Laboratory Manager - Laboratory Technology III at Medical Services in Fort Logan

The Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) connects people to assistance, resources, and support for living independently in our state. We are the people who help people. Colorado has a state-supervised and county-administered human services system. Our mission is to collaborate with our partners to design and deliver high-quality human and health services that improve the safety, independence, and well-being of the people of Colorado.  Our vision is that the people of Colorado are safe, healthy, and prepared to achieve their greatest aspirations. Through our core values listed below, CDHS staff is committed to:

· Individual dignity and respect
· Person-centered, evidence-based care
· Trauma-informed recovery
· Multidisciplinary collaboration
· Diversity and inclusion
· Strong family and community partnerships.

The Colorado Mental Health Institute at Fort Logan (CMHHIFL) is one of two state hospitals serving our community. The vision of CMHHIFL is to provide the highest quality mental health services to persons with complex, serious, and persistent mental illness within the resources available. Our mission is to support those individuals in achieving their recovery goals and reaching their full potential. CMHHIFL provides inpatient treatment to adult patients, generally between the ages of 18-59. The hospital currently has 154 adult inpatient beds, seven treatment milieus serving civil and forensic individuals. Medical services, occupational therapy, neuropsychological-rehabilitation services, and trauma-informed care services are available for all patients throughout the hospital.
The Medical Services Section exists to promote and protect the health of patients and staff by overseeing, providing, and coordinating all medically related care and clinical analyses necessary for the proper evaluation and treatment of the hospital’s patients, and by managing the infection control, employee health, and emergency response programs for the hospital.
The Laboratory and Specimen Processing Center provides expertise and professional knowledge to collect, process, and/or guide the specimen process in a manner that ensures integrity to provide the most accurate specimen results to be used in patient care.

You are required to work at your assigned work location during your scheduled work times. 

This position exists to provide operational management and technical oversight of Fort Logan laboratory services through supervision of subordinate laboratory staff, administration of laboratory and CLIA-waived testing activities, quality and performance improvement functions, regulatory compliance activities, procurement and inventory management, laboratory policy and procedure administration, and technical laboratory consultation. 



Other duties include:

Develop, manage, supervise, and oversee all clinical laboratory operations, regulatory compliance activities, and technical laboratory services:

• Supervises and oversees all clinical, laboratory, administrative, and supervisory operations, including subordinate laboratory staff, scheduling, training, competency assessments, performance evaluations, coaching, staff development, and disciplinary actions.
• Develops, oversees, and approves work processes and workflow schedules
• Serve as subject matter expert, advocate, and representative for the Fort Logan Medical Services laboratory with regard to laboratory matters; the incumbent is Fort Logan’s voice to challenge external agency protocols on behalf of our staff and patients.
• Develops, revises, implements, and maintains laboratory policies, procedures, and operational guidelines to ensure standardization of laboratory practices and compliance with regulatory and accrediting requirements. 
• Analyzes clinical and quality control specimens by manual and automated methods of CLIA-waived testing:
• Manages and oversees the hospital point-of-care blood glucose monitoring program, including equipment procurement, implementation, troubleshooting, calibration (including linearity testing), data management, maintenance coordination, training, assessment of competency for authorized users, and regulatory compliance.
• Administers and oversees the hospital’s CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments) waived and designated point-of-care testing programs and ensures compliance with all program requirements including certification and training of staff, quality control activities, competency assessments, development and revision of policies and procedures, implementation of additional testing methodologies, documentation requirements, and ongoing regulatory compliance.
• Interprets regulatory standards (Joint Commission, CLIA, Department of Health, etc.) and offer guidance to departmental leadership for meeting and maintaining compliance.
• Maintains ongoing laboratory survey readiness and coordinates preparation activities for Joint Commission, CLIA, Department of Health, and other regulatory reviews. 
• Provides clinical interpretation and guidance with regard to test selection, specimen processing methods, troubleshooting, and quality control activities.
• Provides technical oversight, training, and evaluation of subordinate employees in phlebotomy, specimen accessioning, and specimen processing. 
• Provides education and training to non-laboratory personnel (e.g. Nursing, Medical Staff) about laboratory test-related matters, clinical interpretation, test selection, etc.
• Works to achieve operational efficiencies and reduce the frequency of repeated unnecessary venipunctures to the hospital’s patients.
• Receives, addresses, and/or directs inquiries from physicians, nursing staff, administrative staff, and external stakeholders.
• Maintains meticulously organized records (laboratory requisitions, laboratory reports, invoices, temperature logs, etc.)
• Ensures uninterrupted availability of laboratory supplies by tracking quantities and out-dates and replenishing inventory as needed.
• Operates and oversees maintenance, monitoring, troubleshooting, and operational readiness of laboratory equipment to ensure peak performance.

Laboratory Administrative Functions:

• Develops administrative protocol for the proper tracking, recording, processing, and distribution of studies, requisitions, results, and after-hours processes.  
• Analyzes events for vulnerabilities and makes necessary changes to procedures.
• Reviews all critical results, report them to the Performance Improvement Officer, and process any amended reports as necessary to ensure seamless handling of critical lab values.
• Prepares, analyzes, and reports laboratory quality indicators, utilization trends, billing discrepancies, and performance improvement activities to Medical Services leadership and the Quality Council. 
• Monitors laboratory billing processes, reconciles invoices and charges, investigates discrepancies, and maintains fiscal accountability.
• Oversees CLIA-waived and point-of-care testing activities, including implementation of testing methodologies, quality control review, competency assessments, policy and procedure updates, documentation requirements, and ongoing regulatory compliance. 
• Interprets regulatory standards (Joint Commission, CLIA, Department of Health, etc.) to ensure up-to-date policies/procedures and operations and offer guidance to hospital leadership to meet and maintain compliance.
• Tracks and coordinates laboratory report distribution to clinical units.
• Assists in the development of purchase orders and contracts by working with departmental leadership to assess needs and ensure technical bid specifications are properly addressed.
• Serves as the subject matter expert in laboratory matters, including laboratory systems, workflow development, equipment selection, and technical consultation.
• Attains a high level of proficiency with the systems used by the hospital (e.g. electronic health record, referral laboratory systems, etc.)

Supervises and oversees all specimen processing activities and subordinate laboratory staff:

• Supervise, evaluate, coach, and develop subordinate laboratory staff through competence assessments, ongoing education, performance evaluations, performance management activities, and workflow oversight 
• Develops worklists and evaluates workflows and workloads to ensure the most efficient and effective laboratory operations.
• Enters patient data and study requisition information into laboratory systems to generate appropriate service codes, specimen processing instructions, and accession information.
• Ensures proper patient information and test data are accurately entered into laboratory information systems
• Generates required referral documentation to accompany specimens submitted to referral laboratory and ensure the accurate processing and reporting of results. 
• Prepares specimens for the referral laboratory analysis by properly processing specimens including centrifuging specimens and separating blood into serum/plasma; preparing requisitions; collating, wrapping, and appropriately storing specimens; meeting carrier pick-up times and/or arranging for special transport services.
• Exercises professional judgment and laboratory expertise in determining proper specimen processing methods and techniques.
• Provides technical guidance and instruction to subordinate staff regarding specimen collection, specimen processing, and laboratory procedures. 

Specimen Collection:

• Independently perform phlebotomy and collect quality blood specimens from patients with challenging behavioral and mental health presentations through venipuncture and finger sticks during morning rounds on patient units, in seclusion rooms, patient rooms, and laboratory settings, as needed to support laboratory operations and patient needs.

Other Duties As Assigned:

• Provides cross-coverage and operational support within the Medical Services department, within the scope of practice and competency, to maintain continuity of patient care and departmental operations. 

Experience Only:

Six (6) years of relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned to this position

OR

Education and Experience:

A combination of related education and/or relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned to this position equal to six (6) years.

Special Qualifications: Must meet these requirements in order to be considered for the position.

• Must possess and maintain an active, valid Medical Technologist (MT), Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS), or Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) certification through ASCP, AMT, or other nationally recognized certifying organization as a condition of and throughout employment and remain in compliance with all applicable certification maintenance requirements. 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience supervising laboratory personnel, including scheduling, performance management, training, coaching, competency assessments, and performance evaluations.

• Experience performing clinical laboratory testing, specimen collection, phlebotomy, specimen processing, and referral laboratory coordination.

• Experience administering and maintaining CLIA-waived laboratory testing programs.

• Experience developing and implementing laboratory policies, procedures, quality control, and quality assurance activities.

• Experience interpreting and applying laboratory regulations, accreditation standards, and compliance requirements, including CLIA, Joint Commission, and Department of Public Health standards.

• Experience managing laboratory operations, workflow processes, equipment maintenance, inventory control, and procurement activities.

• Experience analyzing laboratory quality indicators, utilization data, and operational performance measures.

• Experience serving as a laboratory subject matter expert and providing technical consultation to healthcare professionals.

• Knowledge of CLIA regulations and laboratory accreditation requirements.

• Experience administering waived laboratory testing programs and point-of-care testing.

• Knowledge of laboratory quality assurance, quality control, and performance improvement methodologies.

• Experience with specimen collection, phlebotomy, specimen processing, and referral laboratory operations.

• Experience developing laboratory policies, procedures, and workflow improvements.

• Ability to interpret laboratory regulations and implement compliance strategies.

• Experience conducting staff training, competency assessments, and performance evaluations.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills related to laboratory operations and patient care.

• Experience with laboratory information systems, electronic health records, and related healthcare technology.

• Experience managing laboratory budgets, procurement activities, contracts, and inventory.

Conditions of Employment:

• TB testing, annual influenza, COVID, and other vaccines as required by the State of Colorado.
• Due to the juvenile population served at the MHI facilities, incumbents of this position must be at least 21 years of age.
• Full Background  CDHS employees (all Direct contact with vulnerable persons):
  CBI name check and fingerprint check, ICON Colorado court database, Medicare fraud database, Reference Checks, Professional License verification (licensure requirements), Drug Screen, PREA (Division of Youth Services),Trails check (direct contact with children), CAPS (direct contact with adults – Mental Health Institutes, Regional Centers, Veterans Community Living Centers).
• May be exposed to bodily fluids or caustic chemicals
• Shift work eligible
• On-Call status eligible

• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must:

  • Disclose that information on the application.

  • Explain why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify you from the current position.

  • Provide your employee number from your prior State employment.  Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination and failure to provide this information will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS.

CDHS Selection Process Explanation

Employment history is calculated on a full-time basis (40/hrs per week). Part-time employment is calculated on a prorated basis to determine qualifications. Be sure your application specifically addresses your qualifications, experience, work products, and accomplishments as they relate to the position and minimum requirements. 

• Preferred Qualifications & Competencies:

  • Relevant years of state service experience.

Minimum Qualification Screening Process 

A Human Resources Analyst will review the work experience/job duties sections of the online job application to determine whether your experience meets the minimum qualifications for the position.  You must complete the official State of Colorado online application.  Cover letters and resumes WILL NOT be reviewed during the minimum qualifications screening process. You must specifically document your work experience and qualifications in the application form. Do not use "see resume" or "see attached."

You must meet the minimum qualifications to continue in the selection process.  Part-time work experience will be prorated.

Comparative Analysis Process – Structured Application Review 

After minimum qualification screening, the comparative analysis process will involve reviewing and rating of all the information you submit. The comparative analysis step may also include your results from standardized testing. 

Your Work Experience/Job Duties

Document your work experience/job duties to the extent to which you possess the skills, education, experience, minimum qualifications, and preferred qualifications. 

If listed, answer all supplemental questions as your answers to these questions will be evaluated during this phase. Provide at least 4-8 sentences for each supplemental question.     

Supplemental Questions 

Answer the supplemental questions completely and thoughtfully. We will rate your answers  based on the content of your response and your writing skills (spelling, grammar, and clarity of your writing).

Appeal Rights

You may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director if your application is eliminated.  You will find the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it on the State Personnel Board website.

• You or your representative must sign and submit the official appeal form for review.  

• You can find the official appeal form here. 

• You must be deliver the official appeal form to the State Personnel Board:

  • By email ([email protected]), or

  • Postmarked in US Mail to(1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203, or 

  • Hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203), or

  • Faxed (303.866.5038) within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department’s action.

Contact the State Personnel Board for assistance:

• At (303) 866-3300, or

•  Refer to the  Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, within the Rules webpage.

• How to apply to the State of Colorado(Youtube Video, Runtime 3:59, Closed Captions Available)

• The Assessment Process

About Us & Benefits

If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference, join the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS). Our professionals strive to design and deliver high quality human and health services that improve the safety, independence, and well-being of the people of Colorado. Each of us is committed to contributing to a safe and accessible CDHS. In addition to a great location and rewarding and meaningful work, we offer:

• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus 401(k) and 457 plans

• Medical and dental health plans

• Employer supplemented Health Savings Account

• Paid life insurance

• Short- and long-term disability coverage

• 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave

• State of Colorado Employee BenefitHub Resource Center

• Employee Wellness program

• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more

• Remote work arrangements for eligible positions

• *Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Our Values

• We believe in a people-first approach: We prioritize the needs, well-being, and dignity of the individuals, families and communities we serve. We commit to respect, fairness and access in every decision, policy and interaction. We engage client voices and experiences in the development and implementation of the services we provide.

• Balance creates quality of life: We want our team to be resilient through a supportive workplace that values flexibility, health and wellness, and employee engagement.

• We hold ourselves accountable: We take responsibility through our actions, programs, and results for the state of health and human services in Colorado.

• Transparency matters: We are open and honest with employees, our partners, the Coloradans we serve, and the public.

• We are ethical: We abide by what is best for those we serve by doing what is right, not what is easy.

• Collaboration helps us rise together: We work together with all partners, employees, and clients to achieve the best outcomes for Coloradans.

ADA Accommodations

CDHS is committed to a Colorado for ALL qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment. 

This includes completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or performing essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to [email protected].

EEO Statement

The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer

We are committed to increasing a “Colorado for ALL" of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of all backgrounds and abilities.  The State of Colorado believes that a “Colorado for ALL” drives our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

Additional Support For Your Application

Toll Free Applicant Technical Support

If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (e.g. uploading or attaching documents to your online application) call NEOGOV technical support at 855-524-5627 Mon-Fri between 6 am and 6 pm (Pacific Time).  Helpful hints: if you are having difficulty uploading or attaching documents to your application 1) ensure your documents are PDF or Microsoft Word files and 2) close the document before you attempt to upload (attach) it.