Summary

The Fredericksburg VA Health Care System has an immediate opening for (1) Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist to work within the Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service.

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)
• 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).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
• Exception for Non-Certified.(a) Applicants who do not currently hold valid certification may be hired by VA and actively work toward their certification if they meet one of 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.(b) 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).(c) Non-Certified individuals may only provide care under the supervision of a certified CLS at or above the FPL.(d) Non-certified individuals may only be appointed at the entry level and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained.(e)Temporary appointments of non-certified CLS may not be extended beyond 2 years or be converted to a new temporary appointment
• 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)
• Grade Determinations: Experience
• 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11) is required for all GS-12 assignments
• Assignment
• A CLS at this level independently carries out the day-to-day operations in the laboratory
• The CLS develops - performs - evaluates - interprets - correlates - and validates the accuracy of laboratory procedures and results in line with current laboratory regulatory requirements
• The work performed may be in a variety of laboratory specialties such as chemistry - microbiology - immunology - hematology - and immunohematology
• 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 CLS 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
• This assignment may include limited duties in areas such as lab information management and ancillary testing
• These tasks require a broad exercise of independent judgment and responsibility - including organizing and setting priorities with minimal technical supervision
• The CLS assesses a situation - considers the options - and formulates an appropriate course of action
• This assignment includes monitoring quality control systems and measures - collaborating in the diagnosis and treatment of patients - and providing education for laboratory health care professionals and the public in a professional - courteous - and effective manner
• Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist - GS-0644-12 i
• 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
• Assignment
• For all lead assignments - the individual must spend at least 25% or more of their time performing lead duties over staff one grade level below
• The Lead CLS communicates the organization's strategic plan - mission - vision - and values
• The Lead CLS identifies - distributes - balances work - coaches - and facilitates with problem solving methods
• The Lead CLS prepares reports and maintains records of work status
• resolves simple - informal complaints
• reports performance - progress - and training needs of the team and on behavioral problems
• and provides information on promotions - reassignment - recognition of outstanding performance - and personnel needs
• The Lead CLS is responsible for all aspects of operation in their area of specialty - including assignment of work responsibilities - workload management - and completion of assignments for staff at or above the FPL as well as preparation and maintenance of records and reports - analysis of testing methodologies - training - instrumentation - and compliance
• The Lead CLS may act as a liaison to the supervisor and other departments/divisions of the medical center for the appropriate laboratory specialty
• Duties may include - but are not limited to - orientation and evaluating the competency of assigned staff including identification of continuing education and training needs - coordinating daily activity of the lab section(s) - writing or modifying technical procedures - providing technical instruction - ensuring that policies - procedures and regulatory requirements are followed - advising on course of action to follow when results or samples obtained are unacceptable - and coordinating or performing quality control reviews and method verification activities
• Preferred Experience: Microbiology Processing Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-12
• Physical Requirements: Light Lifting (under 15 pounds)
• Light Carrying (under 15 pounds)
• use of fingers
• Both hands required for fine-manipulation and simple grasping
• walking (up to 8 hours)
• standing (up to8 hours)
• sitting (up to 8 hours)
• near vision correctable at 13" to 16"
• both eyes required
• depth perception
• ability to distinguish shades of color.

Duties

• Medical Technologist: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Medical-Technologist-Career-Flyer.pdf 1
• Facilitates team or department processes by working in collaboration with team members or employees to ensure that tasks are completed and team priorities - goals - needs and achievements are coordinated with management
• Acts as a liaison between the team members and the supervisor
• 2
• Independently prepares reports - maintains records - administrative information and presents work related information to supervisor
• Performs mid-cycle inspection guidelines - verification of reference ranges - quality control or reagent lot to lot documentation - writing or modifying technical procedures and inventory management
• 3
• Develops and oversees training strategies on the method verifications and technical instructions of the laboratory
• Provides education in a professional - courteous - and effective manner
• Documents competency of assigned staff including identification of continuing education and training needs
• 4
• Ensures compliance with rules and regulations of assorted regulatory agencies such as CAP - TJC - and OSHA
• Department liaison during active regulatory agency inspections
• Coordinates Quality Control activities with the Supervisor
• 5
• Independently creates - applies - and monitors reengineering and continuous performance improvement initiatives - both within the program and/or the organization
• Acts as liaison to other departments of the medical center for the department
• 6
• Plans and schedules on-going work
• Independently adjusts staffing levels or work procedures for achieving work goals - objectives - and management strategies
• Organizes and sets priorities with minimal technical supervision
• 7
• Performs payroll timekeeper duties for the time and leave group(s)
• Independently coordinates with payroll regarding unusual employee time and leave occurrences and information is relayed to supervisor
• 8
• Resolves simple - informal customer complaints
• Coaches and facilitates with problem solving methods
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 8:00a.m
• to 4:30 p.m
• Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized