Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist

Clarification from the agency

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply. Open to U.S. Citizens. NOTE: The two-page resume requirement does not apply to this position.

This is an external announcement open to all US citizens. This occupation is listed on the OIG Determination of Veterans Health Administration's Occupational Staffing Shortages list for this fiscal year through September 30, 2026. Therefore, this vacancy announcement is exempt from Veterans Preference. Current permanent VA/Federal employees may apply under announcement CBTC-13043278-26-YAS to receive internal consideration.

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

The Miami VA Healthcare System's Pathology & Laboratory Service is seeking an experienced and dynamic Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS). Ideal applicants are those who want to contribute to the achievement of quality care standards, as well as the growth and development of a VA academic hospital program. You must be an excellent communicator and team player who is adaptable to the needs of a growing medical center.

The CLS serves as the Microbiology Supervisor for Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (P&LMS) who reports to the Laboratory Manager and Chief of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Services. The CLS must be a Clinical Laboratory Scientist who is able to work independently and manage multiple assignments in an efficient and accurate manner.

Other duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Supervising and managing the day-to-day work of clinical laboratory scientists and technicians of highly complex test performance for accuracy, efficiency, and promptness
• Preparing clinical laboratory scientists' schedules and work-station rotations in a timely manner, adhering to prescribed guidelines as directed by Laboratory Manager
• Monitoring test analyses and specimen examinations to ensure acceptable levels of performance
• Assuring corrective action is initiated when test performance deviates from established performance specifications and when standard and control sample value are unacceptable
• Administering and maintaining control over time and leave in order to provide adequate coverage of the Microbiology Department
• Preparing scheduled tours to meet workload needs
• Determines procedures to be performed as necessary and follows up work completion by accepting, correcting or rejecting work of Department personnel.
• Reviewing work in progress or upon completion, as necessary
• Analyzing workload and keeping daily, monthly, and annual statistics
• Determining need for staffing and new development in technology and methodology and advising management of anticipated requirements
• Other supervisory duties as assigned

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
(Note: Work schedules are determined and approved by the supervisor. The incumbent may be required to work various shifts on a permanent or temporary basis based on facility/patient care needs).
Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact the VISN 8 Compensation Center of Excellence at VISN8CCOE@va.gov for questions/assistance. Learn more
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
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)
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Conditions of employment

Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

• 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.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation/examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a one or two-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

To qualify for this position, you must meet the basic requirements as well as any additional requirements (if applicable) listed in the job announcement.

Applicants pending the completion of training or license requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements: All applicants must meet the following basic qualifications.

• United States Citizenship: Must be a US Citizen.
• Education. A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university
• Certification. Candidates must meet one of the certification options below:
  • Generalist certification as a Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) given by the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification (ASCP BOC) or American Medical Technologist (AMT), - OR -
  • Generalist certification as a Medical Technologist (MT) given by the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Registry (ASCP BOR) or AMT, - OR -
  • Categorical certification or Specialist certification by ASCP or AMT
• English Language Proficiency: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.

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

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

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13.

Physical Requirements: Must pass a pre-employment physical examination/evaluation as required by VA Handbook 5019. This examination/evaluation is administered by VA Occupational Health.

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.

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.

NOTE:

Incomplete packets will not be considered. Failure to submit the required documentation will make you ineligible for this position.

The following documents are required from all applicants:

• Résumé/CV: For each job/position listed, you must include a job title, detailed duties, month and year for each start/end date, and if full-time or part-time, include the number of hours worked each week.
• Responses to the questionnaire
• Certification: Must provide a copy of the required certification(s), as listed above for this position
• Transcript(s): Must provide a copy of education transcripts. If transcript is not submitted, it will be requested if selected for this position.

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