Supervisory Clinical Lab Scientist

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Cleveland (OH); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Cleveland, OH seeks a Laboratory Service Manager (GS-14) to lead all phases of laboratory operations. The role emphasizes strategic planning, budgeting, compliance, and cross-department collaboration within a large health system.

The position requires a bachelor’s degree, U.S. citizenship, and certification credentials from ASCP or AMT. Experience in supervisory duties and program management is essential for success in this fast-paced, high-stakes

Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
• United States Citizenship required; non-citizens may be appointed only as permitted by VA policy.
• Certification: Generalist (MLS or MT) by ASCP BOC or AMT, or Categorical/Specialist certification by ASCP or AMT.
• Foreign education creditability guidance: evaluation by a recognized agency or ASCP/AMT letter.
• Grandfathering provision may apply for current VA employees in this occupation.

Responsibilities

• Manage and supervise all phases of laboratory service operations.
• Provide advisory, planning, and surveillance services to clinicians, laboratory directors, and supervisors.
• Oversee staff and performance evaluations; assist in budgeting, contracting, and procurement.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and program standards.
• Coordinate with hospital administration on program goals and priorities.

Skills

Clinical leadership

Budgeting

Strategic planning

Cross-department collaboration

Supervisory duties

Regulatory compliance

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

Tools

LIMS

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.
• 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.
• Grandfathering Provision: 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

For all GS-14 assignments above the FPL, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety and be performed by the CLS at least 25% of the time. Candidates at this grade level are in one of the following assignments.

Experience

1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level is required for all GS-14 assignments. The Laboratory Manager and shares with the chief of laboratory service/medical director full responsibility for managing and supervising all phases of laboratory service operations where at least three of the five following criteria are met outlined below in (A) - (E):

• (A) The Laboratory is a complexity level index group 1 or group 2 based on the Hospital Complexity Level as designated in Office of Productivity, Efficiency, and Staffing (OPES) VHA Facility Complexity Model History.
• (B) The Laboratory performs at least one million standard billable tests annually (as reported to the Laboratory Management Index Program).
• (C) The CLS supervises a staff of non-supervisory and supervisory personnel including at least one GS-13 subordinate.
• (D) Lack of on-site pathologist/Chief with oversight of a large staff (typically >20 employees).
• (E) The CLS oversees additional services (for example, Radiology, Sterile Processing, other).

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

• (A) Knowledge of concepts, principles, and methodologies of a major clinical laboratory program and operations to assess program effectiveness and provide authoritative guidance for operations, personnel, and management.
• (B) Skill in administrative management such as budgeting, contracting, procurement, and property management in accordance with organizational (for example, VHA) regulations.
• (C) Ability to collaborate with other departments and upper management in a medical center or health care setting or higher-level managers in regional or national offices such as VISN-level staff and VHA Central Office staff.
• (D) Ability to plan and execute short- and long-range programs and/or goals through project management and tactical/ strategic planning.
• (E) Ability to provide advisory, planning, and surveillance services to clinicians, laboratory directors, and supervisors on specific functions, programs, or problems that are particularly difficult, widespread, or persistent.
• (F) Ability to solve complex problems involving unique or controversial aspects of medical technology or laboratory management, new or unconventional methods, program changes or conflicts between scientific/technological requirements and regulatory or program requirements.
• (G) Ability to provide the full range of supervisory duties including responsibility for assignment of work, performance evaluations, selection of staff, and recommendation of awards, advancements, and disciplinary actions.

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-14.

Physical Requirements

The work requires regular and recurrent standing to perform procedures and tests, walking between different areas within the laboratory and throughout the medical center. The work involves sitting at a microscope or computer, manual dexterity, visual acuity, color vision and the ability to sit and concentrate for long periods of time. Requires intermittent moderate lifting (15-44 pounds); light carrying (under 15 pounds); use of fingers; both hands required; intermittent but possibly prolonged stooping and kneeling; ability to read and comprehend ordinary type and computer screens; ability to hear (aid permitted) and work in an environment with constant noise; working closely with others; high cognitive function required to work in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities without loss of accuracy; emotional stability required to maintain self-control in difficult and stressful situations.