Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist (1st Shift, Sunday-Thursday, 6:30am-3:00pm)

Guardant Health is a leading precision oncology company focused on guarding wellness and giving every person more time free from cancer. Founded in 2012, Guardant is transforming patient care and accelerating new cancer therapies by providing critical insights into what drives disease through its advanced blood and tissue tests, real-world data and AI analytics. Guardant tests help improve outcomes across all stages of care, including screening to find cancer early, monitoring for recurrence in early-stage cancer, and treatment selection for patients with advanced cancer. For more information, visit guardanthealth.com and follow the company on LinkedIn, X (Twitter) and Facebook.

The Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) is responsible for performing high complexity laboratory testing on patient specimens, performing quality control and quality assurance procedures, and complying with all applicable local, state and federal laboratory requirements. The Lead CLS is responsible for assisting the Supervisor with the general supervision of personnel and the daily operations of the laboratory. The Lead CLS will often be the first point of contact for CLSs and Clinical Laboratory Associates (CLA) during laboratory processing and will provide guidance while troubleshooting high complexity technical and non-technical problems. The CLS Lead will act as a liaison and will be involved with training, scheduling, troubleshooting, leading projects, meeting project deliverables, and understanding and implementing laboratory goals.  

The nature of the work requires excellent attention to detail, effective written and verbal communication skills, the ability to multitask and be flexible with tasks and schedules, and the ability to work independently in a team environment. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Perform laboratory tests, procedures and analyses according to the laboratory’s standard operating procedures; 
• Operate, maintain and troubleshoot equipment according to the laboratory’s standard operating procedures; 
• Review, interpret, and report patient results in LIMS as assigned; 
• Independently identify and troubleshoot high complexity problems that adversely affect the test performance; 
• Perform, review and document laboratory quality control procedures; 
• Document all corrective actions taken when test systems deviate from the established performance specifications; 
• Perform and document routine preventive maintenance; 
• Prepare reagents required for testing; 
• Perform and document reagent qualification per the approved protocols; 
• Lead in introduction of assay improvements, new assay configurations and validation; 
• Provide direct supervision of the work of unlicensed laboratory personnel during the analytical phase of testing; 
• Communicate effectively with coworkers and non-laboratory personnel;  
• Write and review of controlled documents as assigned; 
• Lead the training of new and existing laboratory personnel on current and new procedures; 
• Lead in the inspection preparation activities as needed; 
• Monitoring data and process status as needed; 
• Act as a team leader and aid the Supervisors including but not limited to: 
  • Assist in administrative duties including but not limited to review of documents and forms; 
  • Delegate tasks and assignments to CLSs and CLAs; 
  • Take charge of shift communication; 
  • Provide updates to Supervisors regarding any issues; 
  • Assist in sample and process troubleshooting; 
  • Managing staff schedules based on the number of staff and workload in the absence of a supervisor; 
  • Supervise unlicensed and licensed personnel; 
  • Monitor and oversee training schedule for new employees; 
  • Lead in sample and process troubleshooting; 
  • Provide guidance and constructive feedback to CLSs and CLAs; and 
  • Develop the troubleshooting and decision-making skills of CLSs and CLAs. 
• Perform other laboratory duties as assigned; and 
• Report all concerns of test quality and/or safety to the Laboratory Supervisor, Laboratory Director or Safety Officer.

• Must possess an active, valid CLS or Clinical Genetic Molecular Biologist Scientist (CGMBS) license issued by the state of California CLS or CGMBS license pursuant to Division 2, Chapter 3 of the California Business and Professions Code or to practice medicine, osteopathy or podiatry pursuant to Division 2, Chapter 5 of the California Business and Professions Code appropriate to the specialty or specialties they are performing; 
• Must fulfill requirements stated in 42 CFR 493.1489 or 493.1491; 
• Must fulfill requirements stated as described in 10 NYYCRR Part 58-1.5; 
• Must fulfill requirements stated in the College of American Pathologists Molecular Pathology Checklist; 
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Biomedical Laboratory Science, Clinical Science or related field preferred; 
• At least three years of Guardant Health Clinical Laboratory experience or equivalent high complexity and volume laboratory experience preferred; 
• Laboratory experience within the last year preferred; 
• Experience in molecular biology techniques preferred; 
• Working knowledge of local, state, and federal laboratory regulations preferred; 
• Able to integrate and apply feedback in a professional manner;  
• Ability to manage daily test processing needs with high emphasis on quality; 
• Ability to analyze and problem solve basic issues that impact test performance; 
• Ability to work as part of a team; 
• Strong computer and automation skills; and 
• Ability to proactively communicate consistently, clearly, and honestly. 

Work Environment:

• Hours and days may vary depending on operational needs;
• Standing or sitting for long periods of time may be necessary;
• May be exposed to hazardous materials, blood specimens, and instruments with moving parts, heating or freezing elements, and high-speed centrifugation;
• Repetitive manual pipetting may be necessary; and
• Some lifting (up to 25 pounds) may be necessary

For positions based in Palo Alto, CA or Redwood City, CA, the hourly range for this full-time position is $71.92 to $98.89. The range does not include benefits and, if applicable, overtime, bonus, commission, or equity.

Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including, but not limited to, job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. If you are selected to move forward, the recruiting team will provide details specific to the factors above.

Employee may be required to lift routine office supplies and use office equipment. Majority of the work is performed in a desk/office environment; however, there may be exposure to high noise levels, fumes, and biohazard material in the laboratory environment. Ability to sit for extended periods of time.

Guardant Health is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in our hiring processes for candidates with disabilities, long-term conditions, mental health conditions, or sincerely held religious beliefs. If you need support, please reach out to [email protected]

A background screening including criminal history is required for this role. GH will consider qualified applicants with criminal arrest or conviction histories in a manner consistent with applicable law including but not limited to the LA County Fair Chance Policies and the Fair Chance Act (Gov. Code Section 12952).

Guardant Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.



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