Clinical Laboratory Scientist

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Parental leave

Federal retirement plan

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Durham seeks a Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) who develops, performs, interprets, correlates, and validates laboratory procedures across multiple specialties, using manual or automated techniques.

The role requires broad independent judgment, knowledge of QC/QA, instrumentation maintenance, and the ability to communicate with care teams. Benefits include generous leave, parental leave, and federal retirement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
• Generalist MT/MLS/ASCP/AMT certification options.
• KSAs: professional clinical laboratory science principles, QC/QA, data interpretation, informatics.
• One year of experience at next lower grade or 3 years of grad education or PhD.

Responsibilities

• Develops, performs, interprets, correlates, and validates laboratory procedures and results.
• Works across chemistry, microbiology, immunology, hematology, and immunohematology.
• Maintains and troubleshoots instrumentation; ensures quality control.
• Provides education to laboratory health care professionals and the public.

Skills

Independent judgment

Laboratory data interpretation

Quality control

Informatics

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in medical technology or related field

Tools

Laboratory instrumentation

Job description

Summary

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.

Qualifications

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
• Candidates at this level must meet one of the criteria below: 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
• (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 (2) Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience or education above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (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.

Duties

• Functions or Scopes of Practice: Develops - performs - evaluates - interprets - correlates - and validates the accuracy of laboratory procedures and results in line with current laboratory regulatory requirements
• Work performed may be in a variety of laboratory specialties such as chemistry - microbiology - immunology - hematology - and immunohematology
• Testing procedures are performed on a variety of biological specimens and/or environmental samples using manual or automated methods
• In addition to routine testing - the CLS conducts quality control and routine maintenance of instrumentation and troubleshooting
• Correlates abnormal lab data with pathological states - determines the validity of test results - and the need for additional tests
• Tasks require a broad exercise of independent judgment and responsibility - including organizing and setting priorities with minimal technical supervision
• Assess a situation - considers the options - and formulates an appropriate course of action based on knowledge - experience - and expertise of the technical area
• Monitoring quality control systems and measures - collaborating in the diagnosis and treatment of patients - and providing education for laboratory health care professionals and the public in a professional - courteous - and effective manner
• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 3:00pm-11:30pm with rotating holidays and weekends
• Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
• Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized