Lead Clinical Lab Scientist

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is seeking a Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) at the GS-12 level to develop, perform, and evaluate laboratory procedures.

The CLS will interpret and correlate results, validate accuracy, and work with minimal supervision across manual and automated testing methods. Preferred candidates hold MLS MT certifications or equivalent, with strong knowledge of clinical laboratory practice, and must meet VA English proficiency requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
• Certification options include MLS (ASCP BOC) or MT (ASCP BOR) or AMT.
• Ability to develop procedures and coordinate testing activities.

Responsibilities

• Develop, perform, evaluate, interpret, correlate, and validate laboratory procedures and results.
• Test biological specimens using manual or automated techniques.
• Exercise independent judgment with minimal supervision.

Job description

A 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 using manual or automated techniques and require a broad exercise of independent judgment and responsibility with minimal technical supervision.

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.
  • 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 4c above automatically determines the foreign education as creditable and no further documentation or proof of equivalency is needed.
• 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.
• Grandfathering Provision. 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).
• English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403 (f).

Grade Determinations

In addition to the basic requirements for employment, candidates must meet the following grade-determining criteria for placement at grade levels specified.

Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist, GS-12

1. Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level is required for all GS-12 assignments.
2. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
   • Knowledge of medical technology applicable to a wide range of duties to solve complex problems involving diverse aspects of clinical laboratory practice.
   • Skill to maintain, troubleshoot, and repair laboratory instrumentation.
   • Ability to develop procedures for new tests, and modify existing procedures and methods to resolve problems relative to complex and difficult situations.
   • Ability to manage and coordinate daily work activities and assignments in a section.
   • Ability to provide or coordinate staff development and training.
   • Ability to provide guidance and technical direction to a wide variety of individuals including physicians, nurses, and other clinical staff regarding technical aspects of testing, specimen requirements and results.

Preferred Experience

Microbiology experience is preferred.

Reference

For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/ This vacancy is above the full performance level.

Physical Requirements

The incumbent must be able to perform moderate lifting up to 20 lbs., straight pulling, pushing, reaching above the shoulder, use of fingers and both hands, walking, standing for up to 4 hours, kneeling, repeated bending, use of both arms and legs. Specific visual requirements include use of both eyes, depth perception, ability to distinguish colors and shades of colors, hearing (aids permitted), clear, high cognitive function and emotional stability; ability to read ordinary type without strain.