Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Garner (NC); On-site; USD 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

The United States Department of Veterans Affairs laboratory seeks a Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist, GS-12, to lead a team of CLS professionals. The incumbent will supervise staff across specimen collection, processing, testing, and quality control, ensuring adherence to standards.

Responsibilities include staff evaluations, scheduling, and budget planning, with a focus on quality improvement and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university; unofficial transcript required.
• Certification: Generalist MLS/MT or categorical/specialist by ASCP/AMT with documentation.
• May qualify via Grandfathering provision if applicable.
• Experience: 1 year creditable at next lower grade for GS-12.

Responsibilities

• Supervise staff including GS-5/7/11 CLS; assign work and evaluate performance.
• Oversee specimen collection, processing, testing, and quality control.
• Ensure compliance with Federal and state laws and accrediting standards.
• Manage budget and resources; plan short- and long-term goals.

Skills

Leadership

Quality control

Regulatory compliance

Staff supervision

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher in a relevant field

Tools

LIS

Quality management software

Job description

The incumbent at this level has full supervisory responsibility for a staff of nonsupervisory personnel, including GS-5 Medical Technicians (Phlebotomists), GS-7 Medical Laboratory Technicians, and at least one GS-11 Clinical Laboratory Scientist. The incumbent performs the full range of supervisory duties for specimen collection, specimen processing, testing operations, and quality control activities of the laboratory. 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. NOTE: An unofficial transcript must be provided.
• Certification. (1) Candidates must meet one of the certification options below. NOTE: Certification must be provided.
  • Generalist certification as an MLS given by ASCP BOC or AMT.
  • Generalist certification as an MT given by ASCP BOR or AMT.
  • 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 (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Determinations:

Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist, GS-12.

Experience.

1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level is required for all GS-12 assignments.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.

(A) Knowledge of Federal and state laws and regulations and laboratory accrediting agency regulatory requirements sufficient to develop plans and procedures for the laboratory.

(B) 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.

(C) Knowledge of concepts, principles, and methods of clinical laboratory technology and operations.

(D) Skill in applying leadership principles such as interpersonal relations and conflict resolution.

(E) Ability to perform the full range of supervisory duties, which includes responsibility for assignment of work, performance evaluations, selection of staff, recommendation of awards, advancements, and disciplinary actions.

(F) Ability to plan, organize, set short and/or long-term goals, and conduct studies on technical and administrative problems including personnel shortages, organizational structure, and new technology.

(G) Ability to manage fiscal matters, forecast resource and equipment needs, and administer the allocated budget.

Preferred Experience:

2 years CLS (Clinical Laboratory Scientist) experience within the past 5 years.

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: T

This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires mostly periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients/residents who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on stakeholder needs.