Clinical Laboratory Scientist

Summary

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.

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

  • English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C.7403 (f)

  • Education: A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university

  • Certification: (1) Candidates must meet one of the certification options below.

    • (a) Generalist certification as an MLS given by ASCP BOC or AMT.
    • (b) Generalist certification as an MT given by ASCP BOR or AMT.
    • (c) 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 (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)

  • GS 11 Experience or Education: Candidates at this level must meet one of the criteria below:

    • (Experience) One (1) year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS 9)
    • (Education) Must have three (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

Assignment

This is considered FPL for a CLSA CLS at this level independently carries out the day-to-day operations in the laboratory

Duties

• The CLS develops - performs - evaluates - interprets - correlates - and validates the accuracy of laboratory procedures and results in line with current laboratory regulatory requirements

• Duties include - but are not limited to:

  • Perform a variety of laboratory specialties such as chemistry - microbiology - immunology - hematology - and immunohematology
  • Perform on a variety of biological specimens and/or environmental samples using manual or automated methods
  • Conducts quality control and routine maintenance of instrumentation and troubleshooting
  • Correlates abnormal lab data with pathological states - determines the validity of test results - and the need for additional tests

• Requires a broad exercise of independent judgment and responsibility - including organizing and setting priorities with minimal technical supervision

• Assesses a situation - considers the options - and formulates an appropriate course of action

• Monitor quality control systems and measures - collaborating in the diagnosis and treatment of patients - and providing education for laboratory health care professionals and the public in a professional - courteous - and effective manner

• Additional duties may include:

  • Laboratory safety officer
  • Analyzer specialist
  • Primary operator on new test systems
  • Quality control specialist
  • Supply control
  • Coordinator for the laboratory competency assessment or proficiency/survey program

Pay

Competitive salary and regular salary increases 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)

Benefits

• Annual 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

• 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)

Contact Information

This position is in the Excepted Service

This position is an AFGE Bargaining unit

This position is on a special salary rate

The incumbent may be required to travel to other VA campuses and CBOC's

Current and former Federal employees may submit copies of their most recent SF-50 - (Notice of Personnel Action)

The SF-50 must identify the position title - series - grade - step - tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted)

In some cases - more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held

No award SF50s will be accepted

Narrative responses to the knowledge - skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment.