Supervisory Clinical Lab Scientist

Summary This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply. 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 PolicyEnglish 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 universityCertification: (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 AMTNOTE: Categorical and specialist certifications are not acceptable for CLS Generalist positions or lab sections unrelated to the categorical or specialist certification heldCategorical 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 13 Experience: At least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS 12)Examples of specialized experience at the next lower grade includes: Ensures that orientation - training - competency assessment - and continuing education requirements are metThe individual ensures compliance with accrediting agencies and regulatory requirementsThe supervisory CLS establishes and monitors the quality of pre-analytical processes as part of the overall laboratory quality management program and initiates corrective actionsThis individual develops policies and procedures - manages document control - develops performance standards - position descriptions - and functional statementsThe supervisory CLS is responsible for professional and administrative oversight of operations - including fiscal and resource managementThe supervisory CLS maintains effective interdepartmental relations with other services to accomplish medical center goalsAssignment: The CLS must supervise at least one staff member at the GS-12 grade levelThe supervisory CLS exercises a full range of supervisory responsibilities in planning - directing - and assessing work of subordinate staffThe supervisory CLS recommends appointments - awards - advancement - and disciplinary actionsThe CLS plans and assigns work based on priorities - requirements of assignments - and abilities of employeesprovides advice and counseland evaluates work of subordinatesThe supervisor ensures compliance with accrediting agencies and regulatory requirements and establishes and monitors the quality of pre-analytical - analytical - and post-analytical processes - initiating corrective actions as needed as part of the overall laboratory quality management programThe supervisory CLS plans and executes performance and quality improvement projectsThe supervisory CLS verifies orientation - training - and competency assessment of assigned staff and develops and updates technical policies and procedure manualsThe supervisory CLS ensures all staff and affiliate staff comply with accrediting and regulating bodiesThe supervisory CLS adjusts staffing levels or work procedures to accommodate resource allocation decisions made at the executive levelThis individual 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 executionThe supervisory CLS interacts with administrative and clinical onsite personnel and exercises significant independent decision-making authorityThe supervisory CLS maintains effective interdisciplinary and interprofessional relations with other services to accomplish medical center goalsPreferred Experience: Blood Banking and past Supervisor experienceIn addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (A) Knowledge of Federal and state laws and regulations - laboratory accrediting - and regulatory requirements to develop new policies and guidelines - formulate plans - and judge effectiveness of the operation(B) Knowledge of laboratory quality management procedures and principles sufficient to establish and monitor a laboratory quality management program and/or the education and training of laboratory staff(C) Skill in interpersonal relations and conflict resolution(D) Ability to provide the full range of supervisory duties - which includes responsibility for assignment of work to be performed - performance evaluations - selection of staff - recommendation of awards - advancements - and disciplinary actions(E) Ability to analyze organizational - technical - and administrative problems to develop and implement solutions that result in efficient laboratory operation(F) Ability to manage fiscal matters - forecast resource and equipment needs - and administer the allocated budget(G) Ability to set short and/or long-term goals for the section and conduct studies on technical and administrative problems including personnel shortages - organizational structure - and new technologyReference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements. Duties The Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist position is in the Pathology and Lab Services at the VA Boston Healthcare System located at the West Roxbury - MA locationThis position is full time at 40 hours per weekThe Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist position plans and assigns work based on priorities - requirements of assignments - and abilities of employeesprovides advice and counseland evaluates work of subordinatesDuties include - but are not limited to: Plans and schedules on-going workAdjusts staffing levels and/or work procedures as neededDay-to-day supervision of highly complex test performanceResponsible for monitoring test analyses and specimen examinations to ensure acceptable levels of performanceResponsible for ensuring the correct specimen requirements are met for both in house and reference lab testingAssures corrective action is initiated when test performance deviates from established performance specificationsAssures orientation - training - and competency assessment of staffCompletes performance evaluationsselection of staffrecommendations for awards - advancements - and - when appropriate - disciplinary actionsImplements and monitors quality management activitiesPerforms the full range of supervisory dutiesRecommends appointment - plans - and assigns work - gives advice and counsel - and evaluates work of subordinatesApproves Annual & Sick Leave requests and posts timecardsActs as laboratory liaison with other Clinical Services to maintain a good relationship with Hospital Staff for better patient care servicesConfers with physicians and nurses to clarify test results or recommend additional tests that might assist in diagnosis or treatment of patientsDesigns and prepares appropriate instrument maintenance logs and QC charts - reviews these logs and charts monthly - and assures that proper routine maintenance and corrective action are being performed by technicians/technologistsEvaluates - develops - establishes protocols - and procedure manuals for new instrumentation - methodologies and procedures using knowledge and experienceMaintains appropriate levels of supplies and reagents for the efficient operation of the department that individual supervisesWork Schedule: Full Time Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Not authorized Telework: Not authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual positionFunctional Statement #: F08760 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentiveContact Karen Chapman (karen.chapman@va.gov) - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistanceLearn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure: Not Required 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)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 experienceParental 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 childChild 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 $416.66Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VAInsurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)NOTIFICATIONS: This position is in the Excepted ServiceThis position is on a special salary rateThe incumbent may be required to travel to other VA campuses and CBOC'sCurrent 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 heldNo award SF50s will be acceptedNarrative responses to the knowledge - skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointmentVeterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.