Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist (Central Processing and Phlebotomy)

Full Job Description

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. Basic Requirements: Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.).

Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).

English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403 (f).

Certification: Candidates must meet one of the certification options below. Generalist certification as an MLS given by ASCP BOC or AMT. Generalist certification as an MT given by ASCP BOR or AMT.

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 4 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.

Education: A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university. Foreign Graduates: 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: 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 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.

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 Determination: GS-13 Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist Experience: 1 year of creditable experience at or equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12) is required for all GS-13 assignments.

Assignment: GS-13 Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist Assignment: The supervisory CLS 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 and establishes and monitors the quality of pre-analytical, analytical, and postanalytical processes, initiating corrective actions as needed as part of the overall laboratory quality 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.

The supervisory CLS ensures all staff and affiliate staff comply with accrediting and regulating bodies.

The supervisory CLS 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.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of Federal and state laws and regulations, laboratory accrediting, and regulatory requirements to develop new policies and guidelines, formulate plans, and judge effectiveness of the operation.

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.

Skill in interpersonal relations and conflict resolution.

Ability to provide the full range of supervisory duties, which includes responsibility for assignment of work to be performed, performance evaluations, selection of staff, recommendation of awards, advancements, and disciplinary actions.

Ability to analyze organizational, technical, and administrative problems to develop and implement solutions that result inefficient laboratory operation.

Ability to manage fiscal matters, forecast resource and equipment needs, and administer the allocated budget.

Ability to set short and/or long-term goals for the section and conduct studies on technical and administrative problems including personnel shortages, organizational structure, and new technology.

Preferred Experience: Previous leadership/supervisory experience with a minimum of 5 years of clinical laboratory experience.

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

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements. Major Duties:

This Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist is in the Pathology and Laboratory Service at the VA Medical Center, West Haven, CT campus. This position is a full-time at 40 hours per week.

GS-13 Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist Assignment: The supervisory CLS exercises a full range of supervisory responsibilities in planning, directing, and assessing work of subordinate staff.

The supervisory CLS recommends appointments, awards, advancement, and disciplinary actions.

The CLS plans and assigns work based on priorities, requirements of assignments, and abilities of employees; provides advice and counsel; and evaluates work of subordinates.

The supervisor ensures compliance with accrediting agencies and regulatory requirements and establishes and monitors the quality of pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical processes, initiating corrective actions as needed as part of the overall laboratory quality management program.

The supervisory CLS plans and executes performance and quality improvement projects.

The supervisory CLS verifies orientation, training, and competency assessment of assigned staff and develops and updates technical policies and procedure manuals.

The supervisory CLS ensures all staff and affiliate staff comply with accrediting and regulating bodies.

The supervisory CLS adjusts staffing levels or work procedures to accommodate resource allocation decisions made at the executive level.

This individual 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.

The supervisory CLS interacts with administrative and clinical onsite personnel and exercises significant independent decision-making authority.

The supervisory CLS maintains effective interdisciplinary and interprofessional relations with other services to accomplish medical center goals.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm (occasional weekends/holidays) Compressed/Flexible: May be authorized at supervisor discretion. 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 VISN1EDRPSupport@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases.

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 Authorized.

Financial Disclosure: Not required. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: PDF08025 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.

Notifications: This position is covered by a special salary rate. Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50 (Notice of Personnel Action).

The SF-50 must identify the position, title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (competitive or excepted).

In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held. Selectee will be required to complete additional forms to proceed with employment process.