SUPERVISORY 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 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 *** This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until December 28th - 2026. The initial cutoff date for referral of eligible applications will be November 16th - 2026. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as needed basis until positions are filled. *** 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: MTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2 - section D - paragraph 5a - this partEducation and/or Experience Combination A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university in medical laboratory science - medical technology - clinical laboratory science or in a related science (e.g. - laboratory sciences such as chemistry - biochemistry - biology - microbiology - immunology - etc.)AND Completion of a medical technology clinical practice programClinical practice programs completed after 1974 must have been accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) - Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP - formerly CAHEA) - or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)The professional curriculum may have consisted of a post-baccalaureate certificate program or be integrated into a four year program of study that culminated in a baccalaureate degreeOR A bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university - including 16 semester hours of biological science (with one course in microbiology) - 16 semester hours of chemistry (with one course inorganic or biochemistry) and one course in mathematicsAND Two years of post-certification clinical laboratory experience (e.g. - blood banking - chemistry - hematology - microbiology - immunology - clinical microscopy - etc.) within the last ten years as a certified Medical Laboratory Technician by the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification(ASCP-BOC) - American Society of Clinical Pathology Board of Registry (ASCP-BOR) or American Medical Technologists (AMT)This experience must include performing moderate and/or high complexity testing in blood banking - chemistry - hematology - microbiology immunology and clinical microscopy (or categorical experience which matches categorical certification) in a clinical laboratoryOR A bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university - including 16 semester hours of biological science (with one course in microbiology) - 16 semester hours of chemistry (with one course inorganic or biochemistry) and one course in mathematicsAND Five years of clinical laboratory experience within the last ten years performing moderate and/or high complexity testing in blood banking - chemistry - hematology - microbiology - immunology and clinical microscopy (or categorical experience which matches categorical certification) in a clinical laboratoryOR Foreign GraduatesGraduates of foreign baccalaureate degree programs meet the educational and/or experience requirements if the degree is found to be equivalent to degree programs recognized by the NAACLS or clinical laboratory experience as described in paragraph 2b(2) or (3) aboveThis finding may be based on either of the following: A letter from a college or university with a baccalaureate program recognized by the NAACLS stating that the individual's foreign degree has been evaluated and been found to be equivalent to its bachelor of medical technology degreeA letter from ASCP-BOC or AMT stating that the individual is eligible for the certification examinationCertification Candidates must have either (1) or (2) below: (1) Candidates must currently possess the appropriate 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(2) For positions up to the full performance level - candidates must currently possess the categorical or specialist technologist level certification from the certification agencies listed above - such as - but not limited to - chemistry (C/SC) - hematology (H/SH) - microbiology (M/SM) - molecular biology (MB/SMB)and blood bank (BB/SBB)Technologists with categorical or specialist certifications may only perform duties within the area of the laboratory specific to their categorical certification (eg. - an individual with a chemistry (C) certification can only perform duties in chemistry)Grade Determinations: Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist - GS-12Experience1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level is required for all GS-12 assignmentsAnd Knowledge - Skills - and AbilitiesIn 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 budgetReference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/Physical Requirements: The incumbent must be able to perform moderate lifting up to 45 lbs. - straight pulling - pushing - reaching above the shoulder - use of fingers and both hands - walking - standing for up to 4 hours - kneeling - repeated bending - use of both arms and legsSpecific visual requirements include use of both eyes - depth perception - ability to distinguish colors and shades of colors - hearing (aids permitted) - clear - high cognitive function and emotional stabilityability to read ordinary type without strain. Duties Required to know all Federal and state laws and regulations and laboratory accrediting agency regulatory requirements sufficient to develop plans and procedures for the laboratoryRequired to know all laboratory quality management procedures and principles sufficient to establish and monitor a laboratory quality management program and/or the education and training of laboratory staffRequired to know all concepts - principles - and methods of clinical laboratory technology and operationsPerforms the full range of supervisory duties - which includes responsibility for assignment of work - performance evaluations - selection of staff - recommendation of awards - advancements - and disciplinary actionsPlans - organizes - sets short and/or long-term goals - and conducts studies on technical and administrative problems including personnel shortages - organizational structure - and new technologyManages fiscal matters - forecast resources and equipment needs - and administer the allocated budgetDetermines staffing needs and projections and prepares staffing request to the appropriate committeesRecommends improvements in the overall efficiency and functioning of P&LMS and identifies ways to improve service deliveryInterviews candidates for positions in P&LMS and selects for appointmentsProvides first line supervision for GS-11 scientists and below - including health and/or medical techniciansGives advice - counsel and instructions to lab staff on both work and administrative mattersSchedule and facilitates monthly meetings for the above staff to encourage communication and coordination with the serviceRecommends awards or bonuses for supervised staff and changes in position classification - subject to approval by the Chief - P&LMSCounsels and resolves complaints from employees - individuals or groupsAssures that all laboratory personnel demonstrate understanding of policies and procedures for handling and reporting of workplace violenceEnsures training needs of employees such as orientation training for all lab employees and competency re-training or trainingAdvises the Laboratory Manager and/or Chief of P&LMS on problems that affect other service and the impact it may have on themActs as a consultant to the Laboratory manager and/or Chief - P&LMS regarding management decisions that may affect service functionProvides assistance to Education Coordinator and the outpatient clinics interacting with nursing and CBOC staff to ensure that all necessary documentation is available for all pertinent activitiesVisits the outpatient clinics periodically to make qualitative evaluations of laboratory services and to determine adequacy of equipment - personnelProvides appropriate understanding of laboratory operations and appropriate accommodations are made as necessary to accomplish the missionKeeps abreast of new technology in instrumentation and justifies expenditures for purchase or lease of major pieces of equipment which can reduce the overall operating costsActs as committee representative - facilitating consolidated instrument and supply selection and procurement of CPRR contractsActs as point of contact for contracts providing fiscal oversight and feedback to VISN contracting officials when problems ariseAssists in supply inventory oversight and maintains proficiency in purchasing for department supplies - executing orders as neededIncumbent provides fill-in coverage for the Lab Manager in their absence - coordinating leave requests with them and committing adequate time and study to any fill-in requirements for that intervalOversees rotation - scheduling - and adequacy of technical hours in all departmentsIn conjunction with the Education Coordinator - oversees initial training of technical staff members by making the rotating department assignments - monitoring competency testing - and assuring complete documentation for initial training fileIn conjunction with the Quality Manager - applies quality management performance improvement principles - methodology - and processes to develop and manage a clinical laboratory quality management programAssists in shift-to-shift communication on weekdays - updating the arriving evening staff of any technical and staffing problems for that next shiftWork Schedule: Monday-Friday8:30am-5:00pm or dependent on service needs Telework: Ad-Hoc Telework may be approvedVirtual: This is not a virtual positionFunctional Statement #: 60646A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentiveContact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistanceLearn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized