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
• 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
• 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)
• 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
• 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)
• 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
• For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements of this standard but met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed, the following provisions apply: (1) Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or be changed to a lower grade within the 5 occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or newly placed in supervisory or managerial positions
• (2) If an assignment above the FPL requires an additional certification over and above the basic requirements, employees must meet the assignment-specific requirement before they can be promoted
• (3) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard
• (4) Employees retained in this occupation under this provision who subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation
• (5) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain certification that meets all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation
• NOTE: This provision is not intended to regularize appointments/ placements
• 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-11
• (1) 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 level
• OR (b) 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
• (2) 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 GS-11
• 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
• Work Environment: The work is performed in pathology and laboratory medicine service where there is risk of exposure to contagious disease, carcinogenic materials, caustic reagents, noxious fumes, and flammable liquids
• The work environment is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated
• The incumbent 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
• The work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.

Duties

• This position serves as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) in the Microbiology section of the Clinical Laboratory of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service (P&LM) at the James J
• Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY
• Major duties are but not limited to: Independently carries out the day-to-day operations in the microbiology (bacteriology, mycobacteriology mycology, virology parasitology serology immunology and molecular diagnostics) laboratory
• The incumbent develops, performs, evaluates, interprets, correlates, and validates the accuracy of laboratory procedures and results in line with current laboratory regulatory requirements
• 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
• The incumbent correlates abnormal lab data with pathological states, determines the validity of test results, and the need for additional tests
• Specific targeted laboratory responsibilities or projects may include laboratory safety officer, analyzer specialist, primary operator on new test systems, quality control specialist, supply control, and/or coordinator for the laboratory competency assessment or proficiency/survey program
• The incumbent assesses a situation, considers the options, and formulates an appropriate course of action
• The incumbent monitors quality control systems and measures, collaborates in the diagnosis and treatment of patients, and provides education for laboratory health care professionals and the public in a professional, courteous, and effective manner
• Determine proper collection and timely submission of specimens
• Accession and inoculate specimens onto appropriate culture media and incubates cultures for proper identification
• able to evaluate results of same according to establish protocol
• Prepares smears and stains them with appropriate staining method
• Must be able to identify microscopic structures, recognize pathogenic microorganisms and report results
• Examines incubated media, must be able to recognize colony morphology and properly isolate pathogens from normal bacterial flora
• Perform antibiotic sensitivity testing as necessary according to established protocol
• Perform parasitology specimen preparation and identification
• Process mycobacteriology specimen concentrations, slide prep., staining, I.D., and susceptibilities
• Perform mycology slide preparation, staining and identification
• Perform quality control procedures on culture media
• Analyze and interpret test and control data evaluations according to Manufacturer and regulatory guidelines
• Report results to physicians expediently (e.g
• STAT Gram Stains, positive blood, and body fluid smears and cultures)
• Instruct medical laboratory technology students, medical students and/or resident physicians in principles and skills in microbiology
• Other duties as assigned
• Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf CLS (formally Medical Technologist): vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Medical-Technologist-Career-Flyer.pdf Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm, with alternate 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 #: PD12162F