Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Cape Coral (FL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare organization is seeking a Clinical Laboratory Scientist to oversee laboratory procedures and manage staff. This role involves ensuring compliance with regulations, implementing quality management activities, and providing supervision. Candidates must possess a relevant bachelor's degree and appropriate certifications. The position offers competitive salary and benefits, including generous paid time off and retirement plans.

Benefits

37-50 days of annual paid time off

Traditional federal pension

Federal health/vision/dental insurance

Child care subsidy eligibility

Paid parental leave

Qualifications

• Must be proficient in spoken and written English.
• Certification as an MLS or MT by ASCP BOC or AMT required.
• Experience in multiple clinical laboratory sections preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversees laboratory procedures and ensures compliance with policies.
• Manages staff and evaluates work performance.
• Implements quality management activities and corrective actions.

Skills

Knowledge of Federal and state laws

Laboratory quality management

Interpersonal relations

Conflict resolution

Analytical problem solving

Fiscal management

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college

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.





Duties

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Clinical Laboratory Scientist: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Medical-Technologist-Career-Flyer.pdf


- Responsible for the performance of a broad range of laboratory procedures including all testing and tasks of the medical laboratory technologist profession. Oversees the performance of advanced and complex laboratory procedures; recognizes deviation from expected results; analyzes and corrects problems using scientific principles according to establish policies and procedures.


- Plans and schedules on going to work. Adjusts staffing levels or work procedures.


- Assures corrective action is initiated when test performance deviates from established performance specifications.


-Implements and monitors quality management activities. Provides corrective action when desired results are not achieved.


- Performs the full range of supervisory duties. Recommends appointment, plans, and assigns work, gives advice and counsel, and evaluates work of subordinates.


- Chooses methods for achieving goals, objectives and management strategies.


- Evaluates and solved problems related to collection and processing of biological specimens for analysis. Instructs and assists staff in specimen problems handling according to the services procedures.


- Operates, calibrates, trouble-shoots malfunctions and repairs. Performs and documents preventive maintenance of laboratory equipment, as needed. Monitors and documents the oversight of all instruments.


-Reports test results timely. Monitors and reviews test tum around times data. Takes appropriate corrective action to prevent delays.


-Manages critical results and policy and enforces the proper procedure for handling critical and unexpected results in department.


- Consults with and informs lab manager, chief of service or designee pending issues.


- Writes procedures for new methods. Updates existing procedures for lab compliance, responsible for accurate and current department technical policies and procedure manuals.


- Monitors and evaluates methodology limitations such linearity, interface, sensitivity, and specificity and specificity when evaluating the validity of testing results. Verifies all test methods limitations and requirements are reported accurately through the LIS.


- Maintains effective interdepartmental relations with other departments and services to accomplish medical center goals.


-Adjust staffing levels or work procedures to accommodate resource allocation decisions made at the executive level.









Work Schedule: 6:30am-3pm, Monday- Friday
Recruitment Incentive (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).
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)
Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.
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 #: 21897-F
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized

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.

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

Education. A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university.

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 4c above automatically determines the foreign education as creditable and no further documentation or proof of equivalency is needed.

Certification-Documentation Required:

• (1) 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).
May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation.

Grade Determinations:
Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist, GS-13

Experience. 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

• Knowledge of Federal and state laws and regulations, laboratory accrediting, and regulatory requirements to develop new policies and guidelines, formulate plans, and judge effectiveness of the operation.
• Knowledge of laboratory quality management procedures and principles sufficient to establish and monitor a laboratory quality management program and/or the education and training of laboratory staff.
• Skill in interpersonal relations and conflict resolution.
• Ability to provide the full range of supervisory duties, which includes responsibility for assignment of work to be performed, performance evaluations, selection of staff, recommendation of awards, advancements, and disciplinary actions.
• Ability to analyze organizational, technical, and administrative problems to develop and implement solutions that result inefficient laboratory operation.
• Ability to manage fiscal matters, forecast resource and equipment needs, and administer the allocated budget.
• Ability to set short and/or long-term goals for the section and conduct studies on technical and administrative problems including personnel shortages, organizational structure, and new technology.

Preferred Experience: Experience in multiple clinical laboratory sections to include Chemistry, Hematology, Urinalysis, Pre- Analytical Services.

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-13 .

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