Clarification from the agency

You must be a current or former federal employee eligible to apply under merit promotion procedures or otherwise be eligible as a status applicant (e.g. Veterans Employment Opportunity Act) OR be an individual who is eligible through an OPM interchange agreement or for a non-competitive appointment.

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.

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 the pre-appointment process (i.e., background investigation, verification of qualifications and job requirements, completion of onboarding forms, submission of required documents, etc.)
• Males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered with the Selective Service.
• Applicants must meet all qualifications requirements within thirty (30) calendar days of the closing date of this announcement, including time in grade.
• Position requires Education, please provide transcripts.
• If selected, you must pass a pre-employment medical examination, provide evidence of immunization, and be free from communicable diseases.
• This is a Tier 1 designated position.
• 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/11880975

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.

Additional selections may be made for similar positions across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) within the local commuting area(s) of the location identified in this announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) at HHS. Clearance of CTAP/ICTAP will be applied for similar positions across HHS.

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 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.