Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Clinical Laboratory Scientist to join their team at the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center in Detroit. This position requires a bachelor's degree in medical laboratory science and relevant certifications. The successful candidate will perform lab procedures, offer guidance to clinical staff, and manage quality control tasks. This is an excellent opportunity for those looking to advance in a supportive healthcare environment with a focus on service to veterans.

Benefits

Education Debt Reduction Program

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in a related science.
• Certification as an MLS or MT is required.
• Experience equivalent to GS-11 is necessary.

Responsibilities

• Perform and evaluate laboratory procedures across specialties.
• Provide guidance to clinical staff regarding testing and results.
• Manage daily activities and staff development.

Skills

Knowledge of medical technology

Skill in troubleshooting

Ability to manage daily activities

Education

Bachelor's degree in medical laboratory science

Tools

Laboratory instrumentation

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 a complete review of the EDRP application.

This is an Open Continuous Announcement that will be used for filling facilities located within the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center area until September 2025. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available.

We utilize Open Continuous announcements to accept applications in anticipation of vacancies. Extended announcements provide us a readily available source of applicants when vacancies do occur and are approved. If a vacancy does not occur for the location and grade for which you are qualified and apply, no further notification concerning the announcement will be provided.

Total Rewards of an Allied Health Professional

Major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

Requirements

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 in medical laboratory science, medical technology, clinical laboratory science, or a related science (e.g., chemistry, biochemistry, biology, microbiology, immunology).
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 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 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).

Grandfathering Provision: Employees in VHA in this occupation under a permanent, appropriate, and legal placement on the effective date of this qualification standard, 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:

• Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or be changed to a lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
• If an assignment above the FPL requires additional certification, employees must meet the assignment-specific requirement before promotion.
• Employees appointed temporarily before the standard's effective date may not have their appointment extended or reappointed until they meet all requirements.
• Employees who leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements upon re-entry.
• Employees initially grandfathered who obtain certification meeting all requirements must maintain the credentials as a condition of employment.

Experience:

• Creditable Experience: Must have used knowledge, skills, and abilities related to current CLS practices. Paid or non-paid employment as a CLS in healthcare qualifies. Research lab experience does not qualify.
• Part-Time Experience: Creditable based on relationship to full-time hours (e.g., 20 hours/week counts as half).
• Quality of Experience: Must be at a level comparable to CLS experience at the next lower grade, with duties involving significant scope, independence, complexity, and variety.

Grade Determinations:

GS-12 Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist

Experience: 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to GS-11, including performing and evaluating laboratory procedures across specialties, troubleshooting, quality control, and independent judgment.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of medical technology for diverse duties.
• Skill in troubleshooting and repairing lab instrumentation.
• Ability to develop and modify procedures.
• Ability to manage daily activities and staff development.
• Guidance to clinical staff regarding testing and results.

Preferred Experience: Blood banking skills and leadership experience.

Reference: For more information, visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting (15-44 lbs), walking, standing, bending, reaching, use of fingers, both hands and legs, rapid coordination, visual and color perception, hearing, ability to work around machinery, and irregular hours as needed. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 for details.