Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist

About the role

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.

Responsibilities

• Rotates through blood bank, chemistry, immunochemistry, urinalysis, coagulation, hematology, manual chemistry/hematology, and limited microbiology.
• Prepares reports, maintains records, administrative information, prepares and presents work-related information to supervisor.
• Researches qualitative and quantitative methods in the appropriate laboratory specialty area. Performs statistical analysis on quality control and quality assurance monitors.
• Performs qualitative and quantitative moderate and complex testing methods in all the assigned laboratory specialty areas.
• Responsible for coordination of training in the methods and techniques of the appropriate laboratory specialty areas.
• Responsible as a primary source of information for maintaining current instrumentation.
• Maintains and calibrates instrumentation and equipment to ensure correct performance.
• Troubleshoots instrumentation and equipment problems during the shift to ensure uninterrupted testing.
• Performs all assigned duties in a timely and efficient manner.
• Ensures compliance with rules and regulations of assorted regulatory agencies such as CAP, FDA, JC, AABB, and OSHA.
• Captains quality control activities with the supervisor.
• Captains proficiency program for the appropriate laboratory specialty.
• Acts as a liaison to other departments of the medical center for the appropriate laboratory specialty area.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

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, English Language Proficiency, Education, Certification.
• Experience: Must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11) which is directly related to the position to be filled. This is required for all GS-12 assignments.
• Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of medical technology applicable to a wide range of duties to solve complex problems involving diverse aspects of clinical laboratory practice; Skill to maintain, troubleshoot, and repair laboratory instrumentation; Ability to develop procedures for new tests, and modify existing procedures and methods to resolve problems relative to complex and difficult situations; Ability to manage and coordinate daily work activities and assignments in a section; Ability to provide or coordinate staff development and training; Ability to provide guidance and technical direction to a wide variety of individuals including physicians, nurses, and other clinical staff regarding technical aspects of testing, specimen requirements and results.