Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist Job in Nespelem, WA

Vacancy No. IHS-24-WR-12528294-DE Department Indian Health Service
Salary $104,961.00 to $136,446.00 Grade 11 to 11
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 8/26/2024 Close Date 12/31/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Nespelem, WA


Summary

The incumbent serves as Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist and is directly responsible for the administrative and technical direction of the Laboratory Services Section with responsibility to design, implement, direct, coordinate and maintain the overall functioning of the laboratory including oversees lower graded scientists and/or technicians.

This job announcement is OPEN UNTIL FILLED and will close once the position is filled.

Recruitment or relocation incentives possible.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

The IHS is required by law to give absolute preference to qualified applicants who meet the Secretary of the Interior's definition of Indian for appointment to vacancies within the IHS in accordance with established IHS policy as outlined in the Indian Health Manual Part 7, Chapter 3. The IHS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Duties

The position is located in an ambulatory health care center located on the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Indian Reservation. For more information on the Colville Service Unit, visit the Indian Health Service website

Duties of the position are listed below:

30% Administers Medical Laboratory Program:

  • Conduct quality improvement actives to improve department.
  • Conduct continuing review and evaluation of laboratory operations, establishing effective quality control system, and standards and instructions for the calibration of instruments and equipment.
  • Initiates and participates in actions to provide for consultative and contract services on requirements that exceed the capability of the laboratory.
  • Keeps Clinical Director, Health Care Providers and Administrative staff currently informed of changes in laboratory operations through meetings, reports, or other required communications. As designated, serves as a member of clinic staff committees and participates in any projects or tasks assigned.
  • Compile laboratory data and prepare current records and reports on such matters as workload, quality and quantity of output and problems in meeting quality assurance, accreditation standards and other program review.
  • Assure laboratory equipment is properly maintained and repaired and makes changes in the physical layout or changes procedures and techniques in order to eliminate safety hazards or minimize risks or injuries to personnel.
  • Review and maintain the status of supplies and equipment in the laboratory by requisitioning items and services and conducting inventory control.
  • Keep abreast of new developments and changes in laboratory science
  • Assign work to subordinates based on priorities, difficulty of assignments, and the capabilities of employees. Provide technical oversight. Develop performance plans and rate employees. Take disciplinary measures. Identify developmental and training needs of employees; provide and/or arrange for needed development and training.
70% provides the full range of professional clinical laboratory services.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

Selectee may be subject to a probationary period
U.S. Citizenship is required
Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959

This is a designated position covered by Public Law 101-630, requiring contact or control over Indian children. Due to this requirement, the agency must ensure that persons hired for these positions have not been found guilty of or pleaded nolo contendere or guilty to certain crimes.

A one-year supervisory/managerial probationary period may be required upon selection/placement.

Measles and Rubella immunization required for selectees born after 1957 and seasonal influenza immunization is required for all staff working in Indian Health Service health care facilities.

COVID-19 vaccination is required for all selectees prior to entrance on duty.

The selected individual is required to obtain and maintain any licensure or certification requirements. If license or certification are not maintained during employment, the employee will be subject to adverse actions, up to and including removal from Federal service.

Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify/.

You will need to set up direct deposit so we can pay you.

Background Investigation: If you are selected for this vacancy, you must undergo a pre-employment fingerprint check and background investigation. Fingerprint results and background investigation documentation must be cleared prior to hire. After you begin your employment, your continued employment is contingent upon the outcome of a complete background investigation as determined by the sensitivity level of your position. The investigation must find that you are suitable for Federal employment in your position. If you are found not suitable, you will be terminated after you begin work. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be fired after you begin work; or subject to possible criminal charges. You may be subject to a credit check as a part of the background investigation process.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, your resume must state sufficient experience and/or education, to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are applying.

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; religious; spiritual; community; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer and part time experience. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

Individual Occupational Requirements: These standards describe the minimum qualification requirements (for example, educational, medical, age, experience, etc.) for each occupational series. Individual Occupational Requirements for basic education, license, experience, and other qualifications for the Clinical Laboratory Scientist occupational series and are listed below as Basic Requirements. Specialized experience and certification requirements are also listed below.

BASIC REQUIREMENT(S):

EDUCATION:
  • A. A Bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree from a regionally accredited college/university including courses in biological science, chemistry and mathematics, AND successful completion of a Medical Laboratory Scientist/Clinical Laboratory Scientist program accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) or an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Educationat the time the degree was obtained.
  • OR
  • B. A FULL 4-YEAR COURSE OF STUDY that included 12 months in a college or hospital-based medical technology program or medical technology school approved by a recognized accrediting organization. The professional medical technology curriculum may have consisted of a 1-year post- bachelor's certificate program or the last 1 or 2 years of a 4-year program of study culminating in a bachelor's in medical technology.
  • OR
  • C. A Bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree from an accredited college/university, including 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) of biological science (with one semester in microbiology), 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) of chemistry (with one semester in organic or biochemistry), one semester (one quarter) of mathematics, AND five years of full time acceptable clinical laboratory experience in Blood Banking, Chemistry, Hematology, microbiology, Immunology and Urinalysis/Body Fluids. This combination of education and experience must have provided knowledge of the theories, principles, and practices of medical technology equivalent to that provided by the full 4-year course of study described in A or B above. All science and mathematics courses must have been acceptable for credit toward meeting the requirements for a science major at an accredited college or university. Acceptable experience is responsible professional or technician experience in a hospital laboratory, health agency, industrial medical laboratory, or pharmaceutical house; or teaching, test development, or medical research program experience that provided an understanding of the methods and techniques applied in performing professional clinical laboratory work. Certification/licensure as a medical technologist (generalist) obtained through written examination by a nationally recognized credentialing agency or State licensing body is a good indication that the quality of experience is acceptable.
For positions GS-7 through GS-15 (or equivalent), experience or graduate education must have been in
  • (1) the general field of medical technology.
  • (2) one of the disciplines or specialized areas of medical technology; or
  • (3) a field directly related and applicable to medical technology or the position to be filled.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS For Grade GS-11
  • Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the grade GS-09, which is the next lower grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks such as: work experience in or work experience demonstrating ability to plan and carry out a duties related to maintaining a medical laboratory sufficient to oversee and perform the full range of duties involved in planning and implementing the clinical laboratory testing program; diagnostic and testing equipment sufficient to establish and maintain a preventive maintenance program; and the accreditation standards such as Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments and Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care as they pertain to the laboratory services.OR
  • Submit a copy of unofficial transcripts to show completed a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related. OR
  • Demonstrate meeting qualifications for this grade level by indicating on resume and submitting a copy of unofficial transcripts to show a combination of specialized experience and graduate level education that meets 100% of the qualification requirements for this position. Combinations of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience may be used to meet total experience requirement.
SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR: Certification as Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) or Medical Technologist (MT) by American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP), American Medical Technologists (AMT), or equivalent; or Certification by National Credentialing Agency for Laboratory Personnel's (NCA) certification Medical Technologist (MT), Clinical Laboratory Specialist (CLS) certification or a valid license from a state that requires license.

Specialized Experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities/competencies to perform successfully the duties of the position and is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled.

Selective Placement Factor is a competency/KSAs or special qualification without which a candidate could not perform the duties of a position in a satisfactory manner. Selective factors are applied in addition to minimum qualifications. Applicants who do not meet a selective factor are ineligible for further consideration.

You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the cut-off date or the closing date of the announcement. The first cutoff date is 10 days after the opening date. If necessary, additional cutoff dates will be established until the position is filled. Once the position is filled, the job announcement closes.

Education

This position has an education requirement. You are strongly encouraged to submit a copy of your transcripts or a list of your courses including titles, credit hours completed, and grades. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. Official transcripts will be required from all selectees prior to receiving an official offer.

Only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education may be credited. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: https://www.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

Per IHS policy (SGM 21-04) IHS selectees to positions located in Federally operated hospitals, health centers, and clinics must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 before entry on duty or have IHS approve a medical or religious exemption. If an exemption is approved then wearing a face mask and regular testing for COVID-19 will be required. Your Human Resources Specialist will provide a list of documents acceptable as vaccination proof and instructions on how to submit your vaccination documentation or how to request a medical or religious exemption, if needed.

This position is eligible for workplace flexibilities which may include remote work or telework options, and/or flexible work scheduling. These flexibilities may be requested in accordance with the HHS Workplace Flexibilities policy. https://www.hhs.gov/about/agencies/asa/ohr/hr-library/990-1/index.html.

Additional selection(s) of candidates may be possible within 240 days from the date the certificate of eligibles was issued for this announcement.

Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. IHS may offer newly-appointed Federal employees credit for their directly related previous non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave.

Recruitment or relocation incentives may be authorized. At least a 6 month service agreement will be required.

The Indian Health Service (IHS), National Health Service Corps (NHSC), and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) have student loan repayment programs for qualifying health disciplines. This is a competitive process separate from the hiring process. Opportunities for LRP are based on agency hiring priorities and availability of funds. For additional information please visit:
For IHS - https://www.ihs.gov/loanrepayment/
For NHSC - https://nhsc.hrsa.gov/loanrepayment/
For HRSA Nurse Corps - https://bhw.hrsa.gov/loansscholarships/nursecorps

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.

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.

If you meet the minimum qualifications requirements for this position, your application will be evaluated and rated under Category Rating selection procedures. Once the application process is complete, a review of your qualifications will be conducted to determine if you are qualified for this job. Qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category. The quality categories are: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified. Within each of these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-preference eligibles.

Please note that if, after reviewing your resume and or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your category rating can and will be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

To determine if you are qualified for this position, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against the qualifications as defined in the qualifications section of this vacancy announcement and your responses to the assessment questions. You will be rated based on the information provided in your resume (your resume must state specific duties that relate to this position) and your responses to the assessment questions will be evaluated against the duties you provided in your resume, along with your submitted documentation to determine your ability to demonstrate the following.

  • Administration and Management
  • Project Management
  • Quality Assurance
  • Self Management
  • Technical Competence


The following links below provide information on how you may be eligible for various hiring authorities. If you are a Veteran, qualified CTAP and ICTAP eligible, or an individual with a disability, please refer to the following links below for additional guidance. CTAP and ICTAP candidates will be eligible for selection priority if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a "well qualified" rating of 85 out of 100. Information about CTAP and ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Workforce Restructuring Career Transition website at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. CTAP/ICTAP documentation requirements are listed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
Click here to view vacancy questions: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12528294. All documents above MUST be received by 11:59 pm (Eastern Standard Time) of the cut-off date or the closing date of, 12/31/2024, to be considered. The first cutoff date is 10 days after the opening date. If necessary, additional cutoff dates will be established until the position is filled.

Required Documents

Resume: You are highly encouraged to use USAJOBS Resume Builder to ensure all required information is included in your Resume. If you use your own resume, curriculum vitae, or any other written form you choose then YOU MUST DESCRIBE YOUR JOB-RELATED QUALIFICATIONS THAT INCLUDES

  • beginning and ending dates for paid and non-paid work experience,
  • hours worked per week,
  • month and year of employment for each job title listed,
  • description of job duties.
  • Include name and address of employer, supervisor name and telephone number.

Required as applicable for the purposes of specific eligibility and appointment claim(s), and position requirements:
Indian Preference Applicants: If claiming Indian preference, applicants must provide a completed copy of the Form BIA-4432, "Verification of Indian Preference for Employment in the BIA and IHS Only." Indian preference will not be given unless a properly signed and dated form is submitted with your application, including any verification by an authorized Tribal Representative or BIA Official of tribal enrollment records. For detailed instructions, see form BIA-4432. Refer to BIA-4432 link: https://www.bia.gov/sites/default/files/dup/assets/public/raca/online_forms/pdf/1076-0160_INDIAN-PREF_Expires-10.31.24_508.pdf. When an Indian Preference candidate possesses Veterans preference the rules regarding Veterans preference apply under ESEP and the applicant must provide documentation in order to receive preference.
Veterans Preference: If claiming Veteran's Preference provide a copy of your DD214 Form (Member 4 copy). To claim 10-Point Veterans Preference, submit a SF-15 Application (http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf) along with the appropriate supporting documentation. For additional information regarding Veterans Preference visit: http://www.fedshirevets.gov.
Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): If you are claiming CTAP/ICTAP, follow the instructions below: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/ctap_guideline.pdf.
Transcripts: You are encouraged to submit copies of transcripts (official or unofficial) although not required at the time of application. You must list your courses including titles, credit hours completed, and grades. Official transcripts will be required after tentative selection and prior to issuing an official job offer.
Licensure, Certifications: Applicants should list their license/certifications on their resume, along with the expiration date, if applicable. Certification of licensure/certification will be required after tentative selection and prior to issuing an official job offer.

You must meet the requirements of the job by 11:59 (Eastern Standard Time) of the cut-off date or the closing date: 12/31/2024.

The first Cut-off date for receipt/referral of applications to be considered for available vacant positions will be 10 days after the JOA open date. If necessary, additional cutoff dates will be established until the position is filled. Once the position is filled, the job announcement closes.

Your resume and any documents submitted will be retained for three months and may be used at any time during this period. After 3 months, you must reapply to this announcement in order to be considered.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package. See required documents below.

  1. Click 'Apply' to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account.
  2. Follow the prompts to upload your resume and/or supporting documents.
  3. Read all Eligibility questions and respond accordingly. .
  4. Complete the assessment questions.
  5. Verify all required documentation is included in your application package
For additional questions please see our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) found here: http://www.ihs.gov/jobs/index.cfm?module=search&option=faq.

Agency contact information

Margaret Witt
Address
Colville Service Unit
PO Box 71
HWY 155 Agency Campus
Nespelem, WA 99155
US
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

You can track the progress of your application package via your USAJobs account. You will receive an acknowledgement from USAJobs that your submission was successful once we have received your on-line occupational questionnaire, resume, and any supporting documentation. You will be notified of the status of your application via your USAJobs Account after we conduct a qualification review of your complete application package. You will be contacted if further evaluation or interviews are required. Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempt to conceal information may disqualify you for employment consideration. We may verify all information you provide in your resume and questionnaire responses, through reference and/or background check, and/or verification of your education. If you are selected, you will be contacted personally by the human resources office posting this announcement.

If all required documentation is not submitted with your application you will lose consideration. It is the applicant's responsibility to verify that information and documents entered, uploaded, or faxed are received, legible and accurate. HR will not modify answers submitted by an applicant.

HHS has a critical preparedness and response mission: HHS protects the American people from health threats, researches emerging diseases, and mobilizes public health programs with domestic and international partners. In support of this mission, HHS offers its employees the opportunity to volunteer to become Federal Civilian Detailees and contribute their unique skills through voluntary temporary assignments to humanitarian emergencies or Departmental priorities countering new and emerging health, safety, and security threats.

~ ~ ~ Indian Health Service is an Equal Opportunity Employer ~ ~ ~


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.