Clinical Lab Scientist Specialist

Full Job Description

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.

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. Certification. (1) Candidates must meet one of the certification options below.

(a) Generalist certification as an MLS given by ASCP BOC or AMT. OR (b) Generalist certification as an MT given by ASCP BOR or AMT.

OR (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).

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 Grandfathering Provision.

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).

NOTE: This provision is not intended to regularize appointments/ placements. Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S.

must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials.

Graduates of foreign baccalaureate degree programs meet the educational requirements if they meet either of the following: (1) Foreign transcripts are evaluated by an acceptable evaluation agency, and the degree is found to be equivalent to a NAACLS-approved U.S.

clinical laboratory science degree program. OR (2) The applicant submits a letter from ASCP BOC or AMT stating the individual is eligible to take the certification examination.

NOTE: Possession of a certification identified in 4c above automatically determines the foreign education as creditable and no further documentation or proof of equivalency is needed.

Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements 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-12.

(1) Experience: Candidates at this level must meet one of the criteria below: (a) Experience.

1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade levels required for all GS-12 assignments.

Clinical Laboratory Scientist (Technical Specialist), GS-12 Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.

In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge and understanding of concepts, principles, methodology of medical laboratory technology, regulatory and accrediting agency requirements, medico-legal requirements, and pertinent statistics sufficient to perform complex diagnostic tests (b) Knowledge of instructional techniques to instruct newly hired clinical laboratory scientists and clinical pathology residents in proper performance of tests and applications of laboratory procedures.

(c) Knowledge of one or more advanced clinical laboratory functions.

(d) Skill to apply new scientific/technical developments to develop procedures for new tests and modify existing procedures and methods to resolve problems relative to complex and difficult situations.

(e) Ability to provide guidance and technical direction to accomplish the work of a clinical laboratory..

(f) .Ability to provide guidance and technical direction to accomplish the work of the specific laboratory section. Assignment.

The CLS serves as a Technical Specialist CLS, providing expert authoritative advice and consultation for more markedly difficult, complex, unique and/or emerging tests that require special knowledge.

Examples include, but are not limited to, molecular pathology, gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy, and flow cytometry.

The CLS advises all organizational levels on various aspects of specialized testing, including appropriateness that takes into consideration clinical context.

The CLS advises on alternate testing to overcome ambiguities in the clinical diagnoses and analyzes emerging trends and technology to adopt appropriate methods and testing.

The CLS develops policies, precedents, regulatory, licensing, and accrediting requirements to establish, monitor, and maintain the specialized testing.

The CLS assumes responsibility for training and competency assessment of staff and students within the area assigned.

The technical specialist often works independently and is given freedom of action under the general guidance of a pathologist or other laboratory practitioner.

Preferred Experience: Minimum of five years' experience in Blood Bank Minimum of one year experience in Flow Cytometry Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS12.

The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS12 Physical Requirements: The work involves regular and recurring physical exertion, such as standing for long periods of time, use of microscopes, some lifting loading and unloading reagent packs, sitting at desk, counter, or bench top with operations of the computer terminals, telephones, and various workstations associated with the respective instrumentations in use.- Is required to follow special safety precautions (Standard Precautions) in the laboratory at all times where the risk of exposure to contagious disease, carcinogenic materials, caustic reagents, noxious fumes, and flammable liquids.

- Is required to use personal protective equipment or gear, such as laboratory coats, aprons, gloves safety goggles, face shields, chemical fume, and biological hoods, and adopt sterile techniques in the daily work environment.

Major Duties:

The James J. Peters VAMC is currently recruiting for 1 Full Time Clinical Laboratory Scientist Specialist (CLS) for Pathology and Laboratory Medical Service.

Duties include but are not limited to: The CLS serves as a Technical Specialist CLS, providing expert authoritative advice and consultation for more markedly difficult, complex, unique and/or emerging tests that require special knowledge.

Examples include, but are not limited to, molecular pathology, gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy, and flow cytometry.

The CLS advises all organizational levels on various aspects of specialized testing, including appropriateness that takes into consideration clinical context.

The CLS advises on alternate testing to overcome ambiguities in the clinical diagnoses and analyzes emerging trends and technology to adopt appropriate methods and testing.

The CLS develops policies, precedents, regulatory, licensing, and accrediting requirements to establish, monitor, and maintain the specialized testing.

The CLS assumes responsibility for training and competency assessment of staff and students within the area assigned.

The technical specialist often works independently and is given freedom of action under the general guidance of a pathologist or other laboratory practitioner.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: 8am-4:30pm, rotating weekend and holidays Compressed/Flexible: Not available Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.

Contact VISN2CompensationTeam@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 #: 12283F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not authorized