Clinical Laboratory Scientist

US Department of Veterans Affairs; Danville (IL); On-site; USD 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Danville, Illinois, seeks a GS-11 Medical Laboratory Technician/MLS to join the clinical laboratory team, providing expert support in lab science, QC/QA, and instrument maintenance.

Collaboration with the health care team is essential to ensure accurate results and patient safety. Eligibility requires US citizenship, English proficiency, a bachelor’s degree, and MLS/MT certifications as described in the qualification standards.

Qualifications

• Must have a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
• Certification options: MLS Generalist (ASCP BOC or AMT), MT Generalist (ASCP BOR or AMT), or Categorical/Specialist (ASCP or AMT).
• Experience: at least 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to GS-9.
• Education alternative: three years of progressive graduate education or Ph.D. in medical technology or related science.

Responsibilities

• Knowledge of professional clinical laboratory science principles and theories.
• Knowledge of laboratory quality control and quality assurance procedures.
• Skill in informatics, laboratory data flow, and 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 the health care team.

Skills

Clinical laboratory science

Quality control

Laboratory informatics

Instrumentation troubleshooting

Independent technical judgment

Reading and applying complex written I

Team communication

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

Tools

Laboratory instrumentation

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.
• English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403 (f).
• Education (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED):
  • A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
• Certification: 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 AMT.
  • (c) Categorical certification or Specialist certification by ASCP or AMT.

Grade Determinations

• Experience: Must have at least one (1) year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-9).

OR,

• Education. Must have three (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.

GS-11 Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• 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.

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 a GS-11.