Clinical Lab Scientist (Education Coordinator)

Veterans Health Administration; Salisbury (NC); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Veterans Health Administration in Salisbury, NC, seeks a Clinical Laboratory Scientist (Education Coordinator) at GS-12 to lead and support education programs for students and staff within the medical laboratory. The role emphasizes knowledge of training methods, accreditation requirements, and educational design to enhance teaching effectiveness.

Candidates must meet basic requirements including U.S. citizenship, English proficiency, a bachelor's degree, and applicable MLS/MT

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
• Certification options: MLS Generalist or MT Generalist (ASCP BOC or AMT), or ASCP/AMT categorical or specialist.
• Foreign education may be credentialed as NAACLS-equivalent or via ASCP BOC/AMT certification eligibility.
• Grandfathering provision may apply per VA standards.

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.

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.