Clinical Laboratory Scientist - Laboratory Information Manager

Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to all current, permanent Federal employees, current VHA employees and employees at the VA WCHCS Grand Junction. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position.

Laboratory Information Manager:

• Assists in development and recommends new policies and procedures regarding the installation and use of the laboratory information system (LIS) or the hospital information system (HIS) and bar code expansion project.
• Assists with Implementation and maintenance of coding and mapping for laboratory test ordering, reporting, billing, and workload recording systems.
• Performs interface validations for instrumentation and Vista Blood Establishment Computer Software (VBECS) for blood bank software updates.
• Analyzes emerging trends, software, and technology and adopts appropriate methods for local programs to meet agency goals.
• Advise all organizational levels on various aspects of the functions and capabilities of the information system.
• Ensures that laboratory policy and procedures are consistent with accrediting agencies standards and requirements as they relate to LIS.
• Represents laboratory on appropriate medical center committees; chairs laboratory meetings/VISN 19 LIS conference calls; and interacts with other medical center staff, such as VISN 19, NEO, and accreditation inspectors.
• Prepares and analyzes quality reports on LIS status. Incumbent is responsible for management reports such as LIS evaluations. Advises the Supervisors and Laboratory Manager of LIS issues as needed.
• Communicates effectively and courteously while working as a healthcare team member.
• Takes initiative to organize work and sets priorities to meet deadlines.
• Serves as the P&LMS point of contact and super-user for the Temp-Trax, temperature monitoring system.
• Takes initiative to organize work and sets priorities to meet deadlines.
• Retrieves, scans, and archives laboratory documents
• Performs other administrative duties as assigned.

Clinical Laboratory Scientist:

• Medical CLS works throughout the lab as a generalist and also works weekends, holidays and the evening or night shift by themselves when priorities demonstrate a need.
• Performs testing procedures on a variety of biological specimens and/or environmental samples using manual and automated techniques.
• Responsible for the creation/updating of procedure manuals utilized by the night shift, assuring continuous review of changing accreditation standards.
• Testing duties in all disciplines require the CLS to perform, evaluate, interpret, correlate, and validate the accuracy of laboratory procedures and results.
• The work involves accurate and timely completion of testing to provide relevant clinical information to physicians crucial to patient care.
• Skillfully collects venous blood samples from patients adhering to all safety and patient care requirements.
• CLS shows mastery of the VA Laboratory computer software package (VISTA) as job assignments require.
• Responsible for mastering the preventive maintenance requirements for a large number of instruments and testing systems.
• Responsible for resolving procedural, reagent and equipment problems according to written procedures, verbal instructions, and previous experience.
• Practices require thorough understanding and adherence to all safety requirements as per regulatory laws such as used in phlebotomy, proper handling of blood and body fluids, hazardous medical waste, safe chemical handling practices, etc.
• Serves the needs of other VA staff seeking advice on the proper ordering of tests, technical information about tests offered and interpretation of test results.
• Provides effective and professional training to new staff members on theoretical and practical aspects of procedures in use providing demonstration of laboratory practices.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday. 7:00am-3:30pm or in accordance with service needs.
Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): May be Authorized.
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact HA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 60505A
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 evaluation/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

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:

• MTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part.

Education and/or Experience Combination

• A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university in medical laboratory science, medical technology, clinical laboratory science or in a related science (e.g., laboratory sciences such as chemistry, biochemistry, biology, microbiology, immunology, etc.).

AND

• Completion of a medical technology clinical practice program. Clinical practice programs completed after 1974 must have been accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP, formerly CAHEA), or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). The professional curriculum may have consisted of a post-baccalaureate certificate program or be integrated into a four year program of study that culminated in a baccalaureate degree.

OR

• A bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university, including 16 semester hours of biological science (with one course in microbiology), 16 semester hours of chemistry (with one course inorganic or biochemistry) and one course in mathematics.

AND

• Two years of post-certification clinical laboratory experience (e.g., blood banking, chemistry, hematology, microbiology, immunology, clinical microscopy, etc.) within the last ten years as a certified Medical Laboratory Technician by the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification(ASCP-BOC), American Society of Clinical Pathology Board of Registry (ASCP-BOR) or American Medical Technologists (AMT). This experience must include performing moderate and/or high complexity testing in blood banking, chemistry, hematology, microbiology immunology and clinical microscopy (or categorical experience which matches categorical certification) in a clinical laboratory.

OR

• A bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university, including 16 semester hours of biological science (with one course in microbiology), 16 semester hours of chemistry (with one course inorganic or biochemistry) and one course in mathematics.

AND

• Five years of clinical laboratory experience within the last ten years performing moderate and/or high complexity testing in blood banking, chemistry, hematology, microbiology, immunology and clinical microscopy (or categorical experience which matches categorical certification) in a clinical laboratory.

OR

• Foreign Graduates. Graduates of foreign baccalaureate degree programs meet the educational and/or experience requirements if the degree is found to be equivalent to degree programs recognized by the NAACLS or clinical laboratory experience as described in paragraph 2b(2) or (3) above. This finding may be based on either of the following:
  • A letter from a college or university with a baccalaureate program recognized by the NAACLS stating that the individual's foreign degree has been evaluated and been found to be equivalent to its bachelor of medical technology degree.
  • A letter from ASCP-BOC or AMT stating that the individual is eligible for the certification examination.

Certification

Candidates must have either (1) or (2) below:

• (1) Candidates must currently possess the appropriate 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.
• (2) For positions up to the full performance level, candidates must currently possess the categorical or specialist technologist level certification from the certification agencies listed above, such as, but not limited to, chemistry (C/SC), hematology (H/SH), microbiology (M/SM), molecular biology (MB/SMB)and blood bank (BB/SBB). Technologists with categorical or specialist certifications may only perform duties within the area of the laboratory specific to their categorical certification (e. g., an individual with a chemistry (C) certification can only perform duties in chemistry).

Grade Determinations:

Clinical Laboratory Scientist (Laboratory Information Manager), GS-12.

Experience.1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level is required for all GS-12 assignments.

And

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

(A) Knowledge of concepts, principles, and methodology of clinical laboratory technology in relation to laboratory information systems.
(B) Knowledge of laboratory operations and their relationship to the organization.
(C) Knowledge of laboratory computer systems sufficient to implement various laboratory associated packages and sustain operation of the laboratory system.
(D) Knowledge of compliance and regulatory requirements for laboratory functions.
(E) Ability to adapt, implement and integrate the use of software to specific laboratory applications and processes, including the use of office automation software.
(F) Ability to independently plan, organize, set priorities, work as a team member, and effectively complete assignments.

Preferred Experience:

• Experience managing laboratory information systems (Vista, CPRS, VBECS, Cerner).
• Experience with coding, mapping, and building laboratory tests.
• Experience building and troubleshooting interfaces.
• Experience with laboratory accreditation agencies and their requirements for laboratory information systems compliance.
• Experience implementing and integrating the use of software to specify laboratory applications and processes.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: The incumbent must be able to perform moderate lifting up to 45 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.

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

• Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV)
• Professional Certification
• 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.

• Cover Letter
• License
• Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV)
• Other (1)
• Professional Certification
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Next steps