Job Description
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.
Qualifications
Basic Requirements:
- Citizenship
- Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.)
- Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a)
- 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
- 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
- Certification
- Candidates must meet one of the certification options below
- (a) Generalist certification as an MLS given by ASCP BOC or AMT
- (b) Generalist certification as an MT given by ASCP BOR or AMT
- (c) 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)
- Grade Determinations: Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist - GS-12
- Experience
- 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11)
- Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
- In addition to the experience or education above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (A) Knowledge of medical technology applicable to a wide range of duties to solve complex problems involving diverse aspects of clinical laboratory practice
- (B) Skill to maintain - troubleshoot - and repair laboratory instrumentation
- (C) Ability to develop procedures for new tests - and modify existing procedures and methods to resolve problems relative to complex and difficult situations
- (D) Ability to manage and coordinate daily work activities and assignments in a section
- (E) Ability to provide or coordinate staff development and training
- (F) 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
- Assignment
- For all lead assignments - the individual must spend at least 25% or more of their time performing lead duties over staff one grade level below
- The Lead CLS communicates the organization's strategic plan - mission - vision - and values
- The Lead CLS identifies - distributes - balances work - coaches - and facilitates with problem solving methods
- The Lead CLS prepares reports and maintains records of work status
- resolves simple - informal complaints
- reports performance - progress - and training needs of the team and on behavioral problems
- and provides information on promotions - reassignment - recognition of outstanding performance - and personnel needs
- The Lead CLS is responsible for all aspects of operation in their area of specialty - including assignment of work responsibilities - workload management - and completion of assignments for staff at or above the FPL as well as preparation and maintenance of records and reports - analysis of testing methodologies - training - instrumentation - and compliance
- The Lead CLS may act as a liaison to the supervisor and other departments/divisions of the medical center for the appropriate laboratory specialty
- Duties may include - but are not limited to - orientation and evaluating the competency of assigned staff including identification of continuing education and training needs - coordinating daily activity of the lab section(s) - writing or modifying technical procedures - providing technical instruction - ensuring that policies - procedures and regulatory requirements are followed - advising on course of action to follow when results or samples obtained are unacceptable - and coordinating or performing quality control reviews and method verification activities
- Preferred Experience: An experienced certified professional who performs complex laboratory diagnostic testing on human specimens for diagnosis - treatment - or prevention of disease in clinical laboratory specialties including but not limited to Hematology - Chemistry - Microbiology - Immunology - Urinalysis - and Molecular Diagnostics
- A CLS is responsible for performing the pre-analytical - analytical - and post-analytical phases of clinical laboratory test
- Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit
- The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12
- Physical Requirements: The incumbent must be able to perform moderate lifting up to 20 lbs. - straight pulling - pushing - reaching above the shoulder - use of fingers and both hands - walking - standing for up to 4 hours - kneeling - repeated bending - use of both arms and legs
- Specific visual requirements include use of both eyes - depth perception - ability to distinguish colors and shades of colors - hearing (aids permitted) - clear - high cognitive function and emotional stability
- ability to read ordinary type without strain.
Duties
- Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Medical Technologist: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Medical-Technologist-Career-Flyer.pdf Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) performs complex laboratory diagnostic testing on human specimens for diagnosis - treatment - or prevention of disease in clinical laboratory specialties including - but not limited to - Hematology - Chemistry - Microbiology - Immunology - Urinalysis - and Molecular Diagnostics
- Responsible for performing the pre-analytical - analytical - and post-analytical phases of clinical laboratory test
- Required to know medical technology applicable to a wide range of duties to solve complex problems involving diverse aspects of clinical laboratory practice
- Maintains - troubleshoots - and repairs laboratory instrumentation
- Develops procedures for new tests - and modify existing procedures and methods to resolve problems relative to complex and difficult situations
- Manages and coordinates daily work activities and assignments in a section
- Provides or coordinate staff development and training
- Provides 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
- Communicates the organization's strategic plan - mission - vision - and values
- The Lead CLS identifies - distributes - balances work - coaches - and facilitates with problem solving methods
- Prepares reports and maintains records of work status
- resolves simple - informal complaints
- reports performance - progress - and training needs of the team and on behavioral problems
- and provides information on promotions - reassignment - recognition of outstanding performance - and personnel needs
- Responsible for maintenance of records and reports - analysis of testing methodologies - training - instrumentation - and compliance
- Acts as a liaison to the supervisor and other departments/divisions of the medical center for the appropriate laboratory specialty
- Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 7:30am - 4:00pm (rotating weekends & on call)
- Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized
- Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized
- EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
- Contact Linda.orchard@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
- Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
- When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
- 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: Not available
- Virtual: This is not a virtual position
- Functional Statement #: 60412-0 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.
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The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.
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Holiday work, Permanent employment, Full time, Work experience placement, Remote job, Relocation package, Relocation bonus, Monday to Friday,