Clinical Laboratory Scientist - Laboratory Information Manager

Clarification from the agency

First area of consideration: Current Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employees (Agency-wide). Second area of consideration: All other qualified applicants. (Public) NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

This position is located in the Path and Lab Service at the Cincinnati VA Medical Center (VAMC). The incumbent develops and recommends new policies and procedures regarding the installation and use of the laboratory information system (LIS) in conjunction with the overall hospital information system (HIS).

Duties include, but are not limited to the following:

• Maintains current knowledge of all laboratory related accreditation and regulatory requirements and other applicable guidelines and directives published by higher command authority, the College of American Pathologist, the Food and Drug Administration, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Administration, the Occupational Safety and health Administration and other agencies and organizations.
• Develops or assists others in developing laboratory quality improvement (QI) projects and evaluations studies.
• Assists with preparation for laboratory inspections by reviewing current operations against the checklists for each section to ensure that requirements are met. Assists in developing and implementing corrective actions when deficiencies are identified.
• Monitors the progress of ongoing QI projects. Posts/displays status of on-going projects for review by all departmental personnel.
• Aids on the preparation and revision of SOPs for each section of the lab and coordinates effort to validate a new/revised SOP when a request is received from laboratory management personnel.
• Acts as a computer resource person for laboratory staff and aids them in evaluation and solving problem, implementing new methods, or modifying existing methods.
• Analyzes emerging trends, software, and technology and adopts appropriate methods for local programs to meet agency goals.
• Serves as the local expert for national software developers for alpha or beta testing of software packages.
• Maintains knowledge of laboratory operations and their relationship to the organization sufficient to provide advisory, inspection, training, and problem-solving services on specific projects, programs, or functions.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).
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: May be Authorized
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): May be ApprovedLearn more.

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

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.
• Education: A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
• Certification: Must have one of the following certifications:
  • 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.
• English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403 (f).
• 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.

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: To qualify for GS-12: You must have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level of a Clinical Laboratory Scientist. Creditable experience is experience that has required the use of knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with current Clinical Laboratory Scientist practices. Examples of experience include, but is not limited to the following: independently carries out the day-to-day operations in the laboratory; conduct quality control and routine maintenance of instrumentation and troubleshooting; determine the validity of test results, and the need for additional tests; develop, perform, evaluate, interpret, correlate, and validate the accuracy of laboratory procedures; assess a situation, consider the options, and formulate an appropriate course of action.

In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

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

Preferred Experience: 1-3 Years of Clinical Laboratory Scientist Experience preferred.

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

Physical Requirements: The incumbent's work is primarily sedentary. Occasionally, a moderate amount of walking or standing and/or the carrying items up to 25 lbs.

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)
• Other (2)
• Other (3)
• Performance Appraisal
• Professional Certification
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Next steps