Genetic Counsellor - LMP Genome Diagnostic Laboratory at University Health Network

Company Description

UHN is Canada’s #1 hospital and the world’s #1 publicly funded hospital. With 10 sites and more than 44,000 TeamUHN members, UHN consists of Toronto General Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, The Michener Institute of Education and West Park Healthcare Centre. As Canada's top research hospital, the scope of biomedical research and complexity of cases at UHN have made it a national and international source for discovery, education and patient care. UHN has the largest hospital-based research program in Canada, with major research in neurosciences, cardiology, transplantation, oncology, surgical innovation, infectious diseases, genomic medicine and rehabilitation medicine. UHN is a research hospital affiliated with the University of Toronto.

UHN’s vision is to build A Healthier World and it’s only because of the talented and dedicated people who work here that we are continually bringing that vision closer to reality.

www.uhn.ca

Job Description

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: January 30, 2026

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:

• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• Reporting
• Review complex or unique reports prior to director sign-out to ensure accuracy and completeness
• Patient Inquiries
• Provide general information about genetic testing while ensuring no medical advice or beyond-scope clinical interpretation is given
• 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)
• 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
• Research and Academic Activities
• Participate in multi-site research as required
• Present findings at conferences or workshops
• 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

• Master’s 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 https://hoopp.com/)
• Close 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 UHN's 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.