Lead Clinical Lab Scientist

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 85,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

EDRP eligibility

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Clinical Laboratory Scientist to perform complex diagnostic testing across multiple specialties, including microbiology, hematology, chemistry, and immunology.

The CLS will manage pre-analytical to post-analytical processes, coordinate staff development, and provide technical direction to clinicians and staff while maintaining compliance with accrediting agencies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
• Certification as MLS/MT per ASCP BOC/AMT options.
• 1 year of creditable experience for GS-12.
• Knowledge of clinical laboratory practice and testing methodologies.
• Preferred: Clinical Microbiology laboratory experience.

Responsibilities

• Perform complex laboratory diagnostic testing on human specimens.
• Handle pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical phases of testing.
• Lead and coordinate daily work and staff training.
• Provide guidance to physicians, nurses and clinical staff on testing and specimen requirements.
• Ensure tests and procedures meet accrediting standards.

Skills

Taxonomy of lab tests

Troubleshoot instrumentation

Staff training

Guidance to clinicians

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher in Medical Technology or MLS/MT

Tools

Laboratory instrumentation

Job description

Summary

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.

Summary

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.

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
• 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
• Experience
• 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level is required for all GS-12 assignments
• 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
• 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)
• Preferred Experience: Clinical Microbiology laboratory experience is preferred
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity
• This position requires mostly periods of continued walking - standing - stooping - sitting - bending - pulling - and pushing
• Transferring patients and objects may be required
• The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations
• The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients/residents who are combative secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders
• The incumbent must be a mature - flexible - sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations - able to shift priorities based on stakeholder needs.

Duties

• The Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) is a certified laboratory professional who performs complex laboratory diagnostic testing on human specimens for diagnosis - treatment - or prevention of disease in clinical laboratory specialties including - but not limited to - Hematology - Chemistry - Immunohematology (Blood Bank) - Microbiology - Immunology - Cytogenetics - Anatomic Pathology - Electron Microscopy - Molecular Diagnostics - and Flow Cytometry
• A CLS is responsible for performing the pre‑analytical - analytical - and post‑analytical phases of clinical laboratory test
• The Lead CLS communicates the organization's strategic plan - mission - vision - and values
• The LCLS identifies - distributes - balances work - coaches - and facilitates with problem solving methods
• Prepares reports and maintains records of work status
• resolves simple - informal complaints
• reports performance - progress - and training needs of the team and on behavioral problems
• and provides information on promotions - reassignment - recognition of outstanding performance - and personnel needs
• Is responsible for all aspects of operation in their area of specialty - including assignment of work responsibilities - workload management - and completion of assignments for staff at or above the full performance level as well as preparation and maintenance of records and reports - analysis of testing methodologies - training - instrumentation - and compliance
• The LCLS may act as a liaison to the supervisor and other departments/divisions of the medical center for the appropriate laboratory specialty
• Duties may include - but are not limited to: Communicates the organization's strategic plan - mission - vision - and values
• Processes - reads - and reports aerobic and anaerobic cultures from the following sites: bloods - body fluids - urines - respiratory - stools - and wounds
• Operates - maintains - and performs troubleshooting of microbiological instrumentation
• Identifies - distributes - balances work - coaches - and facilitates with problem solving methods
• Modifies or adapts new methods or techniques to improve or expand services
• Develops protocols for performance of tests and evaluation of results
• Ensures that laboratory tests and procedures are consistent with accrediting agencies standards and requirements
• Recognizes methodology limitations such as linearity - interference - sensitivity - and specificity and considers these when drawing conclusions about the validity of testing results
• Performs validation/method verification studies for new systems
• Assists in writing procedures and other documents as directed
• Evaluates the competency of laboratory staff including identification of continuing education and training needs
• Records and evaluates workload testing systems
• May act as a liaison to the supervisor and other departments/divisions of the medical center for the appropriate laboratory specialty
• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm - Rotating weekends/holidays (in the Microbiology department) Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• 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
• Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.