Genetic Counsellor LMP Genome Diagnostic Laboratory

Union: Non-Union
Number of vacancies: 1
Site: Toronto General Hospital
Department: Laboratory Medicine Program Advanced Diagnostics Clinical Genetics and HLA Laboratories
Reports to: Senior Manager Clinical Genetics and HLA Laboratories
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Shifts: Weekdays Monday - Friday
Status: Permanent Full Time
Closing Date: December 31 2025

Position Summary

As a key member of the Genome Diagnostics clinical team the Genetic Counsellor provides specialized support in hereditary testing workflows including test eligibility review variant interpretation clinical database management client communication training and research participation. The Genetic Counsellor acts as a liaison between clinicians laboratory staff and scientific personnel to ensure accurate timely and clinically meaningful genetic testing and reporting for patients and families.

Duties and Responsibilities

The responsibilities for this position include but are not limited to:

      1. Client Clinician and Laboratory Liaison

• Respond to inquiries about test menus eligibility criteria specimen requirements and turnaround times
• Support clinicians with report interpretation escalating inquiries appropriately to senior scientific staff
• Provide guidance regarding genetic testing options not currently available at UHN

      2. Test accessioning

• Review all hereditary test requests to ensure eligibility and appropriateness
• Follow up with ordering providers when clarification is required (e.g. correct test selection missing or insufficient clinical information individuals not meeting eligibility criteria)
• Support technologists/technicians with questions related to incoming requests

      3. Variant Review and Interpretation

• Critically review and edit variant interpretation and reporting for accuracy and clinical relevance in the context of clinical information provided on requisitions
• Help maintain the clinical database
• Manage variant re-interpretation requests coordinate evidence review and communicate results to clinical teams

      4. Case Review and Quality Activities

• Follow up with scientific or laboratory teams when discrepancies exist between requisitions and reports
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives to optimize testing workflows

      5. Reporting

• Review complex or unique reports prior to director sign-out to ensure accuracy and completeness

      6. Patient Inquiries

• Provide general information about genetic testing while ensuring no medical advice or beyond-scope clinical interpretation is given

      7. Training and Onboarding

• Support training of Annotation Team staff
• Collaborate with laboratory staff to maintain current requisitions and forms
• Provide documentation for test volumes reporting and data requests (e.g. MOH reporting)

      8. Trainee Supervision and Teaching

• Act as primary supervisor for first- and second-year genetic counselling students (U of T and external programs)
• Set goals select cases evaluate progress and complete formal assessments
• Provide ongoing feedback and oversee rotation learning outcomes

      9. Research and Academic Activities

• Participate in multi-site research as required
• Present findings at conferences or workshops

      10. Professional Responsibilities

• Attend Genetics Grand Rounds case conferences weekly lab meetings webinars and continuing education events
• Maintain certification with CBGC/ABGC and track CEUs
• Keep institutional training requirements up to date (privacy safety emergency preparedness)
• Complete annual UHN performance reviews
• Contribute to the profession through participation in committees advisory groups and professional organizations

Qualifications :

• Masters degree in Genetic Counselling or recognized equivalent required
• Canadian Board of Genetic Counselling and/or American Board of Genetic Counseling certification required
• Minimum 2 years clinical genetics experience strongly preferred
• Experience in a clinical genetic laboratory preferred
• Demonstrated knowledge of hereditary disease and molecular diagnostics
• Expert understanding of variant interpretation standards and best practices
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Exceptional organizational ability accuracy and attention to detail
• Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team
• Understanding of technical workflows in molecular diagnostics
• High-level communication skills with clinicians laboratory teams and patients
• Excellent time management and ability to prioritize competing tasks

Additional Information :

Why join UHN

In addition to working alongside some of the most talented and inspiring healthcare professionals in the world UHN offers a wide range of benefits programs and perks. It is the comprehensiveness of these offerings that makes it a differentiating factor allowing you to find value where it matters most to you now and throughout your career at UHN.

• Competitive offer packages
• Government organization and a member of the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP  access to Transit and UHN shuttle service
• A flexible work environment
• Opportunities for development and promotions within a large organization
• Additional perks (multiple corporate discounts including: travel restaurants parking phone plans auto insurance discounts on-site gyms etc.)

Current UHN employees must have successfully completed their probationary period have a good employee record along with satisfactory attendance in accordance with UHNs attendance management program to be eligible for consideration.

All applications must be submitted before the posting close date.

UHN uses email to communicate with selected candidates.  Please ensure you check your email regularly.

Please be advised that a Criminal Record Check may be required of the successful candidate. Should it be determined that any information provided by a candidate be misleading inaccurate or incorrect UHN reserves the right to discontinue with the consideration of their application.

UHN is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive recruitment process and workplace. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage of the recruitment process. Applicants need to make their requirements known.

We thank all applicants for their interest however only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Full-time