Lead Clinical Lab Scientist - Microbiology

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. 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. 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.

Grade Determinations: Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist, GS-12. Experience. 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower GS 11 grade level 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 medical technology applicable to a wide range of duties to solve complex problems involving diverse aspects of clinical laboratory practice.

(B)Skill to maintain, troubleshoot, and repair laboratory instrumentation.

(C)Ability to develop procedures for new tests, and modify existing procedures and methods to resolve problems relative to complex and difficult situations.( D)Ability to manage and coordinate daily work activities and assignments in a section.

(E)Ability to provide or coordinate staff development and training.

(F)Ability to provide guidance and technical direction to a wide variety of individuals including physicians, nurses, and other clinical staff regarding technical aspects of testing, specimen requirements and results.

Preferred Experience: Experienced in clinical microbiology, including proficiency with culture interpretation, organism identification, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is 12 Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position.

May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, puling, and pushing.

May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.

Work Environment: The work involves regular and recurring exposure to potentially irritating and volatile organic solutions and infections materials.

Adherence to safety and universal precautions and use of protective gear such as laboratory coats, fume hoods, safety goggles and gloves are required to reduce occupational risk factors.

Work is performed in a laboratory setting; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated.

However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations. Major Duties:

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties include but not limited to: The Lead Clinical Scientist has advanced knowledge of testing techniques and advanced problem-solving capabilities and acts as a resource for other technologists.

Incumbent has in-depth knowledge of all Microbiology and Serology policies and procedures and the specimen collection and processing of the specimens from this area.

The incumbent therefore provides specialized information to technologists and phlebotomists as needed.

The lead Technologist has the ability to perform all quality control procedures, generate reports, review and interpret test results and review the work of all technologists on all shifts who perform testing in Microbiology and Serology.

Incumbent, along with the section supervisor, is responsible for proficiency testing performed for all areas within the Microbiology and Serology sections including the reporting of the data.

The incumbent works with the section supervisor to ensure final data is completed and sent in by the appropriate deadlines after appropriate review.

The incumbent is familiar with quality improvement procedures, reports and records within the section.

Will provide appropriate reports and/or data to the section supervisor and when requested attend service quality improvement meetings.

Incumbent will keep supervisor informed concerning all reports and pertinent data directly related to the section.

Incumbent is familiar with the standards and regulation of, CAP (College of American Pathologists), and Joint Commission and applies these guidelines to the section practices and procedures.

The Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist has in depth knowledge of the VA computer system.

The incumbent generates monthly, quarterly, and yearly reports using the computer system when required; will review all reports for accuracy; serves as a resource for other technologists in regards to computer data entry and other computer options specific for the section; reviews daily worksheets and patient records for accuracy; verifies abnormal data; corrects data entry errors as required; generates informational and statistical reports using the VA computer system; and is familiar with record keeping requirement, record storage and information retrieval.

The incumbent assists the supervisor in the maintenance of control records for the department including those for reagents and equipment.

Reviews daily quality control and reports any discrepancies to the supervisor. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm. Subject to change based on needs of the service.

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 Jennifer.Isbell-Gross@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: ad hoc available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 564-00869-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): not authorized