Clarification from the agency

Open to all U.S. Citizens. All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. Due to provisions of 38 U.S.C. 7412, Annual Determination of Staffing Shortages, Veterans' Preference DOES NOT apply. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

The incumbent serves as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) Technical Specialist of the Hematology section of the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service at the Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center.

Major duties and responsibilities include:

• Assists with collecting and submitting monthly data for the P&LMS Quality Meeting. Attends meeting as required. Performs statistical analysis of quality assurance data collected to identify, document, and suggest corrective action. Maintains comprehensive knowledge of statistical analysis and evaluation. Prepares monthly variance summary reports for the section.
• May plan work schedules and assign daily bench assignments to ensure an even workflow and distribution of work. Informs the supervisor of any issues and recommends scheduling adjustments.
• Maintains an advanced knowledge of hematology and quality control techniques and problem-solving and acts as a resource for other technologists. Assists the supervisor in technical phases of specialized testing and quality control, including appropriately taking into consideration clinical context.
• Maintains monthly Hematology Quality Control Pathology Reviews.
• Accepts and resolves referrals and observations from employees of unusual or abnormal results in the Hematology section. Reviews abnormal slide morphology and difficult differentials with referring technologists. Instructs technical staff in the practice and theory of coagulation, hematology, and/or blood bank as well as quality control methods and troubleshooting. Utilizes instructional techniques to train newly hired technologists and students in the proper performance of tests and applications of procedures and the proper performance of quality control. Develops course guidelines, materials, and teaching aids for trainees to include the review of Levy-Jennings charts and Westgard Rules, as well as the reporting and troubleshooting of quality control results. Informs the section supervisor of training progress and additional needs.
• Recognizes methodology limitations such as linearity, interference, sensitivity, and specificity and considers these when drawing conclusions about the validity of test results.
• Suggests and assists with modifications to existing policies, procedures, or processes or the creation of new policies, procedures, or processes for the purpose of providing improved services, reduced cost, decreased turnaround times, etc.
• Responsible to investigate equipment issues and failure after routine troubleshooting has occurred. Recognizes and reacts to indicators of malfunction; locates and implements corrections. Ensures appropriate quality control and maintenance is performed as defined by the manufacturer, regulatory agencies, and/or laboratory policy and is acceptable before release of patient results. Properly documents corrective action.
• Contacts instrument-specific technical representatives, biomedical engineering, and/or enters workorder or service request as needed to resolve and resume optimal functionality of equipment, referring to supervisor when difficult issues arise or unable to obtain a response.
• Assists in creating and administering training checklists for new policies and procedures.
• Performs market research and evaluates the suitability and cost-effectiveness of new instrumentation, equipment, reagents, and/or supplies.
• Assists in coaching a team in the selection and application of appropriate problem-solving methods and techniques, provides advice on work methods, practices, and procedures, and assists the team and/or individual members in identifying the parameters of a viable solution.
• Assists employees in specialized testing techniques to ensure testing is performed accurately.
• Responsible for the implementation, verification, and validation of new instrumentation, equipment, and testing within the department. Evaluates the verification and validation data for all new instrumentation, equipment, and tests to ensure acceptability prior to implementation.
• May attend on- or off-site training provided by instrument vendors to obtain knowledge of complex analytical instrument operation, maintenance and troubleshooting.
• Assists in maintaining Safety Data Sheets to ensure current data is available

Work Schedule: 8:00am- 4:30pm, with rotating weekends and holidays
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
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)
Functional Statement #:92760-0

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:

• Education: 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.).
• Certification: Generalist certification as an MLS given by ASCP BOC or AMT. OR Generalist certification as an MT given by ASCP BOR or AMT.

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

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. 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 the section director or section supervisor.


Experience :
1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: In addition to the experience, 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.

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

Physical Requirements:

The work requires regular and recurrent standing to perform procedures and tests, walking between different areas within the laboratory and throughout the medical center. The work involves sitting at a microscope or computer, manual dexterity, visual acuity, color vision and the ability to sit and concentrate for long periods of time. Requires intermittent moderate lifting (1 5 -44 pounds); light carrying (under 1 5 pounds); use of fingers; both hands required; intermittent but possibly prolonged stooping and kneeling; ability to read and comprehend ordinary type and computer screens; ability to hear (aid permitted) and work in an environment with constant noise; working closely with others; high cognitive function required to work in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities without loss of accuracy; emotional stability required to maintain self-control in difficult and stressful situations

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.

NOTE: You MUST include qualifying specialized experience employment periods in mm/yyyy to mm/yyyy format on your resume and indicate Full-Time or Part-Time (if Part-time, must include # of hours worked per week). AND, if you have held a Government position, that position's grade level MUST be listed on your resume; Failure to include all requirements in your resume will result in disqualification. Please refer to https://www.usajobs.gov/help/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include/ for additional information on resume requirements.

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:

• Valid Proof of Certification
• Resume
• Transcript

NOTE: You MUST include qualifying specialized experience employment periods in mm/yyyy to mm/yyyy format on your resume and indicate Full-Time or Part-Time (if Part-time, must include # of hours worked per week). AND, if you have held a Government position, that position's grade level MUST be listed on your resume; Failure to include all requirements in your resume will result in disqualification. Please refer to https://www.usajobs.gov/help/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include/ for additional information on resume requirements.

Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document. This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field.

Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' document upload field.

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

SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (if applicable for Time in Grade and/or Eligibility):

Please note, you may be required to provide more than one SF-50 to be found eligible. Please see guidelines below:

• Most recent SF-50 from the current year if you are a current employee or most recent SF-50 for former Federal employee
• An SF-50 showing your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade
• Award 50's do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted for the purpose of verifying time-in-grade.
• Examples of appropriate SF-50's include:
  • Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or
  • Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or
  • SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old.

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