Job Description

Your Opportunity:
Genetic Services, AHS South, provides specialized genetic health care for the population of Southern Alberta through a hub-and-spoke model, with the core at Alberta Children's Hospital and satellite sites at Cambrian Wellness Centre, Richmond Road Diagnostic and Treatment Centre, Chinook Regional Hospital, and Medicine Hat Regional Hospital. We are recruiting a temporary 1.0 FTE Genetic Assistant (GA) to join the Clinical and Metabolic Genetics Division at Alberta Children's Hospital. This role reports to the Unit Manager of Genetic Services, AHS South, and involves working closely with geneticists, genetic counsellors, other GAs, and administrative staff. The GA is a new and evolving role within AHS, offering an exciting opportunity to help shape the future of this profession and lead the integration of the GA role within Clinical Genetics. Responsibilities may include supporting pre- and post-clinic workflows, liaising with care providers and families to collect information and communicate selected low-risk or reassuring results, documenting in patient charts and clinical information systems, coordinating test orders and sample collection, conducting literature reviews, developing patient education tools, responding to provider queries, and assisting with group counselling sessions. The ideal candidate will have knowledge of genetic conditions, inheritance patterns, and genetic testing, along with excellent interpersonal, critical thinking, and organizational skills. Attention to privacy and confidentiality is essential. Previous experience within the health system is considered an asset.
Description:
As a Genetic Assistant you will work as a member of the genetics team to support workflows and clinical outcomes. You will be required to have a solid understanding of genetic testing, genetic conditions and patterns of inheritance. As a part of your day-to-day work, you may respond to queries, concerns and feedback from healthcare providers and/or patients. You may also liaise with patients, families and/or clinicians to receive informed consent, collect information, coordinate test ordering and sample collection, and to communicate select test results, including associated clinical documentation. You may be required to complete literature reviews and develop form letters, information sheets and educational tools. Assistance with face-to-face, virtual and group education/counselling sessions may also be required.

Classification:

Genetics Assistant

Union:

HSAA Facility PROF/TECH

Unit and Program:

Genetic Services

Primary Location:

Alberta Children's Hospital

Location Details:

Eligible to work hybrid (on/off site) within Alberta

Multi-Site:

Not Applicable

FTE:

1.00

Posting End Date:

28-AUG-2025

Temporary Employee Class:

Temp F/T Benefits

Date Available:

07-SEP-2025

Temporary End Date:

01-SEP-2027

Hours per Shift:

7.75

Length of Shift in weeks:

2

Shifts per cycle:

10

Shift Pattern:

Days

Days Off:

Saturday/Sunday

Minimum Salary:

$35.50

Maximum Salary:

$46.82

Vehicle Requirement:

Not Applicable

Required Qualifications:

Completion of a bachelor's degree in Science, specializing in Genetics or related discipline.

Additional Required Qualifications:

At least 1 year of experience within the past 5 years working within a clinical genetics/metabolic genetics service, genetic laboratory services, or other related healthcare field (volunteer, student or staff member). Hospital experience and knowledge of the health systems is an asset. Demonstrated experience working with the general population. Confidence in face-to-face and telephone communication with healthcare professionals and patients. Strong knowledge in clinical genetics, molecular biology and genomic technologies. Excellent verbal, nonverbal, and written communication skills for a variety of audiences (patient, families, as well scientific and clinical audiences). Scientific writing experience is an asset. Demonstrated strong interpersonal skills including establishing and maintaining collaborative professional relationships, understanding own role and the roles of other professionals, and actively seeking, respecting, considering and being receptive to the diverse perspectives and opinions of team members. Demonstrated emotional self-awareness and self-management, including the ability to build understanding and shared meaning between people, and strong problem solving and conflict management skills. Self-directed, hard-working, showing initiative, decision-making, and problem-solving capacity. Passion for learning new skills and demonstrated ability to adapt to change. Demonstrated competencies in priority setting and working independently.

Preferred Qualifications:

Previous clinical genetic course work which may include a Genetic Assistant Training Program (e.g., Johns Hopkins Medicine) or other clinical genetic focused seminars and workshops. Quality improvement experience is an asset. Experience working with a multidisciplinary healthcare team. Experience with genetic research which may include data entry, analysis, reporting and presentations. Demonstrated experience in performing and critiquing literature searches.