CLS - Lab Chemistry

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.
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Peters VA Medical Center functioning as a generalist Clinical Laboratory Scientist in the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine service (P&LM), with the primary responsibility to provide the patients at the medical center with testing in the areas of Blood Banking, Clinical Chemistry, Coagulation, Hematology, Immunology, Microbiology (minimal selective testing), molecular diagnostics, and Urinalysis in support of direct patient care. The generalist clinical laboratory scientist at this level independently carries out the day-to-day operations in the laboratory. The incumbent is responsible for providing coverage on dayshift tour of duty with scheduled rotations on weekends (Saturday and Sunday), holidays and on-call coverage as needed.
Performs complex laboratory functions which requires a broad exercise of independent judgment and responsibility including organizing and setting priorities with minimal technical supervision.
Serves as primary operator on new test systems.
Assumes responsibility to maintain operations including preventive maintenance and quality control.
Monitoring quality control systems and measures; reviews and monitors the validity of lab results.
Participates in the clinical training experiences of technical and professional level clinical laboratory scientists or medical technician training programs in order to fulfill educational and professional requirements (where training programs exist).
Provides technical training and guidance to students, healthcare providers, and other employees.
Troubleshoots instruments, equipment, reagents, controls, and patient specimens when problems occur and notifies the supervisor if unable to solve the problem.
Evaluates specimens for acceptability for proper testing.
Investigates and documents problems with unacceptable specimens.
Requests new and appropriately drawn/labeled specimens when necessary.
Participates in the laboratory competency and proficiency/survey program.
Preferred Experience/Certification: At least 3 years of Medical Technologist experience. Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional
Work Schedule : Full-Time, 8:00am-4:30pm with rotating weekends and holidays
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
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.
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
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.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
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Citizen to apply for this job.
Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. your performance and conduct;
Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
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.A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
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: (S. clinical laboratory science degree program. 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).

Employees in VHA in this occupation under a permanent, appropriate, and legal placement on the effective date of this qualification standard (12/03/2024), are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade and/or assignment held, including positive education and certification where applicable. Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level (GS-11), or be changed to a lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level (GS-11) or newly placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
Employees 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.
Clinical Laboratory Scientist, GS-11:
Must have 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education or a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in medical technology or a directly related science.
a) Knowledge of professional clinical laboratory science principles, practices, concepts, and theories that support sound, independent work.

• b) Knowledge of laboratory quality control and quality assurance procedures and principles of performance improvement.
• c) Skill in informatics, laboratory data flow, and laboratory processes.
• e) Ability to use independent technical judgment to analyze and interpret laboratory results.
• g) Ability to communicate, consult, and interact with other members of the health care team, external relations, customer service, and patient education.

Preferred Experience/Certification: At least 3 years of Medical Technologist experience. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent.