Clinical Laboratory Scientist

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

Job summary

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair seeks a GS-11 medical laboratory scientist to perform professional clinical laboratory work and participate in quality assurance and performance improvement. The ideal candidate will have a bachelor’s degree and hold MLS or MT certification options, with strong English proficiency and US citizenship as required by VA policy.

Eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), with program approval and potential awards up to $200,000; eligibility determined

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
• Certification options include MLS Generalist (ASCP/BOC or AMT) or MT Generalist (ASCP/BOR or AMT).
• English language proficiency is required.
• Non-citizens may be appointed only as VA policy allows.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrate knowledge of professional clinical laboratory science principles.
• Apply laboratory quality control and quality assurance procedures.
• Use independent technical judgment to analyze and interpret results.
• Maintain and troubleshoot instrumentation and data flows.

Skills

Clinical lab knowledge

Quality control

Independent judgment

Informatics

Education

Bachelor's degree

MLS Generalist (ASCP/BOC or AMT)

MT Generalist (ASCP/BOR or AMT)

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.

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.
• Certification: Candidates must meet one of the certification options below
  • 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.

Grade Determinations

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

• 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.

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 11.