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Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist

Department of Health and Human Services
National Institutes of Health
Clinical Center, Department of Laboratory Medicine
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position serves as the Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist in the Hematology Service and reports to the Chief Clinical Laboratory Scientist in that Service. As a Team Leader, the incumbent utilizes a variety of coordinating, coaching, facilitating, consensus-building, and planning techniques to lead a team of Clinical Laboratory Scientists. These Clinical Laboratory Scientists are involved in research protocols, unusual specimens, and the care of immune compromised patients.

Overview

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Job canceled
Open & closing dates
03/20/2023 to 03/29/2023
Salary
$94,199 to - $122,459 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12
Location
3 vacancies in the following location:
Montgomery County
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
12
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
NIH-CC-DE-23-11837338
Control number
713430900

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

You must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National. Foreign nationals or legal permanent residents are not eligible for consideration.

Duties

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As a GS-0644-12 Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist, your duties may include, but are not limited to the following: ·

  • Performs routine and specialized testing in the following Hematology Service Sections: Automation, Morphology, Coagulation, Bone Marrow Immunohistochemistry, Flow Cytometry, and Molecular Testing.
  • Initiates the dehydration process of gross specimen cover slips the sample, and labels and stains the sample for future studies.
  • Receives and evaluates adequacy of clinical Hematology specimens for testing, including specimen identification and integrity.
  • Develops quality control procedures for new tests and modifies existing ones as needs change. Assesses data needed, designs data collection procedures, identifies parameters and determines acceptable range for each parameter.
  • Coaches the team in the selection and application of appropriate problem solving methods and techniques, provides advice on work methods, practices and procedures, and assists the team and/or individual members in identifying the parameters of a viable solution.
  • Leads the team in identifying, distributing and balancing workload and tasks among employees in accordance with established work flow, skill level and/or occupational specialization; makes adjustments to accomplish the workload in accordance with established priorities to ensure timely accomplishment of assigned team tasks: and ensures that each employee has an integral role in developing the final team product.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship requirement or proof of being a U.S. National must be met by closing date.
  • Employment is subject to the successful completion of a background investigation, verification of qualifications, completion of onboarding forms, submission of required documents, and any other job-related requirement before or after appointment.
  • Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
  • Males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered with the Selective Service.
  • This is a Tier 1 designated position.
  • If selected, you must pass a pre-employment medical examination, provide evidence of immunization, and be free from communicable diseases.
  • Position requires education, transcripts required.
  • At supervisory discretion, this position may offer work schedule flexibilities: telework.
  • The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion such as long periods of standing and walking, bending over instruments and microscopes, and lifting light to moderately heavy items such as reagents packs and various supplies.
  • The work environment involves regular and recurring exposure to infectious agents such as hepatitis and HIV and to noxious and flammable liquids such as xylene and formalin.
  • Clinical Laboratory Scientists work in a Biohazard Level 2 facility. DLM also contains both a Biohazard Level 2+ and a Biohazard Level 3 laboratory for the testing of samples which may contain highly infectious agents.
  • Clinical Laboratory Scientists are required to use protective clothing such as lab coats, goggles, gloves, and must follow all Universal Safety precautions.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: Education

A Bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree from a regionally accredited college/university including courses in biological science, chemistry and mathematics, AND successful completion of a Medical Laboratory Scientist/Clinical Laboratory Scientist program accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) or an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained.
OR
A full 4-year course of study that included 12 months in a college or hospital-based medical technology program or medical technology school approved by a recognized accrediting organization. The professional medical technology curriculum may have consisted of a 1-year post- bachelor's certificate program or the last 1 or 2 years of a 4-year program of study culminating in a bachelor's in medical technology.
OR
A Bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree from an accredited college/university, including 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) of biological science (with one semester in microbiology), 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) of chemistry (with one semester in organic or biochemistry), one semester (one quarter) of mathematics, AND five years of full time acceptable clinical laboratory experience in Blood Banking, Chemistry, Hematology, microbiology, Immunology and Urinalysis/Body Fluids. This combination of education and experience must have provided knowledge of the theories, principles, and practices of medical technology equivalent to that provided by the full 4-year course of study described in A or B above. All science and mathematics courses must have been acceptable for credit toward meeting the requirements for a science major at an accredited college or university. Acceptable experience is responsible professional or technician experience in a hospital laboratory, health agency, industrial medical laboratory, or pharmaceutical house; or teaching, test development, or medical research program experience that provided an understanding of the methods and techniques applied in performing professional clinical laboratory work. Certification/licensure as a medical technologist (generalist) obtained through written examination by a nationally recognized credentialing agency or State licensing body is a good indication that the quality of experience is acceptable.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT:
You must demonstrate in your resume at least one (1) year of qualifying experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following tasks: Providing direction and guidance to other staff members in the performance of laboratory testing in accordance with regulatory and accrediting agency requirements; performing quality assurance and safety functions; developing, validating and implementing new test methodologies for hematology services; and performing high complexity testing, including sample processing, data acquisition, and analysis as it relates to flow cytometry.

Do not copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.

Preview assessment questionnaire before you apply: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11837338

Education

This position has an education requirement. You are strongly encouraged to submit a copy of your transcripts (or a list of your courses including titles, credit hours completed and grades). Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. Official transcripts will be required from all selectees prior to receiving an official offer. Click here for information on Foreign Education.


Additional information

  • A one-year probationary period may be required upon selection/placement.
  • This position is designated as an "emergency essential" position and the selected candidate will be considered an "emergency essential" employee and will be required to be available, ready, willing, and able to report for duty under all circumstances (e.g., inclement weather, government closings and holidays, lapses in appropriations, non-emergency and emergency situations) for operation 24 hours a day and 365 days per year coverage.
  • PHS Commissioned Officers interested in performing the duties of this position within the Commissioned Corps should apply online to this announcement to receive consideration
  • We may make additional selections for similar positions within the commuting area(s) of the locations listed through this vacancy announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with any interested selecting official(s). Clearance of CTAP/ICTAP will be applied for similar positions.
  • The National Institutes of Health participates in the USCIS Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify). E-Verify helps employers determine employment eligibility of new hires and the validity of their Social Security numbers.
  • The NIH maintains a tobacco free work environment and campus.
  • Must be able to perform the essential duties of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.
  • Visit our Applicant FAQs page for helpful information on the application process.
  • Visit our Total Compensation page and this sample for a detailed look into the benefits, awards, leave, retirement, and other incentives employees may receive as part of a rewarding work environment.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

  • 1. Ability to lead medical professionals in a clinical laboratory that supports a clinical research program.
  • 2. Knowledge of the principles, concepts and methods of medical technology.
  • 3. Skills in conducting laboratory test/procedures and in operating laboratory testing equipment.
  • 4. Knowledge of laboratory safety principles and procedures.


If you meet the minimum qualifications for this position, your application and responses to the online questionnaire will be evaluated under Category Rating and selection procedures for placement in one of the following categories:
  • Best Qualified - for those who are superior in the evaluation criteria
  • Well Qualified - for those who excel in the evaluation criteria
  • Qualified - for those who only meet the minimum qualification requirements
The Category Rating Process does not add veterans' preference points but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. Applicants determined to be Best Qualified will be referred for further consideration. Preference eligibles in the Best Qualified category are referred before all other applicants.

To determine your qualifications and referral status, we may review your resume and supporting documentation and compare it against your responses to the vacancy questionnaire. Ensure you support your self-ratings by the information you provide in your application. We may verify or assess your qualifications at any time. Inflated or unsupported qualifications may affect your rating. Any misrepresentation or material omission of facts may be sufficient cause to end further consideration of your candidacy. Persons listed as having knowledge of your past accomplishments or experience in your application may be contacted for verification purposes at any time. Verification may, but need not, begin prior to receiving an offer.

To be considered well qualified for the purposes of the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) and the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), you must be able to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry and substantively exceed the basic qualifications by scoring at least an 85 on the assessment and meet all eligibility, physical, medical, suitability, and all other requirements.

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