Supervisory Clinical Lab Scientist (Lab Manager)

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; West Palm Beach (FL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs seeks a Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist to serve as Laboratory Manager. This role oversees all phases of laboratory operations, ensuring quality assurance, compliance with regulations, and strong administrative leadership.

Qualified applicants will have a bachelor’s degree or higher and certification options as listed, with at least 1 year at the next lower grade level and proven ability to collaborate with executive leadership and clinical staff.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
• KSAs include knowledge of clinical laboratory programs and operations, budgeting and contracting, collaboration with management, strategic planning, advisory capabilities, problem solving, and supervisory duties.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and provide administrative and technical leadership as Lab Manager.
• Oversee staff and program operations, ensuring quality assurance and compliance.
• Develop guidelines and manage budget, contracting, inventory and resource usage.

Skills

Lab management

Staff supervision

Strategic planning

Advisory services

Budgeting & contracting

Problem solving

Regulatory compliance

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

Citizenship

Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).

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.

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).

English Language Proficiency

Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403 (f).

Grade Determinations

General

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.

Qualification Criteria

The supervisory CLS serves as the Laboratory Manager (Lab 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.

Assignment

The supervisory CLS serves as the Laboratory Manager (Lab Manager). For all supervisory assignments the CLS must spend 25% or more of their time providing administrative and technical supervision and perform major duties above those at the FPL that consist of significant scope, complexity, difficulty, and variety. The CLS must supervise at least one staff member at the GS-13 grade level. The CLS exercises a full range of supervisory responsibilities in planning, directing, and assessing work of subordinate staff. The CLS provides guidance and serves as an authority and subject matter expert on laboratory medicine including research, agency policies, new techniques, and procedures. This individual develops guidelines, assesses laboratory effectiveness, and establishes and maintains quality assurance and quality management programs. The CLS consults with or serves as a consultant for local, network, and national programs and/or officials. The CLS manages regulatory affairs and compliance and develops and manages program budget and resource usage, inventory, acquisition, and contracting processes. They assist and participate in educational programs affiliated with institutions providing training for individuals in laboratory or other related medical fields of study.

Reference

For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements

See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.