Clarification from the agency

**This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September 30, 2026. Eligible applications received will be referred at regular 30 day intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis OR until positions are filled. For the internal announcement apply under announcement CBSU-CBSU-12968458-26-BAW** NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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• Serves as a consultant, facilitator, trainer, and technical advisor to staff at all levels to ensure facility compliance with and design, implementation and maintains the PALMS Quality Management Program in alignment with clinical laboratory accreditation and regulatory standards that include, but are not limited to, Joint Commission (JC), College of American Pathologists (CAP), National Enforcement Office (NEO), Veteran's Health Administration (VHA) Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies (AABB), and the and the Office of the Inspector General (OIG).
• Ensures the laboratory maintains continuous readiness and supports the organization's performance improvement and patient safety programs.
• Develops, reviews, and maintains service-level policies, SOPs, and quality documentation while overseeing document control, change management and version governance for all PALMS quality documents.
• Leads regulatory readiness activities, including gap analyses, tracer activities, document reviews and corrective action planning, conducts risk assessments, FMEAs and root-cause analysis for adverse events, near misses and process failures.
• Maintains a laboratory performance improvement program working with laboratory staff at all levels ensuring monitoring of components and customer feedback.
• Monitors quality indicators, proficiency testing, Internal audits, and external assessments; analyzes trends and recommends corrective/preventive action.
• Co-Chairs Laboratory QA committee and prepares quarterly QA reports and annual assessment of QA program for clinical laboratory, Anatomic pathology QA and ancillary testing QA.
• Implements effective processes and system controls with corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) to ensure the highest possible product quality, service quality, and patient safety.
• Attends Accreditation committee meetings and other meetings as required.
• Advises lab management on quality management concerns that could impact other services and assists with the necessary follow-up.
• Investigates patient safety events, JPSRs, develops action plans, and monitors effectiveness of interventions.
• Prepares Agenda for Quality Assurance Committee and finalizes minutes. Assists with Ancillary Blood and Laboratory Utilization Committee preparing agenda/reports and finalizing minutes as needed.
• Incumbent must possess and maintain a current unrestricted state driver's license.
• Occasional travel to Community Based Outpatient Clinics/Community Living Centers is required.

COR

• Provides consultative services and documentation management to management at all levels of the organization as it applies to quality management of contracts for supplies and services in a clinical laboratory setting.
• Performs maintenance of a laboratory contract quality management program and ensures monitoring of components and customer feedback for all contracts.
• Identifies, defines, and resolves issues associated with complex aspects of the collected data and monitors fiscal systems and contract performance indicators. Interacts with management officials in PLMS, Eastern Colorado Health Care System (ECHCS) and VISN 19 Contracting to ensure continuous readiness for regulatory agency inspection and uninterrupted essential laboratory services and supplies be maintained.
• Research clinical requirements from all laboratory disciplines and receive information from technical supervisors/specialists sufficient to initiate, maintain and monitor contract requirements in a manner as to provide safety and efficiency of laboratory operations.
• Participating in acquisition planning, requirements development, and performance work statements for laboratory services, equipment, and supplies.
• Monitoring contractor performance to ensure compliance with contract terms, specifications, and quality standards.
• Documenting contractor performance issues and communicating concerns to the Contracting Officer.
• Provides technical guidance for sections and writes statements of work, justification of sole source, and independent government estimates and conducts market research in conjunction with Technical Supervisors to maintain uninterrupted clinical laboratory supplies and services.

Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday 7:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: GS-0644-12-554-613320
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact jillana.martinez@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
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.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• 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 may 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.

A current, valid state-issued Driver's License is required for this position. NOTE: We cannot accept photographs, therefore, please do not submit a copy of your license with your application package. If an interview is requested, you will be required to provide a copy of your current, valid state-issued Driver's License.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States
• 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.
  • 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).
• 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.
• Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. Graduates of foreign baccalaureate degree programs meet the educational requirements if they meet either of the following:
  • Foreign transcripts are evaluated by an acceptable evaluation agency, and the degree is found to be equivalent to a NAACLS-approved U.S. clinical laboratory science degree program. OR
  • The applicant submits a letter from ASCP BOC or AMT stating the individual is eligible to take the certification examination.
  • NOTE: Possession of a certification identified above automatically determines the foreign education as creditable and no further documentation or proof of equivalency is needed.
• 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.

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. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:(A) Knowledge of the concepts, principles, and practices of medical technology sufficient to perform the full range of duties involved in planning, coordinating, and evaluating laboratory services.(B) Knowledge of accrediting agencies and regulatory requirements pertaining to laboratory operations.(C) Knowledge of laboratory operations and relationships to the organization.(D) Skill in applying laboratory quality control/assurance policies, procedures, and principles and safety practices and regulations.(E) Ability to apply quality management performance improvement principles, methodology, and processes to develop and manage a clinical laboratory quality management program.(F) Ability to apply statistical evaluation and analysis to quality assurance data and implement corrective actions when indicated.

Preferred Experience: 3 years of current Quality Management experience. Experience with CLIA and accreditation requirements for laboratories. Experience in multiple areas of the laboratory.

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-11 . The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12.

Physical Requirements: The incumbent must be able to perform moderate lifting up to 20 lbs., straight pulling, pushing, reaching above the shoulder, use of fingers and both hands, walking, standing for up to 4 hours, kneeling, repeated bending, use of both arms and legs. Specific visual requirements include use of both eyes, depth perception, ability to distinguish colors and shades of colors, hearing (aids permitted), clear, high cognitive function and
emotional stability; ability to read ordinary type without strain.

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.