Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist

Summary The supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) exercises a full range of supervisory responsibilities in planning, directing, and assessing the 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 the work of subordinates. Qualifications 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., chemistry, biochemistry, biology, microbiology, immunology). 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. (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) within the last ten years as a certified Medical Laboratory Technician by ASCP‑BOC, ASCP‑BOR, or 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 matching categorical certification) in a clinical laboratory. (3) A bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university including the same coursework as (2) and five years of clinical laboratory experience within the last ten years performing moderate and/or high complexity testing in the same areas. Foreign Graduates: Graduates of foreign baccalaureate degree programs meet the educational and/or experience requirements if the degree is recognized as equivalent to a degree program recognized by NAACLS or if clinical laboratory experience is as described in (2) or (3) above. This equivalence may be based on a letter from a college or university with a baccalaureate program recognized by NAACLS or a letter from ASCP‑BOC or AMT stating that the individual is eligible for the certification examination. Certification: Candidates must have either (1) a current certification as an MT, MLS, or CLS from ASCP‑BOC, ASCP‑BOR, or AMT, or (2) for positions up to the full performance level, a categorical or specialist technologist level certification (e.g., chemistry (C/SC), hematology (H/SH), microbiology (M/SM), molecular biology (MB/SMB), 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. May qualify based on the Grandfathering Provision described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who 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. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements at appointment but met the qualifications applicable at the time of appointment, the following provisions apply: MTs that do not meet the basic education and certification requirements may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to a lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. MTs 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. MTs initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain certification that meets all the basic requirements must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment. 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. Preferred Experience: 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. Minimum of 3 years of supervisory experience in anatomic pathology, including leadership responsibilities such as supervising anatomic pathology and cytology services. Minimum of 3 years of cytotechnologist experience is preferred. 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. 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 Ensure compliance with accrediting agencies and regulatory requirements and establish and monitor the quality of pre‑analytical, analytical, and post‑analytical processes, initiating corrective action as needed as part of the overall laboratory quality management program. Plans and executes 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, including laboratory information systems (LIMS). 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 union—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 staff are trained and performing up to established standards. Work Schedule and Compensation 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 off 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 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 child‑care subsidy up to 25% of total eligible child‑care 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