Clinical Laboratory Scientist-Ancillary Testing Coordinator

Clarification from the agency

This job is open to current permanent Department of Veteran Affairs employees, current permanent Federal employees of other agencies, and all US Citizens. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Major duties include, but 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).
• Consults with leadership of clinical services to identify ancillary testing needs, analyzes emerging trends and technology, and adopts appropriate methods.
• Serves as a recognized technical expert to provide authoritative advice, training, troubleshooting, quality assessment and ancillary testing program consultation.
• Develops technical bulletins, procedures, training materials, and other program materials.
• Evaluates ancillary testing activities to assess ongoing day-to-day compliance with established protocols and guidelines.
• Identify, define, and resolve issues associated with complex aspects of data and problems associated with unique aspects of the ancillary testing management program.
• Ensures accreditation and compliance with all regulatory agencies for patient testing, results reporting, and proficiency testing.
• Ensures that each testing site is enrolled in a CAP approved proficiency testing program, reviews results, is responsible for administering remedial or blind samples as required, and transmitting corrective action to the VA Regional Commissioners Office and CAP.
• Maintains the Point of Care program performance improvement program, monitors components, and customer feedback for all ancillary testing sites.
• Serves as the performance improvement coordinator for the Ancillary Testing Committee and Laboratory QM Committee and monitors and reports on continuous performance improvement initiatives, performs and evaluates instruments, performs validation studies.
• Develops and implements corrective action to include recommendations for policy/protocol changes when deficiencies are identified.
• May coordinate inventory management, supply acquisition, and contracts.
• Follows safety requirements.
• Performs calibration and preventive maintenance of laboratory equipment

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30am-4:00pm , rotating weekends and holidays
Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
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.
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) and 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 #: 53485-F
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.
• 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

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).
• Education. A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
• Certification. (1) Candidates must meet one of the certification options below. (a) Generalist certification as an MLS given by ASCP BOC or AMT. (b) Generalist certification as an MT given by ASCP BOR or AMT. (c) Categorical certification or Specialist certification by ASCP or AMT.
• English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403 (f).

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:

GS-12 Clinical Laboratory Scientist (Ancillary Testing Coordinator)

Experience. 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11) is required for all GS-12 assignments. Examples of experience would include, but are not limited to: Develop and recommend policies and procedures for procurement and service requirements for ancillary testing; consult with leadership of clinical services to identify ancillary testing needs, analyzes emerging trends and technology, and adopts appropriate methods; provide authoritative advice, training, troubleshooting, quality assessment and ancillary testing program consultation; develop technical bulletins, procedures, training materials, and other program materials; ensure accreditation and compliance with all regulatory agencies for patient testing, results reporting, and proficiency testing; monitor and report on continuous performance improvement initiatives; evaluate ancillary testing activities to assess ongoing day-to-day compliance with established protocols and guidelines; identify, define, and resolve issues associated with complex aspects of data and problems associated with unique aspects of the ancillary testing management program and knowledge of accrediting agencies and regulatory requirements and performs and evaluates instruments, performs validation studies, recommends policy/protocol changes to correct deficiencies, and improves the program.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate also must demonstrate the following KSAs:

• Knowledge of medical technology concepts, principles, practices, and methodologies sufficient to perform full oversight and guidance for testing programs outside of the laboratory.
• Knowledge of mathematics and statistics as related to quality control, quality assurance, proficiency testing, inspection and accreditation, and continuous quality improvement.
• Knowledge of Federal, state, and VHA laws, regulations, reference standards, and certifying or accrediting agency requirements to carry out work in each ancillary testing site.
• Knowledge of laboratory information technology systems and interconnectivity.
• Skill in applying new scientific/technological developments and theories to laboratory testing.
• Ability to evaluate, interpret, and teach others to use quality control procedures and implement corrective actions.

Preferred Experience:

• Prepared and coordinated regulatory inspections to ensure organizational readiness and compliance with applicable regulatory requirements, standards, and internal procedures.
• Developed, reviewed, revised, and maintained Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure compliance with applicable regulatory requirements, industry standards, and organizational policies.
• Planned, executed, and documented validation and verification activities to ensure processes, equipment, systems, and procedures consistently met established requirements and acceptance criteria.
• Coordinated and managed proficiency testing (PT) activities to evaluate laboratory performance, analytical accuracy, and compliance with applicable regulatory and accreditation requirements.
• Delivered laboratory instruction and practical demonstrations to trainees, laboratory personnel, and other end users on laboratory techniques, equipment operation, testing procedures, and analytical methods.

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-12.

Physical Requirements: Light lifting (under 15 lbs.); Light Carrying (under 15 lbs.); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (2 to 8 hours); Standing (2 to 8 hours); Repeated bending (2 to 8 hours); Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Near vision correctable at 13' to 16' to Jaeger 1 to 4: Depth perception; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Ability to distinguish shades of colors; Hearing (aid permitted).

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.

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

• Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV)

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.

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (Schedule A)
• Disability Letter (VA)
• License
• Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV)
• Other (1)
• Performance Appraisal
• Professional Certification
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

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