Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Castle Point (NY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

Parental Leave

Traditional federal pension

Health/vision/dental insurance

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs at Castle Point, NY seeks a Clinical Laboratory Scientist (GS-12) to perform a broad range of laboratory procedures. The role emphasizes advanced testing, instrument maintenance, quality control, and interpretation of results to ensure patient care excellence.

The position supports Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) eligibility with potential loan repayment and education benefits. Travel between facilities may occur as needed; on-site work is required.

Qualifications

• U.S. citizenship and English language proficiency required.
• Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited institution.
• Generalist MT/MLS certification options acceptable for CLS roles.

Responsibilities

• Performs a broad range of laboratory procedures across the clinical laboratory scientist occupation.
• Performs advanced and complex laboratory procedures.
• Calibrates, maintains, troubleshoots, and repairs laboratory instruments.
• Performs quality control and quality assurance activities and document results.
• Interprets test results and advises follow-up testing as needed.
• Provides training in theory, safety protocols, and test procedures to staff and students.

Skills

English proficiency

US citizenship

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

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
• 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
• 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 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
• (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)
• Failure to Obtain Certification
• In all cases - CLSs must actively work to meet requirements for certification starting from the date of their placement into the occupation
• At the time of appointment - the Human Resources (HR) Office staff - in collaboration with the supervisor - will provide the employee with the written requirements for certification - including the time by which the certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming certified by the deadline
• Failure to obtain certification during this time period may result in separation from employment
• 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 (12/03/2024) - 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 (GS-11) - or be changed to a lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level (GS-11) or newly placed in supervisory or managerial positions
• (2) If an assignment above the FPL (GS-11) 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 maintain 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
• 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 Specialist - GS-12 Experience: 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11) is required for all GS-12 assignments
• Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12
• Physical Requirements: Work is sedentary but also demands standing - walking - bending - twisting - and carrying light items
• Work Environment: Most of the work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions
• The area is adequately lighted - heated and ventilated
• However - the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations
• A smaller portion of work is performed in a laboratory environment where safety precaution - such as standard precautions the use of personal protective equipment are required.
  

Duties

• Duties include but are not limited to: Performs a broad range of laboratory procedures including all testing and tasks of the clinical laboratory scientist occupation
• Performs advanced and complex laboratory procedures
• recognizes deviation from expected results
• analyzes and corrects problems using scientific principles
• Ensures the completion of the lab's preventive maintenance program for all instruments
• Calibrates or standardizes equipment - troubleshoots malfunctions - and makes simple repairs or will identify the need for external services
• Performs and documents quality control and assurance activities and corrective actions related to test performance using statistical principles and theories of performance improvement
• Ensures that data transmission and calculation validation checks are performed within stated timeframes
• Responsible for ensuring the completion of the validations of new reagent lots and shipments
• Adheres to practices and regulations governing biosafety and biosecurity in the workplace
• Identifies discrepancies - solves problems - and presents solutions
• Answers inquiries regarding test results - methodology - test specificity - test sensitivity - and specific factors which influence test results
• Interprets results and suggests follow-up test selection or procedures
• Evaluates and implements new techniques and procedures in the laboratory in terms of equipment - method comparison - validation - establishment of quality control ranges - of new instrumentation and new lots of reagents and establishment of reference intervals using statistical methods and theoretical knowledge
• Interprets findings and makes recommendations
• Maintains the quality control files - uploads monthly quality control data to a specific quality assurance program
• Provides or ensures training in theory - technical skills - safety protocols - and application of laboratory test procedures to new employees - students and residents
• Perform other duties as assigned
• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: 12:00 PM - 8:30 PM - evenings/nights/weekends/holidays possible for coverage needs
• There may be some travel between Castle Point and Montrose VA Medical Centers
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact [e-mail] - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• 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) Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 74968F