Clarification from the agency

Must be a U.S. citizen. Candidates should read the entire announcement to ensure they meet all requirements. Candidates may reapply one year after their most recent date of application submission for the same position. Candidates may not apply if a U.S. State Department Suitability Review Panel denied suitability in the last two years for any position, (except if the denial was for a DS Special Agent (SA) candidate whose denial was based solely on the unique requirements for SAs).

The Bureau of Medical Services (MED) in the Department of State maintains and promotes the health and well-being of the United States' diplomatic community, who represent a wide range of United States government agencies abroad. The Department assigns Foreign Service Regional Medical Laboratory Scientists (RMLS) to selected posts overseas. Many of these posts have significant health risks and local medical care that is inadequate by U.S. standards.

The RMLS performs a wide variety of tests and procedures in Parasitology, Microbiology, Chemistry, Immunology, Hematology, Blood Banking, and Urinalysis. Duties also include training laboratory and non-laboratory medical professionals, assessing local laboratories, and addressing food safety, environmental, and water quality issues.

All Medical Specialists working with the Bureau of Medical Services must provide services to all patients regardless of age, sex, race, ethnicity, national origin, language, disease, disability, or religion.

RMLS duties may include, but are not limited to, the following at each regional post of responsibility:

Clinical

• Inspects, evaluates, and reports on the quality of local medical laboratory services, blood banks, and hospital laboratories at home and regional posts, in possibly hazardous and/or difficult-to-access environments.
• Develops and coordinates laboratory education programs, including but not limited to bloodborne pathogen training, safe food handlers training, and continuing medical education programs.
• Trains and supervises a diverse group of laboratory professionals who have varying degrees of expertise, education, and command of the English language.
• Serves as clinical and technical supervisor of regional laboratory personnel.
• Conducts competency assessments at home and regional posts.
• Performs and reports on medical and environmental laboratory tests.
• Performs phlebotomy on patients of all ages.
• Ensures patient confidentiality and records integrity.
• Addresses food safety, environmental, and water quality issues.
• Maintains credentials and continuing medical education.
• Trains health unit staff on specimen collection, processing, testing, and reporting.
• Conducts food safety and other instructional classes.
• Performs sanitation inspections.
• Maintains a ServSafe® manager certification.

Diplomatic

• Collaborates with local laboratory directors and managers.

Administrative

• Manages the health unit laboratory operations.
• Oversees Quality Management programs.
• Updates and modifies Exposure Control Plans.
• Performs cost analyses to determine cost versus benefit when indicated to maintain fiscal responsibility.
• Mentors new RMLSs.
• Evaluates test methods.
• Submits statistical reports to the Bureau of Medical Services.
• Updates the medical capabilities database.

Emergency Preparedness

• Prepares laboratory testing information for the emergency preparedness programs.
• Assists with the post's pandemic medical response plans.

Regional Care Responsibilities

• Travels independently to regional constituent posts utilizing air carriers and transportation facilities that may be difficult to access.
• Arranges and maintains a regional travel schedule to respond to immediate and routine post needs.
• Maintains communication with regional health unit staff.
• Liaises with Regional Medical Managers.
• Maintains regular communication with the MED/LAB office in Washington, D.C.

An RMLS is considered essential personnel and is expected to be available on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Conditions of employment

• Be a U.S. citizen and accept assignments based on the needs of the FS.*
• Be able to obtain a Top Secret Security Clearance.
• Meet the minimum medical qualification standard.
• Be able to obtain a favorable Suitability Review Panel determination.**
• Be at least 20 years old and at least 21 years old to be appointed.
• Be appointed prior to age 60 (preference eligible veterans excepted).***

Licensure and Certification

The candidate must hold a current national certification as a Medical Laboratory Scientist or Clinical Laboratory Scientist from the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification. Those credentialed prior to 01/01/2004 must upload their certification with no expiration. Those credentialed after 01/01/2004 must upload their current, active certification. Primary source verification of ASCP credentials may be completed online through the ASCP website. Follow the instructions provided on the online order form. Immediate on-screen results are available at the time the order is placed. The option to print verification results from the website is available at the time the order is placed and/or later, post login.

Additional Certifications Upon Hire and During Duration of Career

Valid American Red Cross or American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) certification is required 90 days after hire and must be maintained throughout employment with the Department. If a candidate does not have BLS certification at the time of hire, MED will provide the course and certification after onboarding.

Specialized Experience

The candidate must have a minimum of five (5) years of full-time post-certification laboratory experience within the last ten (10) years in the Chemistry, Hematology, and Immunology (i.e., Core Lab) areas of the laboratory, with experience and working knowledge in Parasitology, Microbiology, Blood Banking, and Urinalysis, with progressively responsible experience as a Medical Laboratory Scientist.

Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

The Department bases its hiring decisions on extensive job analysis research that identifies the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) and other attributes that lead to successful performance in this position. Hiring officials will evaluate each candidate's education, work experience, and other qualifications against these KSA-based criteria.

The candidate demonstrates skill in performing tests with detail and accuracy and provides information to appropriate individuals as needed. The work requires a high degree of laboratory management and technical expertise.

The candidate possesses knowledge of Medical Laboratory Science, General Anatomy, Medical Terminology, Quality Control procedures, Quality Assurance plans, and the laboratory equipment used to perform a variety of laboratory tests. The candidate also demonstrates skill in performing preventive maintenance and troubleshooting on laboratory equipment and can train other medical professionals in laboratory techniques.

The candidate is a skilled and experienced Medical Laboratory Scientist who can work independently. Experience performing laboratory techniques to diagnose infectious and tropical diseases is preferred.

The candidate develops, coordinates, and administers food and safety programs and procedures, and teaches laboratory and safety topics to both small and large groups.

The candidate organizes and supervises a varied group of health care staff with different levels of expertise, education, and English proficiency. The candidate understands the unique cultural differences related to laboratory methods and health care delivery in various countries and addresses these differences in a positive manner.

The candidate builds cooperation and gains the confidence of patients, co-workers, supervisors, and subordinates.

The candidate works effectively in a multidisciplinary setting and demonstrates team building, leadership, and management experience.

The candidate writes and speaks clearly and presents laboratory findings in a clear and concise manner to both medical and non-medical personnel. Demonstrated ability to teach or lecture groups on laboratory issues is preferred.

The candidate uses computers effectively and demonstrates proficiency with Microsoft Office.

The candidate demonstrates a high degree of technical expertise and management experience.

The candidate manages all administrative aspects of a health unit laboratory and copes effectively with extraordinary issues that may occur in remote and isolated settings. Previous experience as a supervisor, section chief, or in an overseas setting is advantageous.

The candidate is a skilled and experienced medical laboratory scientist with excellent interpersonal skills. The candidate functions well within a complex organization, works effectively in high-stress environments, and recognizes and understands the challenges of delivering laboratory services to U.S. citizens posted in locations where local laboratory resources are limited or non-existent.

The candidate objectively evaluates the quality of laboratory services based on observations and open-ended questions and provides long-distance assessments of issues via electronic communications such as video conference software, telephone, radio, and email.

Specific medical knowledge required for the job includes medical laboratory science, clinical laboratory standards, medical laboratory equipment, specimen collection, computer medical records and programs, International Air Transport Association (IATA) regulations, and water testing methods and standards.

The candidate applies specific medical skills, including performing and selecting laboratory tests, collecting specimens, analyzing results, observing, interviewing, and controlling laboratory documents.

The candidate uses management skills to supervise and oversee laboratory operations, manage laboratories, train staff, organize work, multitask, collaborate with colleagues from different backgrounds, manage resources, develop and monitor budgets, handle contracting actions, and use computers effectively.

The candidate uses personal skills such as reading comprehension, active listening, active learning, oral and written communication, public speaking, identifying complex problems, critical thinking, social perceptiveness, interpersonal skills, persuasion, service orientation, monitoring, coordination, process operation and control, and equipment selection and installation.

The candidate demonstrates compassion and works in a self-sufficient and independent manner while integrating effectively with the Department; shows interest in continuous learning and change; pays close attention to detail; and demonstrates dependability.

The candidate tolerates frequent travel, worldwide assignment, separation from family, and work and life in difficult, isolated, or high-threat locations.

The candidate demonstrates superior oral and written communication skills. Foreign Service Specialists must consistently meet a high standard of written and spoken English, including overall structure, delivery, clarity, succinctness, grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

Essential Physical Requirements

The most important physical requirements of the job are speaking, hearing, vision, mental endurance, tolerance for extreme environmental conditions, physical endurance, dexterity, and mobility.

RMLSs may need to perform essential functions effectively in environments that pose physical or other occupational challenges. These duties may include:

• Provision of direct patient care that may require heavy lifting, pulling, stooping, bending, and twisting in tight and limited spaces.
• Travelling independently to posts utilizing commercial air carriers, military aircraft, or other transportation types that may not offer special access or accommodations.
• Provision of emergency care in any location following an accident, natural disaster, or attack in potentially hostile or physically challenging environments, such as in buildings without elevators or in areas with irregular spaces that require kneeling, bending, stooping, lifting, walking, and running over uneven terrain.
• Transportation of self or patients via small aircraft, helicopters, ambulances, or other non-standard modes of transportation with small entrances and high floors, such as high-axle armored vehicles.
• Assistance with evacuation via land, sea, or air in the event of political unrest.

How you will be evaluated

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

The Department of State will evaluate candidates on their total background including experience, education, awards, training, and self-development as it relates to the position. The Department of State will select only from among candidates possessing the best qualifications for this position. Part-time work experience will be prorated.

The Department of State prohibits candidates from plagiarizing any portion of their employment application materials, including responses to questions in which candidates must provide a narrative response. Candidates must create their own responses originally and not copy or adapt them from other sources. The Department analyzes candidate submissions for plagiarism and will discontinue any individual's candidacy if found to have violated this plagiarism policy.

While the Department of State encourages candidates to create their narratives with great care, including correct use of grammar and style, candidates are prohibited from using any artificial intelligence (AI) tool, including but not limited to ChatGPT, to aid in their written responses. The Department will discontinue any individual's candidacy if found to have violated this prohibition on use of AI tools in the application process.

The Department of State reserves the right to cancel and/or disqualify any application or to withhold test results when, in its judgment, a testing irregularity occurs. Testing irregularities include, but are not limited to, candidate misconduct, plagiarism as mentioned above, and/or misrepresentation of material fact, including in narrative descriptions of accomplishments. The Department may verify content provided by candidates by contacting references. It also conducts extensive background checks of work and education history of candidates offered employment.

Candidates are subject to a credential verification process conducted by the Quality Management Staff Unit of the Bureau of Medical Services. This process includes query of the National Practitioner Data Bank and independent verification of state licenses and national certifications. Once hired, medical personnel are indemnified for official duties only through the U.S. Federal Tort Claims Act, so long as they are acting within their scope of work.

Active Bureau of Medical Services clinical privileges, specific to the position, are a condition of employment for all Foreign Service Medical Specialists.

Medical Credential Verification and Indemnification

Candidates are subject to a credential verification process conducted by the Quality Management Staff Unit of the Bureau of Medical Services. This process includes query of the National Practitioner Data Bank and independent verification of state licenses and national certifications. Once hired, medical personnel are indemnified for official duties only through the U.S. Federal Tort Claims Act, so long as they are acting within their scope of work.

Active Bureau of Medical Services clinical privileges, specific to the position, are a condition of employment for all Foreign Service Medical Specialists.