Lead Clinical Lab Scientist - Microbiology/Molecular

Loading... Please wait. Lead Clinical Lab Scientist - Microbiology/Molecular Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration Facebook X LinkedIn Share Application First Name Last Name Email address Captcha / Bot Check Copy from here to here Click to hear these letters. What is this? The application opened in a new tab. You may close this popup. By using this feature you agree to our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. Details Posted: 22-Jul-26 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Internal Number: 877352500 Summary The incumbent serves as a Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) within the Microbiology/Molecular section of the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service at Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center - performing key duties in the clinical laboratory. The incumbent performs higher-level duties consisting of significant scope - complexity (difficulty) and range of variety at least 25% of the time. Qualifications 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. 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 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 in medical laboratory science - medical technology - clinical laboratory science or in a related science (e.g. - laboratory sciences such as chemistry - biochemistry - biology - microbiology - immunology - etc.) 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 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) Experience (1) Creditable Experience To be creditable - the experience must have required the use of knowledge - skills - and abilities associated with current CLS practices The experience satisfying this requirement may be paid or non-paid employment as a CLS in the health care field Research laboratory experience does not fulfill this requirement (2) Part-Time Experience Part-time experience is creditable according to its relationship to a full-time workweek For example - an individual employed 20 hours per week - or on a half-time basis - would receive 1 full-time workweek of credit for each 2 weeks of service (3) Quality of Experience Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to CLS experience at the next lower grade level of the position being filled For all assignments above the full performance level (FPL) - the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope - administrative independence - complexity - and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time Grade Determinations In addition to the basic requirements for employment - candidates must meet the following grade-determining criteria for placement: GS-12 Clinical Laboratory Scientist (Technical Specialist) Experience 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11) is required This experience may include - but is not limited to: 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 In addition to routine testing - the CLS conducts quality control and routine maintenance of instrumentation and troubleshooting The CLS correlates abnormal lab data with pathological states - determines the validity of test results - and the need for additional tests Specific targeted laboratory responsibilities or projects may include laboratory safety officer - analyzer specialist - primary operator on new test systems - quality control specialist - supply control - and/or coordinator for the laboratory competency assessment or proficiency/survey program This assignment may include limited duties in areas such as lab information management and ancillary testing These tasks require a broad exercise of independent judgment and responsibility - including organizing and setting priorities with minimal technical supervision The CLS assesses a situation - considers the options - and formulates an appropriate course of action Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities In addition to the experience or education above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge and understanding of concepts - principles - methodology of medical laboratory technology - regulatory and accrediting agency requirements - medico-legal requirements - and pertinent statistics sufficient to perform complex diagnostic tests. Knowledge of instructional techniques to instruct newly hired clinical laboratory scientists and clinical pathology residents in proper performance of tests and applications of laboratory procedures Knowledge of one or more advanced clinical laboratory functions Skill to apply new scientific/technical developments to develop procedures for new tests and modify existing procedures and methods to resolve problems relative to complex and difficult situations Ability to provide guidance and technical direction to accomplish the work of a clinical laboratory Ability to provide guidance and technical direction to accomplish the work of the specific laboratory section Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit The Full Performance level of this vacancy is GS-12 Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting and carrying (15-44 lbs) As needed - Straight pulling - pushing - walking - standing - repeated bending - reaching above shoulder - use of fingers - both hands required both legs required ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously ability to see and distinguish depth perception - basic colors - and shades of colors hearing (aid permitted) In addition - the ability to deal with constant noise - work around machinery with moving parts - work closely with others or alone and work protracted or irregular hours. Duties VA Careers - Microbiology/Molecular Medical Technologist: Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties and tasks include but are not limited to the following: Maintains and demonstrates knowledge of professional clinical laboratory science principles - practices - concepts - and theories that support sound - independent work Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of laboratory quality control and quality assurance procedures and principles of performance improvement Demonstrates skill in informatics - laboratory data flow - and laboratory processes Utilizes comprehensive knowledge of laboratory equipment and maintains - troubleshoots - and repairs instrumentation and demonstrates proper documentation of corrective action Uses independent technical judgement to analyze and interpret laboratory results Reads - interprets - and applies complex written instructions Communicates - consults - and interacts with other members of the healthcare team - external relations - customer service - and patient education Evaluates the suitability of each specimen for analysis - requesting a new specimen if determined to be unusable Prepares specimen for analysis according to established procedures Follows established procedure for handling of mislabeled - unlabeled - or unsuitable specimens Ensures acceptable orders have been placed by a provider and accurately accessions and receives specimens - maintaining correct patient identification throughout each phase of processing - analysis - and resulting Conducts quality control procedures on instrumentation - equipment - reagents - and products and maintains proper records for quality control reports Performs initial quality control of all incoming reagents and supplies as required Evaluates the validity of the data in relation to the test system and accepted assay procedures Correlates quantitative data with patient data (e.g. - history - medications) as necessary to verify results Reviews and investigates delta checks - flags - alerts - etc and performs additional testing to clarify or confirm abnormal patient results Recognizes abnormal results that require immediate attention by the physician and reports them directly and follows the proper laboratory and medical center policies Responsible for the generation of laboratory results from the work area into the laboratory computer system and for the editing and verification of results recorded into the computer system Performs checks to maintain compliance with regulatory bodies such as AABB - FDA - The Joint Commission (TJC) - College of American Pathologists (CAP) - and the Office of Inspector General (OIG) such as temperature checks - inventory control - blood utilization tracking - instrument maintenance and testing Maintains accountability for inventory and ordering of all supplies and reagents for all shifts and inventory of expendable supplies Logs and stores reagents and supplies per standard operating procedures and maintains optimal inventory levels of reagents - supplies - and blood products to prevent workflow interruptions Telephones critical or urgent test results to the clinician or provider with appropriate documentation Performs and completes all proficiency and competency testing to meet deadlines and with satisfactory performance May be assigned to distribute and track proficiency testing for the department Involved in statistical data collection and/or documentation for records - reports - Quality Assurance monitors - and quality control Maintains a detailed - accurate record - tracks activities - and processes paperwork accurately and promptly Able to organize and prioritize work during heavy workload situations to expedite patient results Prioritizes work between non-specimen activity and patient care Work Schedule: 7:30a-4:00p or 8:00a-4:30p - With rotating weekends and holidays - Full-Time Telework: Not eligible Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 94196-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized EDRP: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): 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 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) Create a Job Match for Similar Jobs Logo About Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration 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. Connections working at Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration #J-18808-Ljbffr Society for Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology