Clarification from the agency

Applicants will be considered based on the following areas of consideration: 1) Current VA Employees of the facility 2) All Other VA Employees 3) All other qualified US citizens. *See "How You Will Be Evaluated" for additional information. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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Major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

• The incumbent takes measures essential to meeting professional objectives and production requirements as well as administrative functions and cost containment goals set for these laboratory sections. The incumbent assures that the guidelines are followed and new or changed procedures are implemented, takes leadership in the maintenance of quality control and applies daily quality standards as well as monthly and quarterly QM and fiscal requirements. The incumbent functions as a working supervisor.
• The incumbent is responsible for supervision of the Chemistry and send out section. Assures adequately trained staffing on all shifts.
• Prepares work schedules, grants annual leave, and delineates both technical and administrative duties to assure maximum efficiency within the section. Recommends appointment, plans and assigns work, provides advice and counsel and evaluates work of subordinates.
• Updates the Chemistry/ Send Out section of the Laboratory Procedure Manual and Laboratory Safety Manual. Manages document control, develops performance standards, position descriptions and functional statements and is responsible for professional and administrative management of the Chemistry Department.
• Ensures that proper maintenance and operation of the equipment is being performed and is responsible for the preventative maintenance program and proper record keeping.
• Reviews section work performed on a daily basis, corrects errors, and notifies attending physicians as appropriate, also reviews work performed off-hours and weekends for accuracy and timely completion of procedures. Monitors tests analysis and specimen examination to ensure acceptable levels of performance and initiate corrective action. Adjusts staffing levels as needed to accommodate resource allocation decisions made at the executive level.
• Trains all new technologists in Chemistry/Send out procedures, also retrains and provides continuing education to the Clinical Laboratory Scientists/technicians and students working in Laboratory Service. Verifies orientation, training, and competency assessment of assigned staff.
• Designs, develops, organizes, and evaluates quality control programs to meet the Criteria of College of American Pathologists proficiency testing programs and regular monitors. Complies with JCAHO certification criteria. Develops and updates technical policies and procedure manuals.
• Assures that all Chemistry/ send out personnel attend safety and health orientation within 30 days of hire. Attends supervisory safety training and ensures that annual safety training is provided to all personnel and maintains documentation.
• Assures that personal protective equipment and MSDS are available and properly used. Files CA-1 and 2163 forms within two days of an accident. Ensures participation in fire and emergency preparedness drills semi-annually. Reports equipment and/or utility failures and any safety hazards. Enforces the medical center non-smoking policy. Ensures all personnel perform safe work practices.
• Incumbent is responsible for the equipment in assigned area and reviews EIL list for accuracy. Incumbent follows proper protocols for turning in equipment and coordinates with logistics, ISO and IRMS to ensure that hard drives are properly sanitized on leased equipment and returns before returning the equipment to vendor. Incumbent ensures that lead tech is trained to perform proper turn-in procedures in their absence.

Work Schedule: Monday- Friday, 08:00am -04:30pm.
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov, for questions/assistance. Learn more
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
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).
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)
Functional Statement #:938580
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
• Loss of Credential. If an employee fails to maintain the required certification, management officials, in collaboration with HR Office staff, must immediately remove the employee from duties and responsibilities associated with this occupation. This may also result in separation from employment.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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.
• Education. A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university in medical laboratory science, medical technology, clinical laboratory science or in a related science (e.g., laboratory sciences such as chemistry, biochemistry, biology, microbiology, immunology, etc.).
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C.7403(f).
• Certification. Candidates must meet one of the certification options below.
  1. Generalist certification as an MLS given by ASCP BOC or AMT.
  2. Generalist certification as an MT given by ASCP BOR or AMT.
  3. 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).Grandfathering Provision. Employees in VHA in this occupation under a permanent, appropriate, and legal placement on the effective date of this qualification standard, are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade and/or assignment held, including positive education and certification where applicable. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements of this standard but met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed, the following provisions apply:

• Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or be changed to a lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or newly placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
• If an assignment above the FPL requires an additional certification over and above the basic requirements, employees must meet the assignment-specific requirement before they can be promoted.
• Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
• Employees retained in this occupation under this provision who subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation.
• Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain certification that meets all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.

Experience.

1. Creditable Experience. To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with current CLS practices. The experience satisfying this requirement may be paid or non-paid employment as a CLS in the health care field. Research laboratory experience does not fulfill this requirement.
2. Part-Time Experience. Part-time experience is creditable according to its relationship to a full-time workweek. For example, an individual employed 20 hours per week, or on a half-time basis, would receive 1 full-time workweek of credit for each 2 weeks of service.
3. Quality of Experience. Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to CLS experience at the next lower grade level of the position being filled. For all assignments above the full performance level (FPL), the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity, and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time.

Grade Determinations. In addition to the basic requirements for employment, candidates must meet the following grade-determining criteria for placement:

GS-13 Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist

Experience. 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12) is required. This experience would include but is not limited to: Communicating the organization's strategic plan, mission, vision, and values. Identifying, distributing, balancing work, coaching, and facilitating with problem solving methods. Preparing reports and maintaining records of work status; resolving simple, informal complaints; reports performance, progress, and training needs of the team and on behavioral problems; and providing information on promotions, reassignment, recognition of outstanding performance, and personnel needs. Responsible for all aspects of operation in their area of specialty, including assignment of work responsibilities, workload management, and completion of assignments for staff as well as preparation and maintenance of records and reports, analysis of testing methodologies, training, instrumentation, and compliance. Orientation and evaluating the competency of assigned staff including identification of continuing education and training needs, coordinating daily activity of the lab section(s), writing or modifying technical procedures, providing technical instruction, ensuring that policies, procedures and regulatory requirements are followed, advising on course of action to follow when results or samples obtained are unacceptable, and coordinating or performing quality control reviews and method verification activities.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education 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 in efficient 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.

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. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-13.

Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting and carrying (15-44 lbs); As needed - Straight pulling, pushing, walking, standing, repeated bending, reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required; both legs required; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; ability to see and distinguish depth perception, basic colors, and shades of colors; hearing (aid permitted). In addition, the ability to deal with constant noise, work around machinery with moving parts, work closely with others or alone and work protracted or irregular hours. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 for Requirements.

How you will be evaluated

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

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

Applicants will be referred in the following order:

• Current permanent John D. Dingell VA Medical Center Employees
• Other current permanent VA Employees
• All other qualified US Citizens.