Clinical Laboratory Scientist - Hematology/Blood Bank

U.S. Food and Drug Administration; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is seeking a Clinical Laboratory Scientist specializing in Hematology/Blood Bank to join the Carl T. Hayden VA Healthcare System. This role offers an open continuous announcement and requires a bachelor's degree, relevant certification, and strong teamwork abilities. Ideal candidates will possess experience in clinical laboratory processes and a solid understanding of laboratory quality control principles.

Qualifications

• Must have relevant certification as an MLS or MT.
• Education must be from an accredited college.
• Experience with clinical laboratory processes preferred.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate, perform, interpret, and validate test results.
• Conduct routine maintenance and troubleshooting of lab equipment.
• Demonstrate clinical knowledge through complex work under supervision.

Skills

Knowledge of clinical laboratory testing policies

Knowledge of laboratory quality control

Ability to work as a team member

Ability to perform analytical testing

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher in accredited program

Master's degree or 2 years of graduate education in medical technology

Job description

The VISN 22 Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service (PALMS) is looking for a Clinical Laboratory Scientist - Hematology/Blood Bank for the Carl T Hayden VA Healthcare System.

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until July 31, 2025. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred at regular intervals or as vacancies become available. This announcement can be taken down at any time. 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: A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
• Certification. (1) 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.

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).

Grandfathering Provision. Employees in VHA in this occupation under a permanent, appropriate, and legal placement on the effective date of this qualification standard, are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade and/or assignment held, including positive education and certification where applicable. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements of this standard but met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed, the following provisions apply:

(1) Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or be changed to a lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or newly placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
(2) If an assignment above the FPL requires an additional certification over and above the basic requirements, employees must meet the assignment-specific requirement before they can be promoted.
(3) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
(4) Employees retained in this occupation under this provision who subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation.
(5) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain certification that meets all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.

NOTE: This provision is not intended to regularize appointments/placements.

Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. Graduates of foreign baccalaureate degree programs meet the educational requirements if they meet either of the following:

(1) Foreign transcripts are evaluated by an acceptable evaluation agency, and the degree is found to be equivalent to a NAACLS-approved U.S. clinical laboratory science degree program. OR

(2) The applicant submits a letter from ASCP BOC or AMT stating the individual is eligible to take the certification examination.

NOTE: Possession of a certification identified in basic requirements above automatically determines the foreign education as creditable and no further documentation or proof of equivalency is needed.

Grade Determinations:

Clinical Laboratory Scientist GS-9

(1) Experience or Education: Candidates at this level must meet one of the criteria below:

• (a) Experience. 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. OR
• (b) Education. Must have a Master's degree or 2 academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education 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 policies and procedures of clinical laboratory testing.
• (b)Knowledge of laboratory quality control and quality assurance principles.
• (c)Knowledge of laboratory equipment and routine maintenance.
• (d)Ability to work as a team member and effectively complete assignments.
• (e)Ability to read and interpret written instructions.
• (f)Ability to accurately perform pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical phases of testing.

Assignment. An individual at this grade level serves as a developmental CLS. The CLS is responsible for evaluating, performing, interpreting, and validating the accuracy and validity of test results. The CLS demonstrates a clear progression of clinical knowledge and experience by performing testing procedures on a variety of biological specimens using manual or automated methods. This includes routine testing, quality control, routine maintenance of instrumentation, and troubleshooting that applies innovative procedures and problem solving. Deviations from regular procedures, unanticipated problems, and unfamiliar situations are referred to more experienced staff for a decision or assistance. Assignments at this level will include developmental duties of increasing scope and diversity as compared to the entry level. It is expected that a CLS at this grade performs more complex work while receiving less frequent supervision than at the entry level.

Preferred Experience:

• Current working knowledge of clinical laboratory processes and concepts.
• Hospital or reference laboratory experience recommended.
• Previous hematology and blood bank experience preferred.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

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