Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist

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

Job summary

US Department of Veterans Affairs Augusta Medical Center seeks a Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist to oversee laboratory operations, coordinate daily workflow, and coach staff while ensuring adherence to quality and regulatory standards.

The role emphasizes developing procedures, maintaining testing accuracy, and providing technical guidance to clinicians. A bachelor’s degree, MLS/MT certification options, and strong Blood Bank experience are preferred.

Qualifications

• Must have a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
• GS 12 requires one year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade GS 11.
• Lead CLS duties include coordinating workflow, coaching staff, preparing reports, and ensuring compliance with policies and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead the laboratory section(s) and coordinate daily activities.
• Coach and develop staff; assign work and track progress.
• Prepare and maintain records, reports, and performance metrics.

Skills

Knowledge of medical technology

Troubleshooting laboratory equipment

Develop procedures for new tests

Manage daily work activities

Staff development & training

Provide technical direction

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

Job description

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: (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).

Grade Determinations

GS 12 Experience: One (1) year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS 11.

Assignment

The Lead CLS communicates the organization's strategic plan, mission, vision, and values. The Lead CLS identifies, distributes, balances work, coaches, and facilitates with problem solving methods. The Lead CLS 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. The Lead CLS 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 FPL as well as preparation and maintenance of records and reports, analysis of testing methodologies, training, instrumentation, and compliance. The Lead CLS 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, orientation and evaluating the competency of assigned staff including identification of continuing education and training needs, coordinating daily activity of the lab section(s), writing or modifying technical procedures, providing technical instruction, ensuring that policies, procedures and regulatory requirements are followed, advising on course of action to follow when results or samples obtained are unacceptable, and coordinating or performing quality control reviews and method verification activities.

In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSA's:

• (A) Knowledge of medical technology applicable to a wide range of duties to solve complex problems involving diverse aspects of clinical laboratory practice.
• (B) Skill to maintain, troubleshoot, and repair laboratory instrumentation.
• (C) Ability to develop procedures for new tests, and modify existing procedures and methods to resolve problems relative to complex and difficult situations.
• (D) Ability to manage and coordinate daily work activities and assignments in a section.
• (E) Ability to provide or coordinate staff development and training.
• (F) 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

Minimum 2 years of Blood Bank experience. (VISTA & CPRS and VBECs experience is highly 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.