Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist

Summary The supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) exercises a full range of supervisory responsibilities in planning—directing and assessing work of subordinate staff. The CLS plans and assigns work based on priorities, requirements of assignments, and abilities of employees; provides advice and counsel; and evaluates work of subordinates. 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 Education and/or Experience Combination (1) A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university in medical laboratory science, medical technology, clinical laboratory science or a related science (e.g., laboratory sciences such as chemistry, biochemistry, biology, microbiology, immunology, etc.) AND completion of a medical technology clinical practice program Clinical practice programs completed after 1974 must have been accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) - Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP, formerly CAHEA) - or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) The professional curriculum may have consisted of a post‑baccalaureate certificate program or be integrated into a four‑year program of study that culminated in a baccalaureate degree OR (2) A bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university—including 16 semester hours of biological science (with one course in microbiology), 16 semester hours of chemistry (with one course in organic or biochemistry), and one course in mathematics—and two years of post‑certification clinical laboratory experience (e.g., blood banking, chemistry, hematology, microbiology, immunology, clinical microscopy, etc.) within the last ten years as a certified Medical Laboratory Technician by the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification (ASCP‑BOC), American Society of Clinical Pathology Board of Registry (ASCP‑BOR), or American Medical Technologists (AMT) This experience must include performing moderate and/or high complexity testing in blood banking, chemistry, hematology, microbiology, immunology, and clinical microscopy (or categorical experience that matches categorical certification) in a clinical laboratory OR (3) A bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university—including 16 semester hours of biological science (with one course in microbiology), 16 semester hours of chemistry (with one course in organic or biochemistry), and one course in mathematics—and five years of clinical laboratory experience within the last ten years performing moderate and/or high complexity testing in blood banking, chemistry, hematology, microbiology, immunology and clinical microscopy (or categorical experience that matches categorical certification) in a clinical laboratory Foreign Graduates Graduates of foreign baccalaureate degree programs meet the educational and/or experience requirements if the degree is found to be equivalent to degree programs recognized by the NAACLS or clinical laboratory experience as described in paragraph 2b(2) or (3) above This finding may be based on either of the following: (1) A letter from a college or university with a baccalaureate program recognized by the NAACLS stating that the individual's foreign degree has been evaluated and found to be equivalent to its bachelor of medical technology degree (2) A letter from ASCP‑BOC or AMT stating that the individual is eligible for the certification examination Certification Candidates must have either (1) or (2) below: (1) Candidates must currently possess the appropriate certification as an MT, MLS, or CLS given by the ASCP‑BOC, ASCP‑BOR, or AMT. (2) For positions up to the full performance level—candidates must currently possess the categorical or specialist technologist level certification from the certification agencies listed above—such as, but not limited to, chemistry (C/SC), hematology (H/SH), microbiology (M/SM), molecular biology (MB/SMB), and blood bank (BB/SBB) Technologists with categorical or specialist certifications may only perform duties within the area of the laboratory specific to their categorical certification (e.g., an individual with a chemistry (C) certification can only perform duties in chemistry) 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) All MTs employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series, and grade held—including positive education and certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard—but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to the position—the following provisions apply: (1) MTs that do not meet the basic requirements for education and certification may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation—but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. (2) MTs 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. (3) MTs 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. (4) If MTs who were retained in this occupation under this provision leave the occupation—the MT loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation Preferred Experience: All of the following qualifications are required: Possesses comprehensive knowledge of regulations and accrediting requirements to develop effective plans and procedures for both the Anatomic Pathology (AP) and Clinical Pathology (CP) laboratories A minimum of 3 years of supervisory experience in anatomic pathology—including leadership responsibilities such as supervising anatomic pathology and cytology services A minimum of 3 years of cytotechnologist experience is preferred PLUS a minimum of 3 years of experience in clinical laboratory operations—including regulatory compliance and laboratory process management—to develop plans and procedures for the AP and CP Laboratory PLUS a minimum of 3 years of experience with laboratory information systems—serving as a subject matter expert in LIS development, system integration, and software implementation Reference: For more information on this qualification standard—please visit The full performance level of this vacancy is GS‑13 Physical Requirements: In accordance with VA Directive and Handbook 5019. Duties Total Rewards of an Allied Health Professional: The supervisor ensures compliance with accrediting agencies and regulatory requirements and establishes and monitors the quality of pre‑analytical, analytical, and post‑analytical processes—initiating corrective action as needed as part of the overall laboratory quality management program. Duties may include but are not limited to: Plan and execute performance and quality improvement projects. Verifies orientation, training, and competency assessment of assigned staff and develops and updates technical policies and procedure manuals. Ensures all staff and affiliate staff comply with accrediting and regulating bodies. Adjusts staffing levels or work procedures to accommodate resource allocation decisions made at the executive level. Manages document control—develops performance standards, position descriptions, and functional statements—and is responsible for technical and administrative management of an assigned area including budget execution. Interacts with administrative and clinical onsite personnel and exercises significant independent decision‑making authority. Maintains effective interdisciplinary and interprofessional relations with other services to accomplish medical center goals. Chooses methods for achieving work goals—objectives and management strategies. Day‑to‑day supervision of highly complex test performance. Day‑to‑day supervising laboratory operations includes laboratory information systems (LIS). Day‑to‑day supervising histology/cytology services may require screening the cytology cases. Monitoring test analyses and specimen examinations to ensure acceptable levels of performance. Assures corrective action is initiated when test performance deviates from established performance specifications. Assures orientation, training, and competency assessment of staff. Implements and monitors quality management activities. Performs the full range of supervisory duties. Recommends appointment—plans and assigns work—gives advice and counsel—and evaluates work of subordinates. Ensures that all periodic objectives are done timely. Ensures staff is operating as a collaborative and cohesive unit—where respect and communication is paramount. Ensures staff is addressed in a formal setting at least once a week to foster an environment where open communication is encouraged. Ensures the laboratory is always optimally ready for any regulatory inspection. Ensures all the staff are trained and performing up to established standards. Work Schedule: Full‑Time—tour varies—will be discussed during interview. Recruitment Incentive (Sign‑on Bonus): Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized. 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). 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 401(k) 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 #: 07437-F. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. #J-18808-Ljbffr