Clinical Lab Scientist (Ancillary Testing Coordinator)

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; New Orleans (LA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in New Orleans seeks a Clinical Laboratory Scientist (Ancillary Testing Coordinator) at GS-12. The role provides oversight for testing outside the core lab, ensuring quality control, proficiency testing, and compliance with federal standards.

Leadership in ancillary testing and collaboration with LIS is required. Preferred candidates hold a bachelor's degree in Medical Technology/MLS with ASCP certification and have experience with Point of Care/DLI

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Medical Technology, MLS, or equivalent.
• ASCP MT/MLS certification or eligible and able to obtain.
• Experience in clinical laboratory oversight and accreditation.

Responsibilities

• Provide oversight for testing programs outside the core lab.
• Ensure quality control, proficiency testing, and regulatory compliance.
• Lead ancillary testing operations and coordinate with LIS.

Skills

Medical technology concepts

Quality assurance

Laboratory information systems

LEAN / Process improvement

Education

Bachelor's degree in Medical Technology / MLS

ASCP MT(ASCP) or MLS(ASCP) certification

Tools

VistA

LEDI interfaces

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.

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.
• Education: A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
  • Certification: (1) 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 AM
    • (c) Categorical certification or Specialist certification by ASCP or AMT.

Grandfathering Provision

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. (1) Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or be changed to a lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or newly placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
2. (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. (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. (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. (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.

Grade Determinations

Clinical Laboratory Scientist (Ancillary Testing Coordinator), GS-12

Experience.

1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower 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:

1. (A) Knowledge of medical technology concepts, principles, practices, and methodologies sufficient to perform full oversight and guidance for testing programs outside of the laboratory.
2. (B) Knowledge of mathematics and statistics as related to quality control, quality assurance, proficiency testing, inspection and accreditation, and continuous quality improvement.
3. (C) Knowledge of Federal, state, and VHA laws, regulations, reference standards, and certifying or accrediting agency requirements to carry out work in each ancillary testing site.
4. (D) Knowledge of laboratory information technology systems and interconnectivity.
5. (E) Skill in applying new scientific/technological developments and theories to laboratory testing.
6. (F) Ability to evaluate, interpret, and teach others to use quality control procedures and implement corrective actions.

Preferred Experience:

• The ideal candidate will have a bachelor's degree in Medical Technology, Clinical Laboratory Science, or Medical Laboratory Science, as well as ASCP certification: MT(ASCP) or MLS(ASCP).
• The candidate should have an extensive background in Point of Care testing and a 2 to 3 years of experience implementing and managing a Point of Care testing program for a hospital with outlying clinics, along with knowledge of accrediting agencies and regulatory requirements.
• Knowledge of LIS connectivity with Point of Care testing systems is also desirable.
• In addition, it is preferred that the incumbent has at least two years of experience in a leadership role, with employee development and training in ancillary testing.
• The ideal candidate would also have 2 to 3 years experience as a Laboratory Information manager (LIM) and the incumbent should have experience working with VistA, building and maintaining Laboratory Electronic Data Interchange (LEDI) interfaces with VA and Commercial Reference Labs, implementing and maintaining coding and mapping for laboratory test ordering, reporting, billing and workload recording systems, (DSS, LMIP, LOINC and VBECS), SQL Searches, and developing practices that provide efficient and effective processes in laboratory data management procedures incorporating Performance Improvement Principles, such as LEAN.

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-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-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:

Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; 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.