Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. Announcement is open to current, permanent Birmingham VA Healthcare system employee's only (SF-50 required)

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Functions & Scope of Duties:

• Demonstrates the ability to balance responsibilities and works with a great deal of autonomy in performing responsibilities that include, but are not limited to recording and monitoring attendance; supervising and assigning work to employees; Monitoring workload and clinical testing volumes.
• Demonstrates the ability and skills to effectively supervise, direct, and manage a diverse staff; plans and assigns work based on the priorities, requirements of assignments, and abilities of employees.
• Ensures compliance accrediting agencies and regulatory requirements and establishes and monitors the quality of pre-analytical, analytical, and post analytical processes.
• Develops, coordinates, and implements plans for providing training for subordinates.
• Ensures staff understands organizational goals and mission for P&LM and BVAHCS.
• Demonstrates knowledge of HR policies and procedures, including recruitment, high performance, development model, performance-based interviewing and hiring, performance monitors, performance appraisals, employee recognition and promotion.
• recommends appointments, awards advancement and disciplinary actions.
• Develops performance standards, position descriptions and functional statements.
• Clearly communicates performance expectations and conducts performance reviews/appraisal ratings in a timely fashion. Provides mentoring, feedback, and coaching when needed; and recognition and or awards for high levels of performance.
• Ensures employees have appropriate supplies, equipment, materials to perform their jobs well. Monitors inventory levels to ensure adequate supply availability.
• Assures all employees work in a safe, clean, work environment and promotes these practices among all employees of P&LM.
• Provides advice, and counsel; and evaluates work of subordinates.
• Ensures the laboratory maintains continuous readiness and supports the organization's performance improvement, and patient safety programs.
• Provides authoritative consultative services to management at all levels of the organization as it applies to quality management in a clinical laboratory setting.
• Monitors laboratory quality control systems and performance indicators. Interacts with management officials and vendors providing inter-laboratory quality assurance and laboratory proficiency testing.
• Develops validation plans for equipment and methodology evaluations and evaluates statistical data collected.
• Works with Laboratory Information Manager (LIM) to ensure accuracy of automated transmission of data in Point of Care Testing and completes computer change requests for new tests for auto transmission into the patient record.
• Processes all specimens using equipment, instrument, and techniques considering problems related to collection and processing of biological specimens which could affect the test results; i.e. hemolysis, lipemia, icterus, specimen clots, the need for special handling, special timing, special preservatives, etc.
• Performs moderate and highly complex test procedures on all defined positions in the Chemistry Specialty when necessary to carry out day to day operations which include but are not limited to, routine testing, quality control, routine maintenance of instrumentation and troubleshooting.
• Performs maintenance, calibrations, linearities, quality control; and troubleshoots procedures and equipment.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30am - 4:00pm
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 61724F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
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.

English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English.

Education. A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university.

• 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 in above automatically determines the foreign education as creditable and no further documentation or proof of equivalency is needed.

Certification-Documentation Required - 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).

Grade Determinations:
Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist, GS-13
General. For all GS-13 assignments above the FPL, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety, and be performed by the CLS at least 25% of the time. Candidates at this grade level are in one of the following assignments.

Experience. One (1) year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-12. This experience may include but is not limited to; develops and recommends policies and procedures for procurement and service requirements for ancillary testing (testing outside the physical confines of the main laboratory) as mandated by VHA that include ensuring CLIA licenses are maintained for off-site facilities such as Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC) AND

• The CLS has full supervisory responsibility in a laboratory where at least three of the five following conditions are met outlined below;
  • Lab is a complexity level index group 1 or 2 based on the Hospital Complexity Level as designated in Office of Productivity, Efficiency, and Staffing (OPES) VHA Facility Complexity Model History.
  • The laboratory performs at least one million standard billable tests annually (as reported to the Laboratory Management Index Program).
  • The CLS supervises a staff of non-supervisory personnel including at least one GS-12 subordinate.
  • Lack of on-site pathologist.
  • Oversight of more than one laboratory specialty.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience 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 inefficient 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.

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).

Preferred Experience: Five (5) or more years of experience in all areas of the clinical laboratory (Generalist) in a medium/large medical center, including responsibility for assignment of work and familiarity with agency (CAP, T JC) requirements for accreditation.

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.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service 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.