Clinical Lab Scientist Job in Tampa, FL

Vacancy No. CBTC-12795868-25-DC Department Veterans Health Administration
Salary $63,869.00 to $122,875.00 Grade 7 to 11
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 9/8/2025 Close Date 9/18/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Status Candidates
Locations:
Tampa, FL


Summary

The purpose of this position is to serve as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) assigned to the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service of the James A. Haley V Hospital and Clinics.


This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

Facility Employees Only - Open to Current Permanent Employees of the Tampa VAHCS (Facility Only).

Duties

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional
GS-7 Level: Entry
A. Collects, evaluates suitability for testing, processes, and transports specimens. This includes receiving, delivering, and storing specimens for other sections such as Histopathology, Cytology, and Molecular Pathology.
B. Prepares reagents, standards, calibrators, and quality control materials.
C. Maintains, calibrates, cleans, and repairs equipment and instruments. Documents those tasks and immediately informs Supervisors, Laboratory Directors, or Pathologists of any problems.
D. Prepares, tests, records, and interprets quality control materials. Documents all corrective actions for out-of-control events and immediately informs Supervisors, Laboratory Directors, or Pathologists of any problems.
E. Tests, verifies, and reports patient specimens in accordance with established protocols. Recognizes and responds to indicators of malfunction, compares current results to previous patient results and to other acceptability criteria, telephones, and documents critical results, and communicates any problems or unusual events.
F. Safely operates equipment, properly handles chemicals and infectious material, identifies, and reports hazardous situations and institutes corrective actions, if possible. Complies with all safety rules and regulations, uses personal protective equipment as required, attends all relevant training sessions, and drills, and performs other safety-related tasks.
GS-9 Level:
A. Demonstrates a clear progression of clinical knowledge and experience by performing testing procedures on a variety of biological specimens using manual and automated methods.
B. Properly collects, handles, accessions, and labels specimens according to safety, patient identification, and infection control policies. '
C. Evaluates suitability for testing, processes, and transports specimens. This includes receiving, delivering, packing, and storing specimens for other sections preserving the viability of the specimen, and ensures uniformity is maintained.
D. Prepares reagents, standards, calibrators, and quality control materials.
E. Maintains, calibrates, cleans, and repairs equipment and instruments. Documents those tasks and immediately informs Supervisors, Laboratory Directors, or Pathologists of any problems.
F. Prepares, tests, records, and interprets quality control materials. Documents all corrective actions for out-of-control events and immediately informs Supervisors, Laboratory Directors, or Pathologists of any problems
GS-11 Level:
A. Selects, performs, evaluates, and monitors the performance of test procedures using manual
and/or instrumental techniques in accordance with established protocols. Recognizes and
reacts to indicators of malfunction; locates and implements corrections.
B. Evaluates the suitability of the specimen for analysis, requesting new specimen if determined
to be unusable. Prepare specimens for analysis, ensuring that the physiologic state of the
specimen properties is maintained.
C. Conducts quality control procedures on equipment, reagents, and products and maintains
proper records for quality control reports.
D. Calibrates, standardizes, adjusts, and maintains instruments. Verifies correct instrument
operation using established procedures and quality control checks and monitoring. Identifies
the cause of common problems and makes simple repairs.


Work Schedule: 7am-3:30pm, Monday-Friday, rotating weekends and holidays.
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized,
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized for Facility employees.
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.
Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) & federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position
Functional Statement #: 70270-F, 70268-F & 70657-F
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized

Requirements

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 trial 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.
  • 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).

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: Clinical Laboratory Scientists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005/72, Part II, Chapter 2, Section D, 5a, and 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:

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.
  • 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.
EXCEPTION for Non-Certified Applicants
  • Applicants who do not currently hold valid certification may be hired by VA and actively work toward their certification if they meet one of the routes identified in Appendix A that makes them eligible to take the MLS certification exam through the ASCP BOC or the MLS certification exam through AMT Certification Agency.
  • Non-Certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for licensure may be given a temporary appointment CLS under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2).
  • Non-Certified individuals may only provide care under the supervision of a certified CLS at or above the FPL.
  • Non-certified individuals may only be appointed at the entry level (GS-07 level) and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained.
  • Temporary appointments of non-certified CLS may not be extended beyond 2 years or be converted to a new temporary appointment.
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).

Grandfathering : See "Additional Information" for specific information regarding the Grandfathering Provision.

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 the grade level specified.

GS-07 Clinical Laboratory Scientist Experience (Entry Level):
  • Experience. None beyond the basic requirements.
  • Assignment. Employee at this level serves in a CLS entry-level position. It is expected that they receive guidance from more experienced staff members and require daily direct supervision.
GS-09 Clinical Laboratory Scientist Experience -OR- Education -AND- Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) (Developmental Level)
  • Experience -OR- Education. Candidates at this level must meet one of the criteria below:
    • Experience. 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-07). -OR-
    • Education. Master's degree or 2 academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education in medical technology or a directly related science.
-AND-
  • Certification- Certification is REQUIRED at this level.
  • Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
    • Knowledge of policies and procedures of clinical laboratory testing.
    • Knowledge of laboratory quality control and quality assurance principles.
    • Knowledge of laboratory equipment and routine maintenance.
    • Ability to work as a team member and effectively complete assignments.
    • Ability to read and interpret written instructions.
    • Ability to accurately perform pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical phases of testing.
  • Assignment. An individual at this grade level serves as a developmental CLS. The CLS is responsible for evaluating, performing, interpreting, and validating the accuracy and validity of test results. Please review the Clinical Laboratory Scientist Qualification Standard - GS-0644 for additional details of the assignment at the GS-09 Grade Level.
GS-11 Clinical Laboratory Scientist Experience -OR- Education -AND- Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) (Full Performance Level)
  • Experience or Education Candidates at this level must meet one of the criteria below:
    • Experience. 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-09). -OR-
    • Education. Must have 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education or a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in medical technology or a directly related science.
-AND-
  • Certification. Certification is REQUIRED at this level.
  • Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
    • Knowledge of professional clinical laboratory science principles, practices, concepts, and theories that support sound, independent work.
    • Knowledge of laboratory quality control and quality assurance procedures and principles of performance improvement.
    • Skill in informatics, laboratory data flow, and laboratory processes.
    • Ability to maintain, troubleshoot, and repair instrumentation.
    • Ability to use independent technical judgment to analyze and interpret laboratory results.
    • Ability to read, interpret, and apply complex written instructions.
    • Ability to communicate, consult, and interact with other members of the health care team, external relations, customer service, and patient education.
Assignment. A CLS at this full performance level independently carries out the day-to-day operations in the laboratory. Please review the Clinical Laboratory Scientist Qualification Standard - GS-0644 for additional details of the assignment at the GS-11 Grade Level.

Preferred Experience: At least 1 year of experience as a clinical laboratory scientist.

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 in the range of GS-7 to GS-11.

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

Education

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

Grandfathering Provision. Employees in VHA in this occupation under a permanent, appropriate, and legal placement on the effective date of this qualification standard, are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade and/or assignment held, including positive education and certification where applicable. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements of this standard but met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed, the following provisions apply:
(1) Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or be changed to a lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or newly placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
(2) If an assignment above the FPL requires an additional certification over and above the basic requirements, employees must meet the assignment-specific requirement before they can be promoted. (3) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. (4) Employees retained in this occupation under this provision who subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation. (5) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain certification that meets all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.

NOTE: This provision is not intended to regularize appointments/ placements.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Area of Consideration - Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order:

  1. Current permanent VA employees of the Facility.
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.

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

  • Resume
  • SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
  • Transcript



The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.

  • Professional Certification
  • Resume
  • SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
  • Transcript

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 09/18/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12795868.

  1. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
  2. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.

NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.

Agency contact information

Davina Cook
Address
James A Haley Veterans Hospital
13000 Bruce B. Downs Boulevard
Tampa, FL 33612
US

Next steps

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.

You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.

NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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