Clarification from the agency

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Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

• Required to know regulatory, licensing, accrediting agency requirements and statutes governing clinical laboratory operations used in planning, implementing, and monitoring laboratory programs and services.
• Problem solves and applies analytical and evaluative methods and techniques to measure and improve program effectiveness and/or organizational productivity.
• Develops new or modified work methods, organizational structures, records and files, management processes, and staffing patterns.
• Responsible for administrative management such as budgeting, contracting, procurement, and property management in accordance with VHA regulations.
• Balances administrative and clinical functions to coordinate and manage programs and resources.
• Plans and executes short-range and long-range programs and/or goals through project management and tactical/strategic planning.
• Effectively communicates, orally and in writing, technical information with a wide variety of individuals including senior managers in a medical center or health care setting or higher-level managers in regional or national offices (for example, VISN-level staff and VHA Central Office staff).

The duties and responsibilities of the Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist (Microbiology/Molecular) include but are not limited to the following:

• Possesses experience in all aspects of Microbiology/Molecular testing particularly experience in plate reading and microbial identification
• Chooses methods for achieving work goals, objectives, and management strategies.
• Day-to-day supervision of performance ensuring that staff comply with requirements from accrediting and regulating bodies.
• In conjunction with Section Medical Director, plans and completes required validation for instrumentation and methodologies.
• Consults with other services in issues of infection control and complex microbiology testing.
• Is responsible for monitoring specimen collection, identification, and processing/shipping integrity to ensure acceptability for in-house and referral lab requirements.
• Assures corrective action is initiated when test performance deviates from established performance specifications.
• Verifies orientation, training, and competency assessment of section staff, other staff performing microbiology or molecular or mycology or virology or immunology or mycobacteriology or any combination thereof, including contract staff and students rotating through P&LMS.
• Implements and monitors quality management activities; develops, collects, and analyzes data for quality monitors covering the section activities. Planning and executing performance and quality improvement projects as needed.
• Develops and updates technical policies and procedure manuals. Manages document control, develops performance standards, position descriptions/functional statements and is responsible for the technical and administrative management of the assigned area(s) including budget execution.
• Works with Pathologist(s) to select tests and analytical instrumentation; schedules and performs required validation studies and submits summary statistics of method validation to pathologist(s) for approval.
• Prepares administrative reports as required.
• Interacts with administrative and clinical onsite personnel and exercises significant independent decision-making authority.
• Performs the full range of supervisory duties including assigning work, conducting performance evaluations, selecting staff, and making recommendations for awards, advancements, and disciplinary actions.
• Plans and assigns work based on priorities, requirements of assignments, and abilities of employees; provides advice and counsel; and evaluates work of subordinates.
• Ensures compliance with accrediting agencies and regulatory requirements and established and monitors the quality of pre-analytical, analytical, and post analytical process in their area(s), initiates corrective actions as needed as part of the overall laboratory quality management program.
• Reviews and optimizes workflow efficiency for areas supervised. Adjusting staffing levels or work procedures to accommodate resource allocation decisions made at the executive level.
• Processes, performs, and reports results for all procedures in Microbiology and Molecular section.
• Other duties as assigned

Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday-Friday, 7:00am-3:30pm
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
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). Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.
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.
Telework: Not available
Functional Statement #: 635-60654-0

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.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• 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).

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. To qualify for appointment to this position, all applicants must possess the following:

• 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.
  • 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).

• 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.

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 (Laboratory Manager), 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).
• 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 in efficient 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.

Preferred Experience: Minimum of 3 years plate reading in Microbiology.

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: 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.