Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Columbia Township (MO); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs seeks a GS-12 Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist to support the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP). Required: bachelor's degree, English proficiency, and MLS/MT/CLS certification by ASCP or AMT.

US citizenship is required. The role emphasizes leadership, complex clinical lab work, and coordination of daily lab activities. Experience: 1 year at the next lower grade.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of medical technology applicable to a wide range of clinical laboratory practices.
• Skill to troubleshoot, repair, and maintain laboratory instrumentation.
• Ability to develop procedures for new tests and modify existing ones to solve issues.
• Ability to manage and coordinate daily work activities in a laboratory section.
• Ability to provide staff development and training to personnel.
• Ability to provide guidance to physicians, nurses, and staff regarding testing, specimen requirements and results.

Skills

Knowledge of medical technology

Instrumentation troubleshooting

Test development & procedures

Team coordination

Staff development & training

Guidance to physicians/nurses on tests

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

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.

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.
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403 (f).
• 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.
  • Categorical certification or Specialist certification by ASCP or AMT

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).

Grade Determinations

GS-12 Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist

Experience

1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level is required for all GS-12 assignments.

AND Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

In addition to the experience or education 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.

Preferred Experience

This position requires a valid Generalist certification as a Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS), Medical Technologist (MT), or Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) given by American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), or American Medical Technologist (AMT).

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.