Clinical Lab Scientist (Education Coordinator)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Salisbury (NC); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

EDRP Eligible

Annual leave & federal benefits

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Salisbury, NC seeks a Clinical Laboratory Scientist (Education Coordinator) at GS-12 to lead laboratory education programs, oversee competency assessment, and ensure compliance with CAP, JC, and OIG standards.

You will coordinate training for students and staff, develop teaching materials, maintain education records, and provide on-site instruction. Weekend coverage and essential personnel status apply; EDRP benefits may apply.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
• MLS/MT certification options through ASCP/AMT are acceptable.
• Knowledge of accreditation standards (JC/CAP/OIG) and training methods.
• Foreign education evaluation requirements and grandfathering provisions referenced.

Responsibilities

• The CLS acts as education coordinator for the laboratory and oversees competency assessment.
• Coordinate and administer clinical training programs for students and staff.
• Develop teaching materials and ongoing education activities with records to CAP requirements.
• Ensure facility compliance with accreditation standards and regulatory guidelines.
• Provide continuing education sessions and on-the-job demonstrations as needed.
• Support rotating weekend/holiday coverage and act as essential personnel.

Skills

Educational design

Staff training

Quality assurance

Regulatory compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Clinical Laboratory Science

Job description

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.

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
• NOTE: The Supervisory CLS (Laboratory Director) - GS-15 - requires unique education requirements
• Please reference the education requirements located in that assignment below
• 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)
• 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 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 Determinations: Clinical Laboratory Scientist (Education Coordinator) - GS-12
• Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of medical technology concepts - principles - and practices sufficient to support an educational program for students and continuing education programs for the staff
• Knowledge of the education program's affiliation agreements and accreditation requirements
• Knowledge of a particular specialty or function such as blood banking or molecular diagnostics - to be recognized as a technical authority for instruction
• Knowledge of training methods to conduct continuing education sessions for staff development
• The training sessions may be technical in nature or may focus on teaching techniques so that staff can improve their technical skills
• Skill in using educational design - development - evaluation techniques - and teaching methods
• 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
• Physical Requirements: Physical Requirements
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) A CLS 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
• This position serves as the Education Coordinator and oversees the laboratory competency assessment and quality assurance programs for the laboratory
• The CLS will coordinate and administer clinical training programs for medical technology students - facility staff - and others assigned for medical technology training - including formal in service and continuing education programs
• The CLS serves as a consultant - facilitator - trainer - and technical advisor to staff at all levels to ensure facility compliance with clinical laboratory accreditation and regulatory standards that include - but are not limited to - Joint Commission (JC) - College of American Pathologists (CAP) - and the Office of the Inspector General (OIG)
• The incumbent works rotating weekends and holidays and provides emergency coverage for other tours as scheduled or as priorities demonstrate a need
• The incumbent is considered essential personnel
• Duties include but are not limited to: The CLS acts as the clinical education coordinator responsible for organization of all educational activities and relationships with internal and external clinical laboratory educational programs
• The CLS may develop teaching materials - activities - and handouts for the course and participates in assessment - planning - implementation - and evaluation activities
• Manages education compliance in the VA training program (i.e. - TMS) for all Pathology and Laboratory staff in accordance with VA standards and ensures that current mandatory hours of continuing education - training modules and additional education hours required by facility are completed by assigned deadlines
• Develops - conducts and/or coordinates continuing education events using formats approved by laboratory management (i.e. - lunch & learn - vendor training - classroom - wet-testing - etc.) for all Pathology and Laboratory staff at least twice per year and maintains records of training in accordance with CAP requirements
• Assists Supervisory Medical Technologist in providing effective and professional training (including on-the-job demonstration) to medical technicians and medical technologists as needed
• Responsible for maintaining - updating - and reviewing the competency assessment procedures and forms as defined in the Laboratory Accreditation checklist
• The CLS serves as a consultant - facilitator - trainer - and technical advisor to staff at all levels to ensure facility compliance with clinical laboratory accreditation and regulatory standards that include - but are not limited to - Joint Commission (JC) - College of American Pathologists (CAP) - the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) - FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and AABB (American Association of Blood Banks)
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8am - 4:30pm with Rotating Weekends and Holidays Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact [e-mail] - 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
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized