysis and troubleshooting

• Ability to develop and implement staff training, competency programs, and proficiency testing

• Effective communication skills for technical guidance to staff, clinical providers, and external partners

• Competency with laboratory information systems (LIS), electronic health records (EHR), and related software

• Prior experience with outpatient or ambulatory laboratory workflows, including specimen collection, labeling, handling, and preparation

• Ability to work rotating weekends and occasional holidays

Application Instructions:

CSU is committed to full inclusion of qualified individuals. Applicants needing assistance to submit application materials may contact Tammy Roehrich at Tammy.Roehrich@colostate.edu.

Complete applications must include:

• Cover letter addressing Required Job Qualifications, Preferred Job Qualifications and Essential Job Duties

• Resume

The posting is open until filled. For full consideration, complete applications must be received by 12:00 AM Mountain Time on Monday, March 23, 2026.

Salary Range

Required Application Documents

To apply, please upload the following applicant documents. Ensure your materials fully address the required and preferred job qualifications of the position. Please note, applicants may redact information from their application materials that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.

Employee Benefits

Colorado State University is not just a workplace; it’s a thriving community that’s transforming lives and improving the human condition through world-class teaching, research, and service. With a robust benefits package, collaborative atmosphere, and focus on work-life balance, CSU is where you can thrive, grow, and make a lasting impact.

• Review our detailed benefits information here.

• Explore the additional perks of working at CSU here.

• For the total value of CSU benefits in addition to wages, use our compensation calculator.

• Lastly, click here for more information about why Fort Collins is consistently ranked in the top cities to live in!

Background Check Policy Statement

Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.

EEO

Colorado State University (CSU) provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.