Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist

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.

01Basic Requirements

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 to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Education. A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university. 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.

02Grade Determinations

GS-12 Experience. Must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, which is directly related to the position to be filled.

In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (A) Knowledge of Federal and state laws and regulations and laboratory accrediting agency regulatory requirements sufficient to develop plans and procedures for the laboratory. (B) 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. (C) Knowledge of concepts, principles, and methods of clinical laboratory technology and operations. (D) Skill in applying leadership principles such as interpersonal relations and conflict resolution. (E) Ability to perform the full range of supervisory duties, which includes responsibility for assignment of work, performance evaluations, selection of staff, recommendation of awards, advancements, and disciplinary actions. (F) Ability to plan, organize, set short and/or long-term goals, and conduct studies on technical and administrative problems including personnel shortages, organizational structure, and new technology. (G) Ability to manage fiscal matters, forecast resource and equipment needs, and administer the allocated budget.

03Preferred Experience

N/A Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.

04Physical Requirements

The work requires regular and recurrent physical exertion such as standing for long periods of time, bending over microscopes and instruments, walking, and lifting.

VA Careers - Microbiology/Molecular Medical Technologist: https://youtube.com/embed/eSDGhIwZKdw Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Provides direct supervision to employees performing a variety of duties supporting the Safety and Occupational Health Program, the Gulf Coast VA Health Care Systems and will serve as an active member of the P&LMS Management Team.

Incumbent makes decisions on work problems, collaborates with other supervisors to negotiate, decide on, and/or coordinate work-related changes affecting the laboratory and other units; advises the Chief, P&LMS and other management officials on the problems of any section and the impact.

The incumbent will perform a variety of laboratory procedures, including complex analyses and infrequently requested non-standard tests, evaluating abnormal results, using and maintaining equipment and setting up and monitoring quality control programs. The work involves serving as a technical specialist and section supervisor. The Supervisory CLS establishes and monitors the quality of all phases of analytical processes as part of the overall laboratory quality management program and initiates corrective actions.

This individual, manages document control, develops performance standards, position descriptions, and functional statements. The supervisory CLS is responsible for professional and administrative oversight of operations, including fiscal and resource management. The supervisory CLS maintains effective interdepartmental relations with other services to accomplish medical center goals. Reviews proficiency survey results for departments of the laboratory.

Incumbent attends conferences and seminars at which policies, procedures and techniques are explored and general overall administration is discussed, professional and technical literature and publications are reviewed, and new procedures and techniques evaluated. May be called upon to serve as the laboratory representative on medical center committees.

May be called upon to manage Vista applications within the service to include initial problem solving, information security, database management and maintenance, and provide liaison between P&LMS and IMS to ensure Vista laboratory software merges smoothly with laboratory policy and workflow as it relates to computer issues. Reviews daily patient reports, instrument maintenance logs, operational checklists, and quality control results. Has skill in informatics, laboratory data flow, and laboratory processes.

Ability to maintain, troubleshoot, and repair instrumentation. Ability to use independent technical judgment to analyze and interpret laboratory results. Work Schedule: Full-Time, Monday through Friday - 8:00AM - 4:30PM - Tour of duty subject to changed based upon facility need Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authoirzed Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.

Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.

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: May be authorized subject to change upon facility needs. May be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 01152F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized