Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs seeks a Microbiology/Molecular Medical Technologist to perform a range of laboratory duties, including qualitative and quantitative testing, instrument maintenance, and quality control.

This position emphasizes accuracy, regulatory compliance, and collaboration with medical staff. Candidates must meet VA qualification standards, including bachelor's degree and certification options; EDRP eligibility is noted.

Qualifications

• Citizenship and English proficiency required.
• Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college/university.
• Certification: MLS/MT options by ASCP/AMT; grandfathering provisions may apply.

Responsibilities

• Prepare reports and maintain records of testing and results.
• Perform qualitative and quantitative testing in designated lab areas.
• Coordinate training and staff development within the lab.
• Maintain and calibrate laboratory instrumentation and equipment.
• Ensure compliance with CAP, FDA, JC, AABB, OSHA regulations.
• Act as liaison to other departments within the medical center.

Skills

Medical technology

Instrumentation troubleshooting

Test development

Team coordination

Staff development

Technical guidance

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

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: Must be proficient in spoken and written English
• Education: A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university
• 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)
• 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 in "Certification" above automatically determines the foreign education as creditable and no further documentation or proof of equivalency is needed
• 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:(1) 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 journeyman level or newly placed in supervisory or managerial positions.(2) If an assignment above the FPL 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 meet 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
• GS-12 Grade Determinations: Experience: Must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11) which is directly related to the position to be filled
• This 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
• Assignments: For all lead assignments - the individual must spend at least 25% or more of their time performing lead duties over staff one grade level below
• 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
• Preferred Experience: Experience & Knowledge in the following Clinical laboratory testing areas below - but not required: Corelab (Chemistry - UA - Coagulation) Hematology Blood Bank STAT Microbiology 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
• Physical Requirements: None.

Duties

• VA Careers - Microbiology/Molecular Medical Technologist: https://youtube.com/embed/eSDGhIwZKdw Major Duties include - but not limited to: Prepares reports - maintains records - administrative information - prepares and presents work-related information to supervisor
• Research qualitative and quantitative methods in the appropriate laboratory specialty area
• Performs statistical analysis on quality control and quality assurance monitors
• Performs qualitative and quantitative moderate and complex testing methods in all the assigned laboratory specialty areas
• Responsible for coordination of training in the methods and techniques of the appropriate laboratory specialty area
• Responsible as a primary source of information for maintaining current instrumentation
• Maintains and calibrates instrumentation and equipment to ensure correct performance
• Troubleshoots instrumentation and equipment problems during the shift to endure uninterrupted testing
• Ensures compliance with rules and regulations of assorted regulatory agencies such as CAP - FDA - JC - AABB - and OSHA
• Coordinates quality control activities with the supervisor
• Coordinates proficiency program for the appropriate laboratory specialty
• Acts as a liaison to other departments of the medical center for the appropriate laboratory specialty area
• Performs all assigned duties in a timely and efficient manner
• Performs other related duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 2:00 p.m
• 10:30 p.m
• PST (Night Differential Pay after 6 p.m.) - rotating holidays and weekends
• Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
• 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
• 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)
• however - certain eligibilities may apply
• 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 #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.