Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Duties

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• Administratively responsible for contractual arrangements and obligations, technical capabilities, cost of operation, and personnel requirements for laboratory equipment needed for their assigned section or sections of the laboratory. May serve as the Contracting Officer Representative for the department. Assures that the Core Laboratory uses its financial and human resources as productively as is practical.
• Devises program plans for the immediate and long-range development of the section, by reviewing and evaluating the validity and effectiveness of existing programs. Checks laboratory work in progress, technical procedures and provides assistance in areas where difficulty is encountered by technical personnel. Reviews results and assures compliance with quality control, safety standards, proficiency testing programs, accreditation requirements and agency policies.
• Ensures all staff and affiliate staff are in compliance with accrediting and regulating bodies.
• Ensures daily functions are carried out in accordance with established hospital policies and procedures using judgement in deviating and interpreting the same.
• Evaluates, modifies, or adapts new methods or revises standard techniques to improve or expand quantitativeness, accuracy, precision, specificity, or proficiency of analyses. Compares new methods with existing or reference methods by performance and suitability (analysis of cost, convenience, and efficiency). Assesses advances in the field for relevance to their assigned section or sections of the laboratory. Develops procedures and establishes parameters for correlations of test results and preset troubleshooting protocols.
• Has full and final technical authority for the work performed in the sections, ensuring that laboratory test results are complete and accurate and meet all standards. Is the authority in technical decision making.
• Implements, maintains, and evaluates procedures and policies in their assigned section or sections of the laboratory to ensure compliance with accrediting agency standards.
• Maintains effective interdepartmental relations with other services to accomplish medical center goals.
• Manages document control, develops performance standards, position descriptions and functional statements, and is responsible for professional and administrative management of an assigned area to include budget execution.
• Responsible for maintaining adequate staffing by GS-11 Clinical Laboratory Scientists in the Chemistry, Hematology, Coagulation and Urinalysis, Microbiology/Molecular/Serology, or Blood Bank sections Monday through Friday and holidays during the administrative tour of duty.
• Verifies orientation, training and competency assessment of assigned staff.
• Works together with other clinical and administrative service chiefs and program managers to ensure that their objectives are met in a timely and accurate manner.
• Responsible for monitoring test analyses and specimen examinations to ensure acceptable levels of performance and initiate corrective action.
• Defines reference values/ranges using statistical methods; sets up and monitors record keeping systems and effective quality control procedures. Identifies/implement changes needed in the quality assurance program.
• Develop and update technical policies and procedure manuals.
• Establishes a preventive maintenance program, and quality control procedures for all instruments used in the sections. Troubleshoot malfunctions and makes simple repairs or identifies need for external services. Maintains a current procedural manual, reviewing and revising as needed. Designs appropriate forms as needed in each assigned section of the laboratory.
• Regularly involves exposure to chemicals and infectious disease. Required to use standard precautions and ensure staff complete initial training and annual in-service or standard precautions and safety.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Work Schedule : Full-time, Monday- Friday, 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM

EDRP Authorized: Yes NOTE: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Learn more

Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.

Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66 .

Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA

Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)

Telework : Not available.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # :11976-F

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements : To qualify for appointment to this position, all applicants must possess the following:

• United States Citizenship : Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• English Language Proficiency . Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403 (f).
• Education . A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university. NOTE: The Supervisory CLS (Laboratory Director), GS-15, requires unique education requirements. Please reference the education requirements located in that assignment below.
• Certification . Candidates must meet one of the certification options below:
  • Generalist certification as an MLS given by ASCP BOC or AMT.
  • Generalist certification as an MT given by ASCP BOR or AMT.
  • Categorical certification or Specialist certification by ASCP or AMT.

NOTE: Categorical and specialist certifications are not acceptable for CLS Generalist positions or lab sections unrelated to the categorical or specialist certification held. Categorical or specialist certifications are acceptable for higher-graded positions within the relevant lab section or one of the non-section specific assignments (including, Ancillary Testing Coordinator, Education Coordinator, Laboratory Information Manager, Quality Manager, Laboratory Manager, Regional Technical Specialist, National Quality and Compliance Agent, Regional Program Manager, Regional Director, Laboratory Director, or National Quality and Compliance Officer).

Grandfathering Provision . Employees in VHA in this occupation under a permanent, appropriate, and legal placement on the effective date of this qualification standard, are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade and/or assignment held, including positive education and certification where applicable. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements of this standard but met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed, the following provisions apply:

• Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or be changed to a lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or newly placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
• If an assignment above the FPL requires an additional certification over and above the basic requirements, employees must meet the assignment-specific requirement before they can be promoted.
• Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
• Employees retained in this occupation under this provision who subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation.
• Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain certification that meets all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.

NOTE : This provision is not intended to regularize appointments/ placements.

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Determinations :

Experience . 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12) is required for all GS-13 assignments such as:

• Knowledge of the concepts, principles, and practices of medical technology sufficient to perform the full range of duties involved in planning, coordinating, and evaluating laboratory services.
• Knowledge of accrediting agencies and regulatory requirements pertaining to laboratory operations.
• Knowledge of laboratory operations and relationships to the organization.
• Skill in applying laboratory quality control/assurance policies, procedures, and principles and safety practices and regulations.
• Ability to apply quality management performance improvement principles, methodology, and processes to develop and manage a clinical laboratory quality management program.
• Ability to apply statistical evaluation and analysis to quality assurance data and implement corrective actions when indicated

The CLS has full supervisory responsibility in a laboratory where at least three of the five following conditions are met outlined below in (1) - (5).

• Lab is a complexity level index group 1 or 2 based on the Hospital Complexity Level as designated in Office of Productivity, Efficiency, and Staffing (OPES) VHA Facility Complexity Model History.
• The laboratory performs at least one million standard billable tests annually (as reported to the Laboratory Management Index Program).
• The CLS supervises a staff of non-supervisory personnel including at least one GS-12 subordinate.
• Lack of on-site pathologist.
• Oversight of more than one laboratory specialty

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities . In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

• Knowledge of Federal and state laws and regulations, laboratory accrediting, and regulatory requirements to develop new policies and guidelines, formulate plans, and judge effectiveness of the operation.
• Knowledge of laboratory quality management procedures and principles sufficient to establish and monitor a laboratory quality management program and/or the education and training of laboratory staff.
• Skill in interpersonal relations and conflict resolution.
• Ability to provide the full range of supervisory duties, which includes responsibility for assignment of work to be performed, performance evaluations, selection of staff, recommendation of awards, advancements, and disciplinary actions.
• Ability to analyze organizational, technical, and administrative problems to develop and implement solutions that result in efficient laboratory operation.
• Ability to manage fiscal matters, forecast resource and equipment needs, and administer the allocated budget.
• Ability to set short and/or long-term goals for the section and conduct studies on technical and administrative problems including personnel shortages, organizational structure, and new technology.

Preferred Experience: Possesses knowledge and experience in blood banking, hematology, coagulation studies, and urinalysis.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit

The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-13.

Physical Requirements: Work is sedentary but also demands standing, walking, bending, twisting, and carrying light items.

Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.

Education

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit:

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.