Clinical Laboratory Scientist

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Chillicothe (OH); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Chillicothe, OH seeks a Medical Laboratory Technician/Scientist at GS-7 to GS-11. The role involves applying policies, performing clinical lab testing, and ensuring quality control across pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical phases.

Candidates must meet education and certification options and English proficiency; EDRP is available for eligible applicants. Full performance level is GS-11; selected candidate may be placed at GS-7 to GS-11 depending

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in medical technology or related field.
• Master's degree or 2 years of graduate education in medical technology.
• Certification options: MLS/MT through ASCP or AMT.

Skills

Clinical lab testing policies

Quality control knowledge

Laboratory equipment maintenance

Teamwork and communication

Read and interpret instructions

Pre-analytical/analytical/post-analyst

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher in medical technology

Master's degree or 2 graduate years in medical technology

PhD or equivalent doctoral degree in medical technology

Tools

ASCP BOC Generalist MLS

ASCP BOR MT

ASCP Specialist/Categorical

Job description

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply. 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: Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
• Certification: Candidates must meet one of the certification options: (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
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.

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

GS-07: Experience.

None beyond the basic requirements.

GS-09: Experience.

1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade.

GS-09: Education.

Master's degree or 2 academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education in medical technology or a directly related science.

In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

• Knowledge of policies and procedures of clinical laboratory testing.
• Knowledge of laboratory quality control and quality assurance principles.
• Knowledge of laboratory equipment and routine maintenance.
• Ability to work as a team member and effectively complete assignments.
• Ability to read and interpret written instructions.
• Ability to accurately perform pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical phases of testing.

GS-11: Experience.

1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.

GS-11: Education.

Must have 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education or a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in medical technology or a directly related science.

In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

• Knowledge of professional clinical laboratory science principles, practices, concepts, and theories that support sound, independent work.
• Knowledge of laboratory quality control and quality assurance procedures and principles of performance improvement.
• Skill in informatics, laboratory data flow, and laboratory processes.
• Ability to maintain, troubleshoot, and repair instrumentation.
• Ability to use independent technical judgment to analyze and interpret laboratory results.
• Ability to read, interpret, and apply complex written instructions.
• Ability to communicate, consult, and interact with other members of the health care team, external relations, customer service, and patient education.

Preferred Experience:

None.

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-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-7 to GS-11.

Physical Requirements:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand and walk. The work requires long periods of standing and walking. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 lbs. Specific vision abilities required by this job function include but are not limited are close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.