Clinical Laboratory Scientist

About the role

Join the Indian Health Service as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist providing vital, life-saving diagnostics to American Indian communities. Advance your career, enjoy competitive benefits, and be part of a mission that transforms lives every day.

Responsibilities

• Conducting standardized clinical laboratory testing in areas such as chemistry, hematology, microbiology, urinalysis, serology, and immunology using established procedures.
• Collecting and preparing patient specimens for routine analysis.
• Operating, calibrating, and maintaining laboratory instruments and equipment.
• Preparing reagents and quality control materials.
• Negotiating abnormal findings or testing discrepancies and reporting issues to supervisory or professional staff.
• Performing quality control, maintaining laboratory records, and following biosafety, infection control, and accreditation requirements.
• Evaluating specimen suitability and preparing specimens for analysis.
• Operating, calibrating, standardizing, troubleshooting, and maintaining laboratory instrumentation.
• Preparing reagents, controls, and reference materials and verifying equipment performance.
• Recognizing abnormal or unusual results, identifying instrument malfunctions, implementing corrective actions, validating test data, and consulting with supervisory staff regarding significant findings or quality control issues.
• Performing quality control activities while maintaining compliance with biosafety, infection control, accreditation, and laboratory regulatory requirements.
• Resolving specimen handling issues and preparing specimens for specialized testing.
• Calibrating, standardizing, troubleshooting, and maintaining laboratory instrumentation.
• Interpreting test data, evaluating abnormal or unexpected findings, independently troubleshooting testing discrepancies, and implementing corrective actions to ensure accurate laboratory results.
• Supporting proficiency testing and accreditation activities.
• Ensuring compliance with laboratory safety, infection control, and regulatory standards.

Requirements

• A Bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree from a regionally accredited college/university including courses in biological science, chemistry, and mathematics, AND successful completion of a Medical Laboratory Scientist/Clinical Laboratory Scientist program accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) or an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained.
• Completion of one (1) year of graduate-level education from an accredited college or university in clinical laboratory science/medical technology, a discipline or specialized area of medical technology, or a field directly related and applicable to medical technology or the position to be filled.
• A combination of graduate education and specialized experience that, when combined, meet the minimum qualifications as described above for the GS-07 grade level.
• A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in clinical laboratory science/medical technology, a discipline or specialized area of medical technology, or a directly related field applicable to the position. Applicants must also meet one of the following Superior Academic Achievement (SAA) requirements: (1) a cumulative GPA of 2.95 or higher on a 4.0 scale; (2) a GPA of 3.45 or higher in the major field of study or during the last two years of undergraduate study; (3) graduation in the top third of the graduating class; or (4) membership in a national scholastic honor society recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies.
• Completion of 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree, or a master's or equivalent graduate degree, from an accredited college or university in clinical laboratory science/medical technology, a discipline or specialized area of medical technology, or a field directly related and applicable to medical technology or the position to be filled.
• A combination of graduate education and specialized experience that, when combined, meet the minimum qualifications as described above for the GS-09 grade level. Only graduate education in excess of the first 18 semester hours may be used in combination with specialized experience.
• Completion of 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree, or a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, from an accredited college or university in clinical laboratory science/medical technology, a discipline or specialized area of medical technology, or a field directly related and applicable to medical technology or the position to be filled.
• A combination of graduate education and specialized experience that, when combined, meet the minimum qualifications as described above for the GS-11 grade level. Only graduate education in excess of the first 36 semester hours may be used in combination with specialized experience.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, your resume must state sufficient experience and/or education, to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are applying.

Benefits

Competitive benefits package including health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off.

Pay

Salary range based on experience and qualifications.

Schedule

Flexible schedule to accommodate the needs of the community and the job.

Skills

Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Benefits

Professional development opportunities, supportive work environment, and meaningful impact on the community.

Application Instructions

To apply, submit your resume and completed application online. No paper applications accepted.

Contact Information

For further questions, please contact the Human Resources Office at [insert contact info].