Clarification from the agency

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply. First consideration will be given to facility employees. Second consideration will be given to VHA employees. Third consideration will be given to all others. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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The Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist oversees the services provided in the core laboratory and blood bank including but not limited to compliance with accrediting agency standards, training, the quality management program, and competency assessment.

The Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist is responsible for ensuring compliance with accrediting and regulatory agency standards including but not limited to the VA, CLIA, The Joint Commission, AABB, OSHA, and the FDA. He/she is responsible for collaborating with the Laboratory Manager and Quality Management Clinical Laboratory Scientist for the planning, design, and implementation for all elements of the quality management plan. He/she monitors compliance to ensure safe and accurate patient testing. He/she is responsible for oversite, guidance, and necessary corrective action.

The Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist is a technical expert and will serve as a point of contact with the inspection team during accreditation events. He/she participates in corrective action to non-conformances identified during accreditation events.

The Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist is responsible for the day-to-day operations in the laboratory by planning, organizing, and directing the work being performed. He/she reviews workload data, prepares reports, assesses staffing needs and adjusts staffing as necessary to ensure continuity of operations. He/she promotes teamwork to accomplish departmental and facility tasks.

The Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist is responsible for ensuring staff are trained, competency assessed to run patient testing and quality control, know how to troubleshoot basic problems, and can identify discrepancies. He/she will offer guidance as the technical expert.

The Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist is responsible for evaluating new test requests, assessing the impact to the service line and patient care, performing validation studies and the implementation of new tests and or procedures. He/she writes and updates standard operating procedures as required. He/she evaluates and makes recommendations for methodology changes, new tests, or discontinuance of testing. The Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist assists with maintaining the document control of the standard operating procedures.

The Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist is responsible for evaluating new test requests, assessing the impact to the service line and patient care, performing validation studies and the implementation of new tests and or procedures. He/she writes and updates standard operating procedures as required. He/she evaluates and makes recommendations for methodology changes, new tests, or discontinuance of testing. The Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist assists with maintaining the document control of the standard operating procedures.

Performs additional duties as assigned.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 4:00 p.m. - 12:30 a.m. or 5:00 p.m. - 1:30 a.m.
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
EDRP Authorized: 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. 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)
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.
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.

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.
• Certification. Candidates must meet one of the certification options below.
  • 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, candidates must meet the following grade-determining criteria for placement at grade levels specified.

Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist, GS-12

• Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level is required
• 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 and laboratory accrediting agency regulatory requirements sufficient to develop plans and procedures for the laboratory.
  • 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.
  • Knowledge of concepts, principles, and methods of clinical laboratory technology and operations.
  • Skill in applying leadership principles such as interpersonal relations and conflict resolution.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Ability to manage fiscal matters, forecast resource and equipment needs, and administer the allocated budget.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://department.va.gov/employees/va-qualifications-standards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.

Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

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.