Lead 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.

Qualifications

Basic 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 in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403 (f)
• Education: A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university
• Certification: (1) 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)
• GS 12 Experience: At least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS 11)
• Examples of specialized experience at the next lower grade includes: Develops - performs - evaluates - interprets - correlates - and validates the accuracy of laboratory procedures and results in line with current laboratory regulatory requirements
• The work performed may be in a variety of laboratory specialties such as chemistry - microbiology - immunology - hematology - and immunohematology
• Testing procedures are performed on a variety of biological specimens and/or environmental samples using manual or automated methods
• Assignment: 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
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of 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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.

Duties

• The Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist position is in the Pathology and Lab Services at the VA Boston Healthcare System located at the Brockton - MA location
• This position is full time at 40 hours per week
• The Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist position identifies - distributes - balances work - coaches - and facilitates with problem solving methods
• Duties include - but are not limited to: Prepares reports and maintains records of work status
• resolves simple - informal complaints
• reports performance - progress - and training needs of the team
• Provides information on promotion - reassignment - recognition of outstanding performance - and personnel needs
• Develops protocols for performance of tests and evaluation of results
• Ensures that laboratory tests and procedures are consistent with accrediting agencies standards and requirements
• Performs validation/method verification studies for new systems
• Consults with healthcare providers on logical protocol to follow in attempting to confirm the diagnosis or risk assessment of a patient
• Functions as supervisor of the laboratory section in the absence or unavailability of the Laboratory Supervisor
• Plans - schedules on-going work - and adjusts staffing levels or work procedures
• Monitors the laboratory section quality control system
• Ensures timely and thorough evaluation of data - ensures discrepancies are identified and attended by troubleshooting method performance
• Documents reviews by initially and dating record sheets
• Knowledgeable about inspection requirements - location and existence of records - reports and documents that are needed during a laboratory inspection
• Any deficiencies identified in the laboratory section are evaluated and corrected for the laboratory section within the required time limits
• Fills the role or method expert in areas of troubleshooting any system problem
• Work Schedule: Full-Time Monday-Friday 7:00am-3:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Not authorized Telework: Not authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement# F08280 Relocation Incentive: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure: Not Required 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)? NOTIFICATIONS: This position is in the Excepted Service
• This position is an AFGE Bargaining unit
• This position is on a special salary rate
• The incumbent may be required to travel to other VA campuses and CBOC's
• Current and former Federal employees may submit copies of their most recent SF-50 - (Notice of Personnel Action)
• The SF-50 must identify the position title - series - grade - step - tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted)
• In some cases - more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held
• No award SF50s will be accepted
• Narrative responses to the knowledge - skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment.

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.