Genetic Counsellor

Company Description

Thuriah Medical Center is a leading Reproductive Medicine Center in Saudi Arabia, offering specialized services in the private healthcare sector. With over 20 years of excellence in Reproductive, Genetic, and Feto-Maternal Medicine, and Andrology. Thuriah continues to set benchmarks in patient care and medical innovation.

About this Role

The Genetic Counsellor plays a pivotal role in bridging clinical practice with laboratory diagnostics within the Genetics Department. The position focuses on ensuring the appropriate utilization, interpretation, and communication of genetic test results—from pre-analytical case review to post-analytical reporting and clinician support.

The Genetic Counsellor will operate within a multidisciplinary environment comprising clinical geneticists, clinical scientists, cytogeneticists, embryologists, bioinformaticians, and quality officers, ensuring that every test delivered meets the highest scientific, ethical, and regulatory standards.

This is a role ideal for a professional who enjoys integrating complex genomic data with clinical decision-making while supporting laboratory excellence through education, communication, patient interaction, and quality assurance.

Your Mission

As a Genetic Counsellor, you will provide expert guidance and contribute directly to the accuracy, clarity, and utility of genetic reports across a wide portfolio of assays, including:

• Cytogenetics: Chromosomal analysis (prenatal and postnatal), chromosomal microarray, and Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH) on cultured and uncultured amniocytes.
• Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT-A, PGT-SR, PGT-M).
• Molecular Genetics: Prenatal testing, targeted/carrier testing, whole exome sequencing (WES), whole genome sequencing (WGS), and gene panels.
• Fertility-related diagnostics, including sperm DNA fragmentation and Y-chromosome microdeletion analysis.

You will collaborate with clinicians, embryology teams, and molecular scientists to ensure accurate test selection, maintain robust case documentation, and contribute to variant interpretation and final report review.

Your work will directly enhance patient decision-making, family planning, and clinical outcomes in reproductive, prenatal, and molecular genetics.

Key Responsibilities

• Pre-analytical review: Evaluate test requisitions for accuracy, appropriateness, and sample quality; confirm clinical indications, phenotypic data, and completeness of family history.
• Analytical support: Conduct literature reviews and database searches (ClinVar, ClinGen, OMIM, gnomAD) to assist in variant classification following ACMG/AMP guidelines.
• Post-analytical reporting: Draft clear and actionable laboratory reports, ensuring accurate HGVS nomenclature, inheritance interpretation, and clinical recommendations.
• Reproductive genetics: Coordinate with IVF teams on embryo genotyping (PGT-A/SR/M), assist in interpreting aneuploidy and linkage results, and communicate limitations and re-analysis options.
• Cytogenetics & FISH: Interpret chromosomal results, correlate phenotype-genotype relationships, and support reflex testing strategies.
• Patient communication and follow-up:
• Discuss test results and next steps directly with patients as per institutional policy.
• Answer all patient calls, messages, and inquiries in a timely, professional, and empathetic manner.
• Address patient and family genetic concerns and questions, escalating to the consultant or laboratory director when needed.
• Provide post-test counseling and coordinate follow-up appointments or cascade testing as indicated.
• Quality and compliance: Participate in QMS activities, internal audits, and SOP development to maintain accreditation standards (ISO 15189, CAP).
• Education and communication: Deliver internal and external training sessions, clinician workshops, and result review meetings; support variant reclassification and recontact procedures.

Workplace Environment

You will work within a state-of-the-art genetics department, collaborating daily with professionals in clinical genetics, molecular diagnostics, cytogenetics, bioinformatics, and embryology.

The role involves structured communication with external IVF clinics, genetic counseling units, and referring physicians, ensuring seamless information flow across pre-test, analytical, and post-test phases.

Direct patient interaction is a key component of this role, including phone, email, and in-person consultations related to genetic results, concerns, and follow-ups.

Profile Requirements

• Education: Master's Degree in Genetic Counseling from an accredited program (or equivalent).
• Certification: Valid SCFHS license.
• Experience:
• Minimum 2–3 years of experience in genetic counseling.
• Direct experience in cytogenetics, molecular genetics, or reproductive genetics is strongly preferred.
• Technical Expertise:
• Knowledge of PGT, karyotyping, FISH, Sanger sequencing, fragment analysis, and NGS workflows.
• Proficiency in HGVS nomenclature, ACMG/AMP variant classification, and HPO phenotype mapping.
• Understanding of accreditation standards relevant to molecular and cytogenetic testing.
• Soft Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication, strong organizational skills, teamwork, empathy, and scientific integrity.
• Languages: Fluency in Arabic and English is required.

Key Competencies

• Strong analytical reasoning with the ability to synthesize clinical and molecular evidence.
• Ability to operate within quality-driven frameworks and regulatory standards.
• Demonstrated empathy, confidentiality, and non-directive communication in patient and clinician interactions.
• Flexibility to manage multidisciplinary workflows and adapt to evolving genomic technologies.
• Responsiveness and professionalism in handling patient communications and calls.
• Effective team collaboration.

Why Join Us

Joining the Thuriah Medical Center / Genetics Department means becoming part of a regional leader in advanced reproductive and molecular diagnostics.

You will contribute to pioneering programs in PGT, prenatal testing, molecular pathology, and precision medicine, while advancing genomic literacy among clinicians and laboratory professionals.

• Our department is committed to continuous improvement, patient-centered care, education, and innovation—offering a dynamic environment where your expertise in genetics and communication will directly impact patients' lives and public health outcomes.
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