Clinical Laboratory Scientist (Technical Specialist) Job in West Palm Beach, FL

Vacancy No. CBTC-12777163-25-DMD Department Veterans Health Administration
Salary $104,028.00 to $135,242.00 Grade 12 to 12
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 8/21/2025 Close Date 8/28/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Status Candidates
Locations:
West Palm Beach, FL


Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

Open ONLY to Current Employees of the West Palm Beach VAHCS (Facility Only),

Duties

The incumbent is a qualified, experienced Clinical Laboratory Scientist who serves as a Technical Specialist for the West Palm Beach VAHCS, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service which is a large diversified clinical and anatomical pathology laboratory.

The Technical Specialist works in the Ancillary testing and Lab Information sections of the lab, providing expertise in critical areas of the Laboratory, these extends to other clinical areas and Outpatient Clinics, testing that is performed outside the physical facilities of the main clinical laboratory. The Technical Specialist performs technical and non-technical duties to meet the College of American Pathologists (CAP) and The Joint Commission (JC) regulatory accreditation agencies.

The incumbent everyday functions involve Ancillary (Point of CARE Testing) and he/she primarily works under the ATC guidance who has the primary responsibility for the Ancillary Testing Program.

The incumbent develops and recommends policies and procedures for procurement and service requirements for ancillary testing. He/she has knowledge of accrediting agencies and regulatory requirements.

The Technical Specialist works with the management of all Lab Information and interfaces in the laboratory, he/she handles peripheral issues that related to the laboratory information system. He/she advises all organizational levels on functions and capabilities of the LIS. Works involve solving moderately high complex problems and modify or adapting new methods or techniques to improve or expand service. Must possess knowledge of both laboratory and information technology areas.

Duties may include but are not limited to:

  • The CLS serves as a Technical Specialist CLS, providing expert authoritative advice and consultation for more markedly difficult, complex, unique and/or emerging tests that require special knowledge.
    • Examples include, but are not limited to, molecular pathology, gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy, and flow cytometry.
  • This technical specialist will ensure CLS advises all organizational levels on various aspects of specialized testing, including appropriateness that takes into consideration clinical context.
  • The CLS advises on alternate testing to overcome ambiguities in the clinical diagnoses and analyzes emerging trends and technology to adopt appropriate methods and testing.
  • The CLS develops policies, precedents, regulatory, licensing, and accrediting requirements to establish, monitor, and maintain the specialized testing.
  • The CLS assumes responsibility for training and competency assessment of staff and students within the area assigned.
  • The technical specialist often works independently and is given freedom of action under the general guidance of a pathologist or other laboratory practitioner.
  • The incumbent maintains adequate technical skills to work irregular tours including weekends/holidays in at least one section of the lab on a rotating basis.
  • Applies knowledge of compliance requirements for laboratory functions.
  • As Ancillary Testing Coordinator (ACT) Assistant:
    • Under direction from the Ancillary Testing Coordinator (ATC), the Technical Specialist performs ancillary testing oversight duties that comply with the policies, procedures, and accreditation documentation and monitoring requirements of the Ancillary Testing Quality Management Program.
    • Assists the ATC with the maintenance, quality control documentation, records control, proficiency testing, linearity testing, entering patient results, operator identification, training, and competency monitoring.
    • Incumbent assists with preparation for CAP inspection and accreditation for ancillary testing on a hospital and CBOC testing to ensure safe and accurate laboratory testing of patients is maintained.
    • Initiates corrective action to resolve quality control or testing problems and documents all steps resulting in the resolution of the problem.
  • As Laboratory Information Manager (LIM) Assistant
    • Demonstrates knowledge and understanding 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.
    • Applies knowledge of laboratory information systems and programming techniques sufficient to develop, adapt, and maintain computer systems for accomplishing diagnostic laboratory work and quality assurance.
    • Helps the LIM to adapt, implement, and integrate software to specific laboratory applications and processes.
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: PD41763F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact V8_EDRP_WPB@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): 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 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.
  • 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: To qualify for appointment to this position, all applicants must possess the following:
  • 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:
    1. 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-
    2. 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 in the Certification requirement below automatically determines the foreign education as creditable and no further documentation or proof of equivalency is needed.
  • Certification:Candidates must meet one of the certification options below.
    1. Generalist certification as an MLS given by ASCP BOC or AMT.
    2. Generalist certification as an MT given by ASCP BOR or AMT.
    3. Categorical certification or Specialist certification by ASCP or AMT.
    • 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).
    • ADDITIONAL NOTE: Non-certified individuals may only be appointed at the entry level (GS-07) and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained.
Applicants may qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard - Clinical Laboratory Scientist - Qualification Standard - GS-0644 (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 grade level specified.

Clinical Laboratory Scientist, GS-12, Assignments.
  1. Assignments. For all GS-12 assignments above the Full Performance Level (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.
  2. Experience. One (1) year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11) is required for all GS-12 assignments.
Clinical Laboratory Scientist (Technical Specialist), GS-12
  • Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
    • Knowledge and understanding of concepts, principles, methodology of medical laboratory technology, regulatory and accrediting agency requirements, medico-legal requirements, and pertinent statistics sufficient to perform complex diagnostic tests.
    • Knowledge of instructional techniques to instruct newly hired clinical laboratory scientists and clinical pathology residents in proper performance of tests and applications of laboratory procedures.
    • Knowledge of one or more advanced clinical laboratory functions.
    • Skill to apply new scientific/technical developments to develop procedures for new tests and modify existing procedures and methods to resolve problems relative to complex and difficult situations.
    • Ability to provide guidance and technical direction to accomplish the work of a clinical laboratory.
    • Ability to provide guidance and technical direction to accomplish the work of the specific laboratory section.
  • Assignment. The CLS serves as a Technical Specialist CLS, providing expert authoritative advice and consultation for more markedly difficult, complex, unique and/or emerging tests that require special knowledge. Examples include, but are not limited to, molecular pathology, gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy, and flow cytometry. The CLS advises all organizational levels on various aspects of specialized testing, including appropriateness that takes into consideration clinical context. The CLS advises on alternate testing to overcome ambiguities in the clinical diagnoses and analyzes emerging trends and technology to adopt appropriate methods and testing. The CLS develops policies, precedents, regulatory, licensing, and accrediting requirements to establish, monitor, and maintain the specialized testing. The CLS assumes responsibility for training and competency assessment of staff and students within the area assigned. The technical specialist often works independently and is given freedom of action under the general guidance of a pathologist or other laboratory practitioner.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit the CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENTIST QUALIFICATION STANDARD - GS-0644.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements. The incumbent 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 are permitted), clear, high cognitive function and emotional stability; ability to read ordinary type without strain.

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

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 - ONLY Eligible applications from current permanent VA employees of the West Palm Beach VA Healthcare System facilities will be reviewed and referred for consideration.

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.

  • Certification as a MT, MLS, or CLS given by the ASCP-BOC, ASCP-BOR, or AMT
  • Resume
  • SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
  • Transcript


Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.

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 08/28/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12777163.

  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

Diana Dieringer
Address
West Palm Beach VA Medical Center
7305 North Military Trail
West Palm Beach, FL 33410
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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