Lead 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. Education. A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university. Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials.

Graduates of foreign baccalaureate degree programs meet the educational requirements if they meet either of the following: 1) Foreign transcripts are evaluated by an acceptable evaluation agency, and the degree is found to be equivalent to a NAACLS-approved U.S. clinical laboratory science degree program. Or, 2) The applicant submits a letter from ASCP BOC or AMT stating the individual is eligible to take the certification examination.

NOTE: Possession of a certification identified in 4c above automatically determines the foreign education as creditable and no further documentation or proof of equivalency is needed. 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.

Eligibility Routes for Certification (Transcripts Required) A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university in medical laboratory science, medical technology, clinical laboratory science, or in a related science (for example, chemistry, biochemistry, biology, microbiology, immunology, etc.); and, completion of a medical technology clinical practice program (accredited by the NAACLS, Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP, formerly CAHEA), or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) within the last 5 years.

OR, A bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university including 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) of biological science (with one course in microbiology), 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) of chemistry (with one course in organic or biochemistry*), and one course in mathematics; valid Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) certification by the ASCP BOC, ASCP BOR, or AMT; and, 1 year of post-MLT certification clinical laboratory experience within the last 3 years.

This experience must include performing moderate and/or high complexity testing (as categorized by the FDA) in a clinical laboratory. Research laboratory experience does not fulfill this requirement.

OR, A bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university including 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) of biological science (with one course in microbiology), 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) of chemistry (with one course in organic or biochemistry*), and one course in mathematics; and, 4 years of clinical laboratory experience within the last nine years performing moderate and/or high complexity testing in blood bank, chemistry, hematology, microbiology, immunology, and clinical microscopy (or categorical experience that matches categorical certification) in a clinical laboratory.

OR, A bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university with 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) in biology including one semester in microbiology and 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) in chemistry, which may be obtained within or in addition to, the bachelor's degree; Completion of a 50-week U.S. Military MLT training program( with official certificate verifying completion of training) within the last 10 years; and, 1 year full-time clinical laboratory experience within the last 10 years.

This experience must include performing moderate and/or high complexity testing in blood banking, chemistry, hematology, microbiology, immunology, and urinalysis/body fluids (or categorical experience that matches categorical certification) in a clinical laboratory. Research laboratory experience does not fulfill this requirement. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403 (f).

02Grade Determinations

In addition to the basic requirements for employment ,candidates must meet the following grade-determining criteria for placement at grade levels specified. Clinical Laboratory Scientist, GS-12 Experience: 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the full performance level (GS-11), which is directly related to the position to be filled.

Examples of specialized experience include, but are not limited to: independently performing, evaluating, validating, and interpreting complex laboratory testing in one or more clinical laboratory specialties; correlating laboratory findings with disease processes and patient conditions; troubleshooting and resolving complex analytical and instrumentation issues; conducting quality control, quality assurance, proficiency testing, and competency assessment activities; validating new test methods and laboratory instrumentation; serving as a technical expert, analyzer specialist, quality management coordinator, or laboratory safety officer; ensuring compliance with laboratory regulatory and accreditation requirements; providing technical consultation to healthcare professionals; and leading process improvement initiatives to enhance laboratory operations, quality, and patient care outcomes.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of medical technology applicable to a wide range of duties to solve complex problems involving diverse aspects of clinical laboratory practice. Skill to maintain, troubleshoot, and repair laboratory instrumentation. Ability to develop procedures for new tests, and modify existing procedures and methods to resolve problems relative to complex and difficult situations.

Ability to manage and coordinate daily work activities and assignments in a section. Ability to provide or coordinate staff development and training. Ability to provide guidance and technical direction to a wide variety of individuals including physicians, nurses, and other clinical staff regarding technical aspects of testing, specimen requirements and results.

03Preferred Experience

Minimum of 5 year microbiology experience is preferred, but not required.. 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-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12 .

04Physical Requirements

See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

The Lead CLS must have advanced knowledge of specialized and complex subject matter extending beyond the duties of test performance. They have wide latitude for exercising independent judgment. Functions include any combination of those found at the GS-11 grade level for a Clinical Laboratory Scientist.

For all lead assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and range of variety, and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following: Major duties and responsibilities include, but may not be limited to: Facilitates team or unit processes by working in collaboration with team members or employees to ensure that tasks are completed and team priorities, goals, needs and achievements are coordinated with management. Prepares reports, maintains records, administrative information. Prepares and presents work-related information to supervisor.

Researches qualitative and quantitative methods in the appropriate laboratory specialty area. Performs statistical analysis on quality control and quality assurance monitors. Conducts studies and recommends changes to correct deficiencies and improve the specialty area. Designs workflow to accomplish objectives in the clinical specialty area. Responsible for coordination of training in the methods and techniques of the appropriate laboratory specialty area.

Writes and revises all Standard Operating Procedure manuals in section. Designs and prepares appropriate instrument maintenance logs, reviews these logs monthly, and assures that proper routine maintenance is being done by technicians/technologists. Reviews all verified results in assigned area (including results from off-hour and weekend shift(s)) to ensure accuracy. Recognizes, responds, and documents errors in a timely manner. Provides guidance for proper corrective action and notifies providers, as appropriate.

Performs other duties as needed VA Careers - Clinical Laboratory Scientist: https://youtube.com/embed/EE9c4XkaELoTotal-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Clinical Laboratory Scientist: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Medical-Technologist-Career-Flyer.pdf Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am -4:30pm with rotating weekends and holidays.

Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized 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 Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 460-05551-F / Clinical Laboratory Scientist Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Drug Testing: Required