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. 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.

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
• Education
• A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university
• NOTE: The Supervisory CLS (Laboratory Director) - GS-15 - requires unique education requirements
• Please reference the education requirements located in that assignment below
• Certification
• 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)
• Exception for Non-Certified
• Applicants who do not currently hold valid certification may be hired by VA and actively work toward their certification if they meet one of the routes identified in Appendix A that makes them eligible to take the MLS certification exam through the ASCP BOC or the MLS certification exam through AMT Certification Agency
• Non-Certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for licensure may be given a temporary appointment CLS under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)
• Non-Certified individuals may only provide care under the supervision of a certified CLS at or above the FPL
• Non-certified individuals may only be appointed at the entry level and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained
• Temporary appointments of non-certified CLS may not be extended beyond 2 years or be converted to a new temporary appointment
• Failure to Obtain Certification
• In all cases - CLSs must actively work to meet requirements for certification starting from the date of their placement into the occupation
• At the time of appointment - the Human Resources (HR) Office staff - in collaboration with the supervisor - will provide the employee with the written requirements for certification - including the time by which the certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming certified by the deadline
• Failure to obtain certification during this time period may result in separation from employment
• Loss of Credential
• If an employee fails to maintain the required certification - management officials - in collaboration with HR Office staff - must immediately remove the employee from duties and responsibilities associated with this occupation
• This may also result in separation from employment
• If a CLS currently has - or ever had - their CLS certification revoked - suspended - denied - restricted - limited - or issued/placed in a probationary status - HR Office staff must appoint them according to the provisions in VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Chapter 3 - Section B - paragraph 16
• Grandfathering Provision
• Employees in VHA in this occupation under a permanent - appropriate - and legal placement on the effective date of this qualification standard - are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade and/or assignment held - including positive education and certification where applicable
• English Language Proficiency
• Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403 (f)
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - candidates must meet the following grade-determining criteria for placement at grade levels specified
• Clinical Laboratory Scientist - GS-07
• Experience
• None beyond the basic requirements
• Assignment
• Employee at this level serves in a CLS entry-level position
• It is expected that they receive guidance from more experienced staff members and require daily direct supervision
• Clinical Laboratory Scientist - GS-09
• Experience or Education
• Candidates at this level must meet one of the criteria below: (a) Experience
• 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade
• OR Education
• Master's degree or 2 academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education in medical technology or a directly related science
• Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience or education above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: a) Knowledge of policies and procedures of clinical laboratory testing
• (b) Knowledge of laboratory quality control and quality assurance principles
• (c) Knowledge of laboratory equipment and routine maintenance
• (d) Ability to work as a team member and effectively complete assignments
• (e) Ability to read and interpret written instructions
• (f) Ability to accurately perform pre-analytical - analytical - and post-analytical phases of testing
• Clinical Laboratory Scientist - GS-11 Experience or Education Candidates at this level must meet one of the criteria below: Experience
• 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.OR Education
• Must have 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
• Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience or education above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of professional clinical laboratory science principles - practices - concepts - and theories that support sound - independent work
• (b) Knowledge of laboratory quality control and quality assurance procedures and principles of performance improvement
• (c) Skill in informatics - laboratory data flow - and laboratory processes
• (d) Ability to maintain - troubleshoot - and repair instrumentation
• (e) Ability to use independent technical judgment to analyze and interpret laboratory results
• (f) Ability to read - interpret - and apply complex written instructions
• (g) Ability to communicate - consult - and interact with other members of the health care team - external relations - customer service - and patient education
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS7 to GS-11
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The duties of this position include but are not limited to: Independently performs a broad range of laboratory procedures including day-to-day operations of testing and tasks within the Clinical Laboratory Scientist occupation
• The CLS develops - performs - evaluates - interprets - correlates - and validates the accuracy of laboratory procedures and results in line with current laboratory regulatory requirements
• The work performed may be in a variety of laboratory specialties such as chemistry - microbiology - immunology - hematology - and immunohematology
• Testing procedures are performed on a variety of biological specimens and/or environmental samples using manual or automated methods
• In addition to routine testing - the CLS conducts quality control and routine maintenance of instrumentation and troubleshooting
• They perform advanced and complex laboratory procedures - recognizes deviation from expected results - and analyzes and corrects problems using scientific principles
• The CLS correlates abnormal lab data with pathological states - determines the validity of test results - and the need for additional tests
• They recognize and communicate pre-defined critical results affecting patient care
• Maintains and documents the optimal functioning of laboratory equipment
• Uses - calibrates - identifies malfunctions - repairs - and performs preventive maintenance of laboratory equipment
• Diagnoses deviations in test performance due to instrument malfunction
• Documents quality control and quality assurance activities and corrective actions related to test performance using statistical principles and theories of performance improvement
• Adheres to practices and regulations governing biosafety and biosecurity in the workplace
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 0730-1600 may include weekends - holidays or evenings as needed Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorizied Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more 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 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) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized This is a possible driving position
• You must have a current - non-restricted driver's license to apply