What are the responsibilities and job description for the Pathology Specialist III – Molecular Diagnostics – Days position at VCU Health?
**$10,000 Sign On Bonus for offers accepted by April 30, 2026. Terms and Conditions apply**
The Pathology Specialist 3 will perform the duties of a technical specialist in the laboratory, performs advanced analysis in specific laboratory areas, and diagnostic tests on patient samples. Assist supervisors with overseeing daily operations of specific laboratory sections and serves as the primary technical resource. Assists the supervisor in the coordination of quality control procedures, trouble shooting, maintenance of procedure manuals, training and documentation, method evaluations and inventory control in his/her primary areas of responsibility. Provides leadership, training, teaching and mentoring of junior level scientist, residents, students and other lab staff.
Essential Job Statements
Technical Specialist: serves as the primary technical resource, providing advanced problem-solving and on laboratory testing, interpretation of results, and equipment performance
Testing and Analysis: perform moderate and highly complex laboratory tests, procedures, and analyses as the technical specialist in the laboratory according to the laboratory’s standard operating procedures with minimal supervision
Quality and Assurance: perform, maintain, review, and document laboratory quality control procedures. Ensures the accuracy of test results, and coordinates maintenance and troubleshooting of laboratory equipment
Pre-analytics: receives, prepares, processes biological specimens for testing and/or transportation to the main lab or reference labs (where applicable)
Laboratory Operations: assist with maintaining daily operations oversite of assigned lab area and/or shift. Monitors and manages inventory. Ensures the laboratory adheres to established safety, quality, and regulatory standards
Training and Teaching: provides technical guidance, training and teaching to staff, students and residents. Assists with competency assessments
Quality: participates in laboratory Process Improvement activities. Perform proficiency testing and ensures proficiency testing is performed in the same manner as patient specimens
Method Development and Procedures: develop and evaluate new methodologies; write, review and revise technical procedures
Regulatory Compliance: actively participates and prepares for CAP inspections. Adheres to established protocols and regulatory standards to ensure the accuracy and integrity of laboratory processes. Assists the supervisor in specified activities that ensure laboratory compliance with all accreditation agencies
Miscellaneous responsibilities: performs other duties as assigned and participates in special projects to support the mission of VCUHS and the Department of Pathology. Promotes teamwork and effective communication across departments and willingly accepts alternate assignments as needed.
Patient Population: Neonates (0-4 weeks), Infant (1-12 months), Pediatrics (1-12 years), Adolescents (13-17 years), Adults (18-64 years), Geriatrics (65 years and older)
Employment Qualifications
Required Education: Science Bachelor’s Degree in a Life Science or Biological Science or Chemical Science from an accredited program
Licensing/ Certification
Licensure/Certification Required: Current Certification as a Medical Technologist (MT) or Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) or Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) by the National Credentialing Agency (NCA) or American Medical Technologists (AMT) National Certifying Agency or equivalent ASCP Specialty or Categorical certification. *Includes state licensure that are accepted by ASCP Board of Certification (ASCP BOC)
Individuals with required Credential Maintenance: technical positions that require certification maintenance, team members must obtain the number CE hours as required by The Board of Certification Credential Maintenance Program (CMP).
Individuals with ASCP certification prior to January 1, 2004, are not required to participate in the certification maintenance program.
Licensure/Certification Preferred: N/A
Minimum Qualifications
Years and Type of Required Experience: Minimum of three (3) years of clinical work experience as a Medical Technologist/Medical Laboratory Scientist/Clinical Laboratory Scientist OR (3) years of clinical or equivalent laboratory experience.
Depending on the laboratory assignment, work experience requirement may be specific to a particular specialty areas such as Flow Cytometry, Microbiology, Immunology, Molecular Biology, Transfusion Medicine, Clinical Chemistry, Toxicology, etc.
Other Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required: N/A
Other Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Preferred: N/A
Working Conditions: Periods of high stress and fluctuating workloads may occur. General office environment. May be exposed to adverse weather conditions; cold, hot, dust, wind, etc. May be exposed to high noise levels and bright lights. May be exposed to limited hazardous substances or body fluids. * May be exposed to human blood and other potentially infectious . * May have periods of constant interruptions. Prolonged periods of working alone.
Physical Demands: Lifting/ Carrying (0-50 lbs.), Push/ Pull (0-50 lbs.), Stoop, Kneel, Squat, Climbing, Balance, Bending
Work Position: Sitting, Walking, Standing
Additional Physical Requirements/ Hazards
Physical Requirements: Manual dexterity (eye/hand coordination), Perform shift work, Hear alarms/telephone/tape recorder, Reach above shoulder, Repetitive arm/hand movements, Finger Dexterity, Color Vision, Acuity – far, Acuity – near
Hazards: Depth perception, Use of Latex Gloves, Exposure to Toxic/caustic/chemicals/detergents, Exposure to moving mechanical parts, Exposure to dust/fumes, Exposure to potential electrical shock, Exposure to x ray/electromagnetic energy, Exposure to high pitched noises, Gaseous risk exposure
Mental/Sensory – Emotional
Mental/Sensory: Strong recall, Reasoning, Problem solving, Hearing, Speak clearly, Write legibly, Reading, Logical thinking
Emotional: Fast pace environment, Steady pace, Able to handle multiple priorities, Frequent and intense customer interactions, Noisy Environment, Able to adapt to frequent change
Days
EEO Employer/Disabled/Protected Veteran/41 CFR 60-1.4.
The Pathology Specialist 3 will perform the duties of a technical specialist in the laboratory, performs advanced analysis in specific laboratory areas, and diagnostic tests on patient samples. Assist supervisors with overseeing daily operations of specific laboratory sections and serves as the primary technical resource. Assists the supervisor in the coordination of quality control procedures, trouble shooting, maintenance of procedure manuals, training and documentation, method evaluations and inventory control in his/her primary areas of responsibility. Provides leadership, training, teaching and mentoring of junior level scientist, residents, students and other lab staff.
Essential Job Statements
Technical Specialist: serves as the primary technical resource, providing advanced problem-solving and on laboratory testing, interpretation of results, and equipment performance
Testing and Analysis: perform moderate and highly complex laboratory tests, procedures, and analyses as the technical specialist in the laboratory according to the laboratory’s standard operating procedures with minimal supervision
Quality and Assurance: perform, maintain, review, and document laboratory quality control procedures. Ensures the accuracy of test results, and coordinates maintenance and troubleshooting of laboratory equipment
Pre-analytics: receives, prepares, processes biological specimens for testing and/or transportation to the main lab or reference labs (where applicable)
Laboratory Operations: assist with maintaining daily operations oversite of assigned lab area and/or shift. Monitors and manages inventory. Ensures the laboratory adheres to established safety, quality, and regulatory standards
Training and Teaching: provides technical guidance, training and teaching to staff, students and residents. Assists with competency assessments
Quality: participates in laboratory Process Improvement activities. Perform proficiency testing and ensures proficiency testing is performed in the same manner as patient specimens
Method Development and Procedures: develop and evaluate new methodologies; write, review and revise technical procedures
Regulatory Compliance: actively participates and prepares for CAP inspections. Adheres to established protocols and regulatory standards to ensure the accuracy and integrity of laboratory processes. Assists the supervisor in specified activities that ensure laboratory compliance with all accreditation agencies
Miscellaneous responsibilities: performs other duties as assigned and participates in special projects to support the mission of VCUHS and the Department of Pathology. Promotes teamwork and effective communication across departments and willingly accepts alternate assignments as needed.
Patient Population: Neonates (0-4 weeks), Infant (1-12 months), Pediatrics (1-12 years), Adolescents (13-17 years), Adults (18-64 years), Geriatrics (65 years and older)
Employment Qualifications
Required Education: Science Bachelor’s Degree in a Life Science or Biological Science or Chemical Science from an accredited program
- Unless candidate possesses a Ph.D. in a related field or foreign trained MD
Licensing/ Certification
Licensure/Certification Required: Current Certification as a Medical Technologist (MT) or Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) or Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) by the National Credentialing Agency (NCA) or American Medical Technologists (AMT) National Certifying Agency or equivalent ASCP Specialty or Categorical certification. *Includes state licensure that are accepted by ASCP Board of Certification (ASCP BOC)
Individuals with required Credential Maintenance: technical positions that require certification maintenance, team members must obtain the number CE hours as required by The Board of Certification Credential Maintenance Program (CMP).
Individuals with ASCP certification prior to January 1, 2004, are not required to participate in the certification maintenance program.
Licensure/Certification Preferred: N/A
Minimum Qualifications
Years and Type of Required Experience: Minimum of three (3) years of clinical work experience as a Medical Technologist/Medical Laboratory Scientist/Clinical Laboratory Scientist OR (3) years of clinical or equivalent laboratory experience.
Depending on the laboratory assignment, work experience requirement may be specific to a particular specialty areas such as Flow Cytometry, Microbiology, Immunology, Molecular Biology, Transfusion Medicine, Clinical Chemistry, Toxicology, etc.
Other Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required: N/A
Other Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Preferred: N/A
Working Conditions: Periods of high stress and fluctuating workloads may occur. General office environment. May be exposed to adverse weather conditions; cold, hot, dust, wind, etc. May be exposed to high noise levels and bright lights. May be exposed to limited hazardous substances or body fluids. * May be exposed to human blood and other potentially infectious . * May have periods of constant interruptions. Prolonged periods of working alone.
- Individuals in this position are required to exercise universal precautions, use personal protective equipment and devices, and learn the policies concerning infection control.
Physical Demands: Lifting/ Carrying (0-50 lbs.), Push/ Pull (0-50 lbs.), Stoop, Kneel, Squat, Climbing, Balance, Bending
Work Position: Sitting, Walking, Standing
Additional Physical Requirements/ Hazards
Physical Requirements: Manual dexterity (eye/hand coordination), Perform shift work, Hear alarms/telephone/tape recorder, Reach above shoulder, Repetitive arm/hand movements, Finger Dexterity, Color Vision, Acuity – far, Acuity – near
Hazards: Depth perception, Use of Latex Gloves, Exposure to Toxic/caustic/chemicals/detergents, Exposure to moving mechanical parts, Exposure to dust/fumes, Exposure to potential electrical shock, Exposure to x ray/electromagnetic energy, Exposure to high pitched noises, Gaseous risk exposure
Mental/Sensory – Emotional
Mental/Sensory: Strong recall, Reasoning, Problem solving, Hearing, Speak clearly, Write legibly, Reading, Logical thinking
Emotional: Fast pace environment, Steady pace, Able to handle multiple priorities, Frequent and intense customer interactions, Noisy Environment, Able to adapt to frequent change
Days
EEO Employer/Disabled/Protected Veteran/41 CFR 60-1.4.