Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist

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: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• Education: Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university
• Certification: 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
• 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)
• May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria)

Grade Determinations

• GS-12: Experience - 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11) is required for all GS-12 assignments
• Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
• (a) Knowledge of Federal and state laws and regulations and laboratory accrediting agency regulatory requirements sufficient to develop plans and procedures for the laboratory
• (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) Knowledge of concepts, principles, and methods of clinical laboratory technology and operations
• (d) Skill in applying leadership principles such as interpersonal relations and conflict resolution
• (e) Ability to perform the full range of supervisory duties, which includes responsibility for assignment of work, performance evaluations, selection of staff, recommendation of awards, advancements, and disciplinary actions
• (f) Ability to plan, organize, set short and/or long-term goals, and conduct studies on technical and administrative problems including personnel shortages, organizational structure, and new technology
• (g) Ability to manage fiscal matters, forecast resource and equipment needs, and administer the allocated budget
• Preferred Experience: Significant experience working in a hospital Blood Bank/Transfusion Services is preferred
• Certification as a Medical Technologist/Clinical Laboratory Scientist (e.g., ASCP, AMT, or equivalent) is required

Duties

Provides oversight and operational management for Blood Bank within the Pathology and Laboratory Service Line

Provides administrative and technical supervision and performs major duties above those at the Full Performance Level (FPL) that consist of significant scope, complexity, difficulty, and variety

Exercises a full range of supervisory responsibilities in planning, directing, and assessing work of subordinate staff

Recommends appointments, awards, advancement, and disciplinary actions

Plans and assigns work based on priorities, requirements of assignments, and abilities of employees

Provides advice and counsel and evaluates work of subordinates

Ensures compliance with accrediting agencies and regulatory requirements

Establishes and monitors the quality of pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical processes

Initiates corrective actions as needed as part of the overall laboratory quality management program

Plans management program

Plans and executes performance and quality improvement projects

Verifies orientation, training, and competency assessment of assigned staff and develops and updates technical policies and procedure manuals

Ensures all staff and affiliate staff comply with accrediting and regulating bodies

Adjusts staffing levels or work procedures to accommodate resource allocation decisions made at the executive level

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 execution

Interacts with administrative and clinical onsite personnel and exercises significant independent decision-making authority

Maintains effective interdisciplinary and interprofessional relations with other services to accomplish medical center goals

Implements and monitors quality management activities, including proficiency testing by an external source (e.g., CAP)

Maintains standard operating procedures for assigned specialties in accordance with standards directed by applicable accrediting agencies

Oversees education of Medical Laboratory Technician, Clinical Laboratory Science, and Phlebotomy students within assigned area of the laboratory

The supervisor works off-hour shifts, weekends, and holidays as priorities demonstrate a need

Works as a team member to provide back-up support for timekeeping as needed for continuity of operations