Clinical Laboratory Specialist - Compliance

The CDC Foundation helps the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) save and improve lives by unleashing the power of collaboration between CDC, philanthropies, corporations, organizations and individuals to protect the health, safety and security of America and the world. The CDC Foundation is the go-to nonprofit authorized by Congress to mobilize philanthropic partners and private-sector resources to support CDC’s critical health protection mission. Since 1995, the CDC Foundation has raised over $1.9 billion and launched more than 1,300 programs impacting a variety of health threats from chronic disease conditions including cardiovascular disease and cancer, to infectious diseases like rotavirus and HIV, to emergency responses, including COVID-19 and Ebola. The CDC Foundation managed hundreds of programs in the United States and in more than 90 countries last year. Visit www.cdcfoundation.org for more information.  

Position Highlights:

Position Title: Clinical Laboratory Specialist - Compliance

Location: Onsite - 2849 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60657

Position End Date: 09/30/2025

Salary: $106,000 plus benefits

Overview:

The CDC Foundation is seeking candidates for a Clinical Laboratory Specialist role. Under administrative direction, this employee will primarily oversee the CLIA compliance of select Chicago Department of Public Health clinical laboratories. This role will be involved in lab equipment modernization, completion of a needs assessment, and procurement. Additionally, this role with support the installation of new lab equipment and appropriate training of staff. This employee will also occasionally perform moderate-complexity laboratory analytical procedures on blood, body fluids, and public health investigation-related samples, as well as performing support tasks related to testing samples and reporting results.

Qualifications:

•Qualification as a licensed laboratorian; OR an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

•Certification by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP) as a Medical Technologist, Medical Laboratory Specialist, Clinical Laboratory Technologist/Scientist, Specialist in Chemistry or equivalent preferred.

•High level of proficiency with general clinical laboratory equipment, procedures, techniques, and quality control/assurance.

•Extensive knowledge of the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) regulations, standards, and credentialing requirements, including the Standards and Certification: Laboratory Requirements (42 CFR 493).

•Familiarity with appropriate handling of Hazardous waste materials such as chemicals and/or bio-hazardous materials, emergency response and safety program management and related safety, health, and environmental regulatory compliance standards, laws, and regulations, such as those from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), CLIA, CAP, FDA, EPA, etc. 

•Knowledge of and experience working with HIPAA Regulations and Compliance strategies, as well as maintaining confidential information. 

•Ability to exercise independent judgment to plan, develop, and conduct laboratory assignments within established procedural guidelines.

•Excellent verbal and written communication, including communicating orally in a clear, concise manner while tailoring the message to the intended audience; demonstrating courteous and cooperative behavior when interacting with the public, other agencies, and state staff; acting in a manner that promotes a harmonious and effective workplace environment.

•Experience researching, analyzing, and compiling data for reports.

Responsibilities:

•Working collaboratively with the Lab Manager, plans, organizes, coordinates, and oversees the CLIA compliance and training across three clinics.

•In the absence of Lab Manager, maintains laboratory instrumentation, equipment, pipettes, and testing supply/reagent inventory; performs standard equipment calibrations.

•In the absence of Lab Manager, performs Quality Control/Quality Assurance measures, reviews quality control/quality assurance assigned data to evaluate documentation requirements; logs quality control data and reports results via designated information management systems

•Ensures all available samples are tested in accordance with assigned employee schedule and analyses are in-line with published turn-around-times (TATs) to meet quality measure thresholds.

•In collaboration with the Lab Manager, develops, writes, and reviews new procedures for the laboratory; collaborates in the development and implementation of new testing procedures as required to support rapid public health response in the community and the state; initiates and carries out projects to improve laboratory operations. 

•Conducts trainings in coordination with Lab Manager for quality improvement processes and controls. 

•Performs routine preparation and laboratory analyses for human disease and public health threat samples following designated laboratory principles and practices and laboratory standard operating procedures. 

•Performs support tasks that are required to maintain laboratory operations - these tasks may include, but are not necessarily limited to, specimen collection, sample handling, specimen preparation, information system procedures, customer support, and common clerical duties.

•Maintains proficiency and updated knowledge on disease causes and controls to continuously improve the quality of laboratory testing and customer service surrounding testing performed.

•Communicates instrument repair needs, assay problems, and data issues to the supervisor expeditiously so proactive notification of clients and/or redirecting of testing can be coordinated to minimize result TATs.

•In collaboration with the Lab Manager, organizes and ensures reagents are made in advance, QC/QA activities are completed on time, and waste is removed appropriately and sterilized (if needed) in a timely fashion.

•Communicates technical information relating to variety of audiences and contacts appropriate health officials on reportable results

•Represents the state with dignity, integrity, and a spirit of cooperation in all relationships with staff and the public. 

•Contributes effectively to the accomplishment of team or work unit goals, objectives, and activities.

Special Notes:

This role is involved in a dynamic public health program. As such, roles and responsibilities are subject to change as situations evolve. Roles and responsibilities listed above may be expanded upon or updated to match priorities and needs, once written approval is received by both the CDC Foundation and the Chicago Department of Public Health, in order to best support the City of Chicago in their public health programming.   

This position is currently a remote or hybrid position. CDC Foundation retains the right to make adjustments to this as required.   

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, mental or physical disabilities, veteran status, and all other characteristics protected by law. We comply with all applicable laws including E.O. 11246 and the Vietnam Era Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 governing employment practices and do not discriminate on the basis of any unlawful criteria in accordance with 41 C.F.R. §§ 60-300.5(a)(12) and 60-741.5(a)(7). As a federal government contractor, we take affirmative action on behalf of protected veterans.  

The CDC Foundation is a smoke-free environment.  

Relocation expenses are not included.  

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, mental or physical disabilities, veteran status, and all other characteristics protected by law.

We comply with all applicable laws including E.O. 11246 and the Vietnam Era Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 governing employment practices and do not discriminate on the basis of any unlawful criteria in accordance with 41 C.F.R. §§ 60-300.5(a)(12) and 60-741.5(a)(7). As a federal government contractor, we take affirmative action on behalf of protected veterans.

The CDC Foundation is a smoke-free environment.

Relocation expenses are not included.