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

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

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
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. §
• 7403 (f) Education: A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university
• 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 below automatically determines the foreign education as creditable and no further documentation or proof of equivalency is needed
• 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)
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements
• 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 Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements above, applicants must meet the following grade requirements
• GS-13 Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist (1) General
• For all GS-13 assignments above the FPL, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety, and be performed by the CLS at least 25% of the time
• Candidates at this grade level are in one of the following assignments
• (2) Experience
• 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level is required for all GS-13 assignments
• (a) Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist, GS-13
• i The CLS has full supervisory responsibility in a laboratory where at least three of the five following conditions are met outlined below in (A) - (E)
• (A) Lab is a complexity level index group 1 or 2 based on the Hospital Complexity Level as designated in Office of Productivity, Efficiency, and Staffing (OPES) VHA Facility Complexity Model History
• (B) The laboratory performs at least one million standard billable tests annually (as reported to the Laboratory Management Index Program)
• (C) The CLS supervises a staff of non-supervisory personnel including at least one GS-12 subordinate
• (D) Lack of on-site pathologist
• (E) Oversight of more than one laboratory specialty
• Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist, GS-13
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (A) 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
• (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) Skill in interpersonal relations and conflict resolution
• (D) 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
• (E) Ability to analyze organizational, technical, and administrative problems to develop and implement solutions that result in efficient laboratory operation
• (F) Ability to manage fiscal matters, forecast resource and equipment needs, and administer the allocated budget
• (G) 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: At least 3 years progressively increasing experience in microbiology
• 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 GS-13
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.

Duties

• This position is located in the Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service of the Albany VA Medical Center in Albany, NY
• This Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Technologist provides supervision of the Microbiology Department in a 1C laboratory with over 1 million Standard Billable Tests Annually
• The employee in this assignment will perform the full range of supervisory duties including responsibility for assignment of work performed, performance evaluations, recommendations for appointment, awards, advancements and disciplinary actions, identification of continuing education/training and department equipment/supply needs
• The individual ensures compliance with accrediting agency and regulatory requirements, establishes and monitors the quality of the pre-analytical processes as part of the overall microbiology department's quality management program, and initiates corrective action
• This individual will develop policies and procedures, manage document control, and help develop performance standards, position descriptions and functional statement
• This individual will be responsible for professional and administrative management of the microbiology, histology, and cytology areas
• This individual will maintain effective interdepartmental relations with other services to accomplish medical center goals
• The incumbent has full supervisory responsibilities, performing the full range of supervisory administrative duties for the Microbiology laboratory including but not limited to the following: - Recommends appointment, plans and assigns work, provides advice and counsel and evaluates work of subordinates
• The supervisor is responsible for monitoring test analyses and specimen examinations to ensure acceptable levels of performance and initiate corrective action
• Verifies orientation, training and competency assessment of assigned staff
• - Administrative supervisor in charge of the Microbiology Department
• - Supervisors will help define process quality issues, measure current process performance, analyze root cause defects, and will help develop targeted process improvement opportunities
• - Works in conjunction with leadership to eliminate waste and variation while increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of laboratory and hospital operations
• - Oversees all vendor contracts for Microbiology department instruments as well as all vendor contracts for reference laboratory testing
• - Ensures laboratory tests and procedures are consistent with accrediting agency standards and requirements
• - Recommends policy/protocol changes to correct deficiencies and improve the program
• - Maintains an adequate supply of reagents and supplies for use in these areas within the department while meeting budgetary needs
• - Ensures instrumentation, reagents, supplies, instruments, and the laboratory environment are maintained at the appropriate temperature, humidity, and atmosphere as applicable and appropriate
• Knows how to address alerts and document out-of-range parameters using the facility's temperature monitoring computer program
• Understands the laboratory's contingency plan and the need to inform the supervisor or designee of any issues
• Submit work orders as needed
• - Works as a Medical Technologist on days and weekend/holiday rotations as needed
• Work Schedule: 8:00am-4:30pm, rotating weekends and holidays 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 VISN2EDRPCoordinators@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 #: 11956-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized