Clarification from the agency

This vacancy announcement is open to US Citizens. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position.

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Major Duties:

• Education of staff on Quality, HRO principles, Performance, and Process Improvement principles including flow charting and value stream mapping, Lean principles, identifying variability, tracking supply and demand and then reduce demand.
• Developing training programs that focus on enabling operational leaders to achieve strategic and annual operating goals aligned with the organization's Management and Leadership systems must apply good judgment and originality to modify established production and quality verification concepts or criteria to fit the particular situation.
• Monitors quality measures and activities of the laboratory to determine conformance with established policies, regulatory or accreditation requirements; and makes recommendations for appropriate corrective action and follow-up as necessary.
• Assists supervisors in compliance with all T JC and CAP guidelines and regulations to assure readiness for accreditation inspections. Works across laboratory sections to assure P&LMS performance measures are met.
• Creates and applies reengineering and continuous performance improvement initiatives, both within the laboratory and/or the organization. Maintains a laboratory performance improvement program and ensures measurement of performance monitors and customer feedback. Serves as the laboratory Performance Improvement Committee Coordinator. Implements effective processes and system controls to ensure the highest possible product quality, service quality, and patient safety.
  • Plans, provides timely reports, and presentations of the annual Laboratory Pl Plan.
• Utilize various methods of Performance/Process Improvement:
  • Lean Principles
  • Plan-Do-Study-Act model of performance improvement
  • Root Cause Analysis
  • Customer Satisfaction Measurement Systems (surveys).
• Develops tracking/monitoring methods and data collection.
• Collaborates with other in research activities to improve care.
• Utilizing a wide range of analytical and evaluative methods and techniques in providing consultation for the Service Chief, Administrative Office, and the Laboratory Manager.
• With approval of P&LMS Chief or Supervisor, participates in medical center and network initiatives as appropriate, and represent service when on committees, task forces and work groups including facility quality management hospital Pl projects (RPI, RCA, Quali-TEA).
• Develops methods for quantitative, statistical, or graphic display of data. Prepares and presents evaluations/analysis, conclusions, and recommendation for corrective action plans to management and or appropriate committees.
• Serves on multiple Service, Hospital, and VA committees.
• Develops and presents briefings and reports on study/project status to all levels of management and staff with the approval of P&LMS Leadership. Responds to Service questions and requests for information, interprets data and provides background data regarding systems determinant studies.
• Incumbent along with Lab Leadership develops mutually acceptable projects, which typically includes identification of the work to be done, scope of the project, and timeliness for completion. Within the parameters of the approved project, the Incumbent is responsible for leading a team in planning and organizing the study, estimation of costs, coordination of staff and management and overseeing all phases and aspects of the project. The Incumbent informs the Supervisor of controversial findings, issues, or problems with widespread impact. Completed projects, evaluation, reports, and recommendations are reported to Lab Leadership to assure compatibility or organization goals, guidelines, and effectiveness in achieving intended objectives.
• Maintains a laboratory performance improvement (Pl) program for the Pathology and Laboratory Department and ensures monitoring of components and customer feedback to:
  • Schedule, prepare and conduct Pl meetings at least monthly.
  • Prepare and route meeting minutes within 5 days for review and approval throughout the approval chain.
  • Prepare the quarterly and annual quality improvement summary reports for JAHVH, NPR, Lakeland, and Temple Terrace facilities and present to all staff by the 15th of each month.
  • Implement effective processes and system controls to ensure the highest possible product quality, service quality, and patient safety.
  • Detect and prevent errors in laboratory practice and conduct root cause analysis investigations to improve processes.
  • Reduce process variations between JAHVH, NPR, Lakeland, and Temple Terrace facilities which can cause errors and ensure standardized processes throughout the laboratory system.
• Other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm
Telework: Ad-hoc only.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 72096F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: 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 identification 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 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 in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403 (f)
• 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:
    • (1) 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
    • (2) 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 Certification requirement below 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.

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-13 Clinical Laboratory Scientist (Regional Technical Specialist)

• Assignments. 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.
• Experience. 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level is required for all GS-13 assignments.
• Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs):
  • Knowledge of regulatory and accrediting agency requirements, concepts, principles, and practices of medical technology sufficient to perform the full range of duties involved in planning, coordinating, and evaluating laboratory services.
  • Knowledge of compliance requirements sufficient to provide direction for complex diagnostic testing.
  • Knowledge of laboratory information systems to accomplish diagnostic laboratory work and quality assurance.
  • Skill in evaluating, interpreting, and teaching others to use quality control procedures to monitor variables that affect quality of services and implement corrective actions.
  • Ability to apply laws, policies, precedents, regulatory, licensing, and accrediting requirements to establish, monitor, and maintain the specialized testing.
  • Ability to develop new test procedures and modify existing procedures and methods to resolve problems relative to complex and difficult situations.

Preferred Experience: Implementing and/or maintaining a laboratory Quality Improvement Program. Experience working with data analysis and quality metrics, document control, leading lean projects and employee training.

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: The work requires regular and recurrent standing to perform procedures and tests, walking between different areas within the laboratory and throughout the medical center. The work involves sitting at a microscope, manual dexterity, visual acuity, color vision and the ability to sit and concentrate for long periods of time. Requires intermittent moderate lifting (15-44 pounds); light carrying (under 15 pounds); use of fingers; both hands required; intermittent, but possible prolonged stooping and kneeling; ability to read and comprehend ordinary type and computer screens; ability to hear (aid permitted) and work in an environment with constant noise; working closely with others; high cognitive function required to work in a fast paced environment with competing priorities without loss of accuracy; emotional stability required to maintain self-control in difficult and stressful situations.

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.