Clinical Laboratory Scientist

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 65,000 - 86,000; Full time

Job summary

The US Department of Veterans Affairs in Durham, NC seeks a Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) to develop, perform, evaluate, interpret, correlate, and validate laboratory procedures and results using a variety of specimens with manual or automated methods under minimal supervision.

Applicants must meet citizenship and English proficiency requirements, hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, and possess qualifying certification (MLS/MT or Specialist).

Qualifications

• United States Citizenship requirement; non-citizens may be considered only when qualified citizens are not available.
• English language proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Education: a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university (unofficial transcript required).
• Certification options: Generalist MLS (ASCP BOC or AMT), Generalist MT (ASCP BOR or AMT), or Categorical/Specialist (ASCP or AMT).
• Experience or Education for GS-11: 1 year of creditable experience at next lower grade, or 3 graduate years/PhD in medical technology or related science.
• Knowledge and abilities: professional clinical lab science principles, QC/QA, informatics and data flow, instrumentation, independent judgment, reading complex instructions, communication with healthcare team.

Responsibilities

• Develop, perform, evaluate, interpret, correlate, and validate laboratory procedures and results.
• Test specimens using manual or automated techniques with minimal supervision.
• Document qualifications and maintain competency per resume requirements.
• Provide interpretation and consultation within the health care team.

Skills

Independent judgment

Laboratory quality control

Laboratory data analysis

Instrumentation troubleshooting

Communication with health team

Reading complex instructions

Education

Bachelor’s degree or higher in medical technology or related science

Tools

ASCP BOC

AMT

ASCP BOR

ASCP Specialist

Laboratory Information Systems (LIS)

Job description

Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) at this level develops, performs, evaluates, interprets, correlates, and validates the accuracy of laboratory procedures and results. Testing procedures are performed on a variety of biological specimens and/or environmental samples using manual or automated techniques and require a broad exercise of independent judgment and responsibility with minimal technical supervision.

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. 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: An unofficial transcript must be provided).
• Certification. (1) Candidates must meet one of the certification options below. (NOTE: Certification must be provided with application)
  • 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).

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, GS-11

(1) Experience or Education.

• (a) Experience. 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. OR
• (b) 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

NOTE: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week.

(2) Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

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

Preferred Experience:

Experience as a Generalist to include Blood Bank experience within past three years.

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-11.

Physical Requirements:

See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.