Supervisory Clinical Lab Scientist

Clarification from the agency

This position is open to all U.S. Citizens. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position.

• Required to know all Federal and state laws and regulations and laboratory accrediting agency regulatory requirements sufficient to develop plans and procedures for the laboratory.
• Required to know all laboratory quality management procedures and principles sufficient to establish and monitor a laboratory quality management program and/or the education and training of laboratory staff.
• Required to know all concepts, principles, and methods of clinical laboratory technology and operations.
• Performs the full range of supervisory duties, which includes responsibility for assignment of work, performance evaluations, selection of staff, recommendation of awards, advancements, and disciplinary actions.
• Plans, organizes, sets short and/or long-term goals, and conducts studies on technical and administrative problems including personnel shortages, organizational structure, and new technology.
• Manages fiscal matters, forecast resources and equipment needs, and administer the allocated budget.
• Determines staffing needs and projections and prepares staffing request to the appropriate committees.
• Recommends improvements in the overall efficiency and functioning of P&LMS and identifies ways to improve service delivery.
• Interviews candidates for positions in P&LMS and selects for appointments.
• Provides first line supervision for GS-11 scientists and below, including health and/or medical technicians.
• Gives advice, counsel and instructions to lab staff on both work and administrative matters.
• Schedule and facilitates monthly meetings for the above staff to encourage communication and coordination with the service.
• Recommends awards or bonuses for supervised staff and changes in position classification, subject to approval by the Chief, P&LMS.
• Counsels and resolves complaints from employees, individuals or groups.
• Assures that all laboratory personnel demonstrate understanding of policies and procedures for handling and reporting of workplace violence.
• Ensures training needs of employees such as orientation training for all lab employees and competency re-training or training.
• Advises the Laboratory Manager and/or Chief of P&LMS on problems that affect other service and the impact it may have on them.
• Acts as a consultant to the Laboratory manager and/or Chief, P&LMS regarding management decisions that may affect service function.
• Provides assistance to Education Coordinator and the outpatient clinics interacting with nursing and CBOC staff to ensure that all necessary documentation is available for all pertinent activities.
• Visits the outpatient clinics periodically to make qualitative evaluations of laboratory services and to determine adequacy of equipment, personnel.
• Provides appropriate understanding of laboratory operations and appropriate accommodations are made as necessary to accomplish the mission.
• Keeps abreast of new technology in instrumentation and justifies expenditures for purchase or lease of major pieces of equipment which can reduce the overall operating costs.
• Acts as committee representative, facilitating consolidated instrument and supply selection and procurement of CPRR contracts.
• Acts as point of contact for contracts providing fiscal oversight and feedback to VISN contracting officials when problems arise.
• Assists in supply inventory oversight and maintains proficiency in purchasing for department supplies, executing orders as needed.
• Incumbent provides fill-in coverage for the Lab Manager in their absence, coordinating leave requests with them and committing adequate time and study to any fill-in requirements for that interval.
• Oversees rotation, scheduling, and adequacy of technical hours in all departments.
• In conjunction with the Education Coordinator, oversees initial training of technical staff members by making the rotating department assignments, monitoring competency testing, and assuring complete documentation for initial training file.
• In conjunction with the Quality Manager, applies quality management performance improvement principles, methodology, and processes to develop and manage a clinical laboratory quality management program.
• Assists in shift-to-shift communication on weekdays, updating the arriving evening staff of any technical and staffing problems for that next shift.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:30am - 5:00pm or as deemed appropriate by leadership.
Telework: Ad-Hoc Telework may be approved.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 60646A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the 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 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.
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.

Certification. 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.

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).

Grade Determinations. In addition to the basic requirements for employment, candidates must meet the following grade-determining criteria for placement at grade levels specified.

Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist, GS-12.
Experience. 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11) is required for all GS-12 assignments.

Assignments at the GS-11. Develops, performs, evaluates, interprets, correlates, & validates the accuracy of laboratory procedures & results in line with current laboratory regulatory requirements. The work performed may be in a variety of laboratory specialties such as chemistry, microbiology, immunology, hematology, & immunohematology. Testing procedures are performed on a variety of biological specimens &/or environmental samples using manual or automated methods. In addition to routine testing, the CLS conducts quality control & routine maintenance of instrumentation & troubleshooting. The CLS correlates abnormal lab data with pathological states, determines the validity of test results, & the need for additional tests. Specific targeted laboratory responsibilities or projects may include laboratory safety officer, analyzer specialist, primary operator on new test systems, quality control specialist, supply control, &d/or coordinator for the laboratory competency assessment or proficiency/survey program. This assignment may include limited duties in areas such as lab information management & ancillary testing. These tasks require a broad exercise of independent judgment & responsibility, including organizing & setting priorities with minimal technical supervision. The CLS assesses a situation, considers the options, & formulates an appropriate course of action. This assignment includes monitoring quality control systems & measures, collaborating in the diagnosis & treatment of patients, & providing education for laboratory health care professionals & the public in a professional, courteous, & effective manner.

And

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

• (A) Knowledge of Federal and state laws and regulations and laboratory accrediting agency regulatory requirements sufficient to develop plans and procedures for the laboratory.
• (B) Knowledge of laboratory quality management procedures and principles sufficient to establish and monitor a laboratory quality management program and/or the education and training of laboratory staff.
• (C) Knowledge of concepts, principles, and methods of clinical laboratory technology and operations.
• (D) Skill in applying leadership principles such as interpersonal relations and conflict resolution.
• (E) Ability to perform the full range of supervisory duties, which includes responsibility for assignment of work, performance evaluations, selection of staff, recommendation of awards, advancements, and disciplinary actions.
• (F) Ability to plan, organize, set short and/or long-term goals, and conduct studies on technical and administrative problems including personnel shortages, organizational structure, and new technology.
• (G) Ability to manage fiscal matters, forecast resource and equipment needs, and administer the allocated budget.

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

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

Next steps