Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist Job in Washington, DC

Summary

This job is open to

• The public

  U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Duties

The incumbent is a qualified and experienced clinical laboratory scientist (CLS) who supervises clinical laboratory scientists at the GS-9 and GS-11 grade levels. The incumbent has full supervisory responsibility for nonsupervisory personnel in a lab section of the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service (P&LMS).

Major Duties:

• Facilitating team or unit processes by working in collaboration with team members or employees to ensure that section tasks are completed and team priorities, goals, needs, and achievements are coordinated with management.
• Preparing reports and maintains records and administrative information. Prepares and presents work-related information to the lab manager. Reports include but are not limited to reports for quality assurance, result turnaround times, specimen mislabeling issues, and corrected reports.
• Acting as liaison to other departments of the medical center for the appropriate laboratory specialty area.
• Providing technical support, training, and directions to nursing staff, nursing managers, and medical staff of the medical center.
• Researching, adapting, developing, writing, and revising standard operating procedures.
• Develops, performs, evaluates, interprets, correlates, and validates the accuracy of test results.
• Responsible for training new employees, students, and laboratory staff on the performance of tests, operation of instrumentation, and section policies and procedures.
• Performing the more complex tests that may be requested of the section. Is the primary source of information for maintaining current instrumentation. Responsible for the evaluations of new and evolving developments in laboratory instrumentation and automation.
• Ordering supplies and reagents for the section and controls adequate stock to cover typical workloads.
• Ensuring compliance with rules and regulations of assorted regulatory agencies such as the TJC, CAP, FDA, and the National Program Office.
• Coordinating Quality Control and Quality Assurance programs for the appropriate laboratory specialty area with the lab manager.
• Responsible for the proficiency testing in the section and investigates any results that are not acceptable in the proficiency testing program. Communicates QC, QA, PT problems to the laboratory manager.
• Reviewing all test results produced in the section (including results from off-hours and weekend shifts) for correctness as required by TJC/CAP, directs involved CLS in correcting errors, and notifies attending physicians as appropriate.
• Performing a broad range of laboratory procedures, including all testing and tasks of the clinical laboratory scientist.
• Resolving problems/concerns from the hospital and physicians regarding the quality of testing and customer service.
• Executing all delegated duties assigned by the medical laboratory director. The incumbent reports directly to the lab manager and laboratory director.
• Outlining assignment parameters, deadlines, and priorities and advises on how to proceed when encountering unusual problems.
• Independently planning and caring out the procedures necessary to complete the work assignment, handling problems, and determining corrective action in accordance with established policies. A great deal of independent judgment is required.
• Work is reviewed only for adherence to established laboratory policies and to assure that Laboratory Service maintains accreditation standards.

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).

How You Will Be Evaluated

Required Documents

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 09/02/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12790727.

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.

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.