Clinical Laboratory Scientist

US Military Treatment Facilities under DHA; Bethesda (MD); On-site; USD 68,000 - 97,000; Full time

Job summary

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD, is seeking a Clinical Laboratory Scientist to oversee quality assurance and testing within Blood Bank Services. The role requires a relevant degree and certification, with a focus on maintaining high-quality blood banking operations on a first-shift schedule.

The position is a Direct Hire Solicitation for US citizens, with exam-based credentials and potential ASCP/AMT certification preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or graduate degree with NAACLS accreditation or equivalent.
• Four-year course of study with medical technology coursework or last 1–2 years of a 4-year program.
• Certification/licensure as MT/MLS is a good indicator; ASCP/AMT preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee quality assurance and performance improvement in Blood Bank Service.
• Perform testing and interpret results in Blood Bank Service.
• Set up and monitor quality controls, quality metrics and performance standards for blood donor operations and blood product manufacturing.
• Assist with instructing laboratory personnel in Blood Banking principles and procedures.

Skills

Quality Assurance

Blood Bank

Test interpretation

Quality controls

Education

Bachelor's degree in biological sciences / MLS program

NAACLS-accredited program or equivalent

Job description

About the Position: This position is located within the Department of Pathology, Blood Bank Services and Quality Assurance within Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD.

First shift; flexible on duty hours.

This is a Direct Hire Solicitation Who May Apply: US Citizens

In order to qualify, you must meet the education and experience requirements described below. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document.

Basic Requirement for Clinical Laboratory Science:

• A. A Bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree from a regionally accredited college/university including courses in biological science, chemistry and mathematics, AND successful completion of a Medical Laboratory Scientist/Clinical Laboratory Scientist program accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) or an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained.
• B. At least a full 4-year course of study that included 12 months in a college or hospital-based medical technology program or medical technology school approved by a recognized accrediting organization. The professional medical technology curriculum may have consisted of a 1-year post- bachelor's certificate program or the last 1 or 2 years of a 4-year program of study culminating in a bachelor's in medical technology.
• C. A bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree from an accredited college/university that included 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) of biological science (with one semester in microbiology), 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) of chemistry (with one semester in organic or biochemistry), one semester (one quarter) of mathematics, AND five years of full time acceptable clinical laboratory experience in Blood Banking, Chemistry, Hematology, microbiology, Immunology and Urinalysis/Body Fluids. This combination of education and experience must have provided knowledge of the theories, principles, and practices of medical technology equivalent to that provided by the full 4-year course of study described in A or B above. All science and mathematics courses must have been acceptable for credit toward meeting the requirements for a science major at an accredited college or university. Acceptable experience is responsible professional or technician experience in a hospital laboratory, health agency, industrial medical laboratory, or pharmaceutical house; or teaching, test development, or medical research program experience that provided an understanding of the methods and techniques applied in performing professional clinical laboratory work. Certification/licensure as a medical technologist (generalist) obtained through written examination by a nationally recognized credentialing agency or State licensing body is a good indication that the quality of experience is acceptable.

Evaluation of Education and Experience:

The four major areas of clinical laboratory science are microbiology, clinical chemistry, hematology, and immunohematology (blood banking). Qualifying course work in these areas includes bacteriology, mycology, mycobacteriology, tissue culture, virology, parasitology, endocrinology, enzymology, toxicology, urinalysis, coagulation, hemostasis, cell morphology, immunology, serology, immunoserology, immuno-deficiency, hemolysis, histocompatibility, cyto-genetics, and similar disciplines or areas of laboratory practice. Related fields include physiology, anatomy, molecular biology, cell biology, embryology, pathology, genetics, pharmacology, histology, cytology, nuclear medicine, epidemiology, biostatistics, infection control, physics, statistics, and similar areas of science where the work is directly related to the position to be filled.

Exemption: You are exempt from the basic requirements above if you are a current federal employee occupying a position in the 0644 occupational series and have been continuously employed in this occupational series since September 27, 2017 or before. Note: You will be required to provide appropriate documentation to the respective Human Resources Office to validate your status.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below:

Specialized Experience: To qualify based on your work experience, your resume must describe one year of specialized experience which includes overseeing quality assurance and performance improvement; performing testing and interpreting test results in a Blood Bank Service setting; setting up and monitoring quality controls, quality metrics and performance standards for blood donor operations and blood product manufacturing; and assisting with instructing laboratory personnel in theoretical and practical aspects of Blood Banking.

Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For this job, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone--no substitution of education for experience is permitted.

Certification Preferred: Certification from the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), American Medical Technologist (AMT) or other board or registry deemed comparable by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs (OASD(HA)) or their designee as a Medical Technologist (MT) or Medical Lab Scientist (MLS) is preferred. Certification in Specialized Blood Banking (SBB) is highly preferred.