Clinical Laboratory Scientist (Technical Specialist) - EDRP Approved

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; San Antonio (TX); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Clinical Laboratory Scientist to join their team. This role requires a bachelor’s degree, relevant certification, and experience in laboratory procedures and quality control. The successful candidate will perform diagnostic tests, contribute to quality assurance, and support patient care in a federal healthcare environment.

Benefits

Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP)

Qualifications

• Must have certification as MLS, MT, or Specialist from ASCP or AMT.
• 1 year of experience equivalent to GS-11 required.
• Proficient in spoken/written English.

Responsibilities

• Involve laboratory procedures, quality control, troubleshooting, and specialized responsibilities.
• Perform complex diagnostic tests.
• Provide guidance and apply new scientific developments.

Skills

Medical laboratory technology

Quality control

Troubleshooting

Proficiency testing

Microbiology expertise

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university

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.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Duties include but not limited to:

Responsibilities include performing complex laboratory procedures, ensuring quality control, troubleshooting, and providing guidance in a clinical laboratory setting.

Requirements and Qualifications:

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.
• Education: A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
• Foreign Education: Education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed equivalent to U.S. education by an acceptable evaluation agency or meet specific certification criteria.
• Certification: Candidates must meet one of the certification options: (a) Generalist certification as an MLS by ASCP BOC or AMT, (b) Generalist certification as an MT by ASCP BOR or AMT, or (c) Categorical or Specialist certification by ASCP or AMT.
• Grandfathering Provision: Current VHA employees in this occupation with permanent placement are considered to have met all qualification requirements.

Grade Determinations

Clinical Laboratory Scientist (Technical Specialist), GS-12. In addition to meeting all basic requirements above, the following criteria are used for eligibility:

• Experience: 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to GS-11, involving laboratory procedures, quality control, troubleshooting, and specialized laboratory responsibilities.
• KSAs: Demonstrated knowledge of medical laboratory technology, ability to instruct, apply new scientific developments, provide guidance, and perform complex diagnostic tests. Preferred experience includes microbiology expertise, familiarity with regulation agencies, proficiency testing, instrumentation validation, and microbiology certification.

Reference: For more information, visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.

Physical Requirements: Light lifting, reaching, bending, pulling, use of fingers, walking, sitting, vision, coordination, color discrimination, hearing, stability, and exposure to agents.