Medical Laboratory Scientist-Blood Bank

Position Title: Medical Laboratory Scientist – Blood Bank, Full-Time
Contract Duration: 12-month base period with renewable option periods
Location: Bethesda, Maryland
Department: Veritas Management Group/NIH SOAR

Summary

Veritas Management Group (VMG) is a leading management consulting firm offering solutions to complex challenges involving public health, technology, and military domains. We serve government and commercial sector organizations, academic institutions, and non-profit organizations, domestically and globally. We are committed to transforming public health through equitable, data-driven solutions.

VMG is seeking a Medical Laboratory Scientist – Blood Bank to support the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Clinical Center, Department of Transfusion Medicine (DTM), Transfusion Services Laboratory (TSL). This position provides specialized clinical laboratory support by performing advanced serologic and molecular immunohematology testing, blood component manufacturing, compatibility testing, quality assurance activities, and blood inventory management in support of patient care, transfusion medicine, and biomedical research.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform specialized serologic and molecular immunohematology testing for clinical diagnostic transfusion support.
• Perform blood typing, antibody screening, antibody identification, compatibility testing, RBC phenotyping, direct antiglobulin testing, elution studies, crossmatches, and isohemagglutinin titers.
• Independently resolve routine red blood cell (RBC) antibody investigations and perform moderately complex testing in collaboration with technical specialists.
• Manufacture blood components, including frozen plasma, leukocyte-reduced red blood cells, buffy coats, and pathogen-reduced platelets.
• Perform lot release, labeling, and quality verification of blood components.
• Evaluate blood component orders and communicate with the clinical care team regarding transfusion support.
• Identify and report critical or abnormal laboratory results in accordance with established laboratory procedures.
• Document laboratory findings, quality assurance activities, and testing results using laboratory information systems and electronic databases.
• Operate, calibrate, maintain, and troubleshoot laboratory equipment, including centrifuges, incubators, refrigerators, and specialized instruments such as Luminex systems.
• Perform quality control procedures, preventive maintenance, and equipment calibration.
• Monitor laboratory inventory and coordinate procurement of reagents, supplies, and blood products to maintain uninterrupted operations.
• Manage blood component inventory, including import and export of blood products as needed.
• Maintain compliance with NIH, HHS, CAP, CLIA, OSHA, Department of Transportation (DOT), and other applicable regulatory requirements.
• Train and mentor clinical fellows, visiting scientists, medical laboratory science students, and laboratory personnel.
• Participate in emergency essential operations, including weekend, holiday, overtime, and rotating shift coverage as required.

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree in Medical Laboratory Science, Medical Technology, Clinical Laboratory Science, or a related health science discipline. (A bachelor's degree in an appropriate field will also be considered in accordance with the task order.)
• Minimum of three (3) years of blood bank experience in a clinical laboratory environment is preferred.
• Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) certification is highly desirable.
• Experience performing blood bank serology, immunohematology testing, compatibility testing, and blood component preparation.
• Knowledge of transfusion medicine principles and blood banking practices.
• Experience operating automated and manual clinical laboratory instrumentation.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.

Preferred Qualifications

• MLS (ASCP) or equivalent certification.
• Experience working in a hospital transfusion service or academic medical center.
• Experience using Luminex or other specialized blood bank instrumentation.
• Experience supporting FDA-regulated blood component manufacturing.
• Experience supporting NIH or other federally funded clinical laboratory programs.
• Knowledge of CAP, CLIA, AABB, and FDA blood banking regulations.

Work Environment

• Full-time position (40 hours per week).
• Rotating schedule, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and overtime as required.
• Position is located at the NIH Clinical Center, Department of Transfusion Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland.
• Telework is not available.
• Tier I Emergency Essential/Excepted position requiring availability to support critical laboratory operations during emergencies.
• Clinical laboratory environment requiring work with blood products, laboratory instrumentation, radiation-producing equipment, and adherence to strict safety and quality standards.