Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist (Regional Program Manager)

Clarification from the agency

Open to Current Permanent VA/Federal Employees Only: Area of Consideration - Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order: 1. Current permanent VA employees of the facility. 2. All other VA employees. 3. Current permanent federal employees of other agencies. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Major Duties:

• Supervises laboratory operations across multiple CBOC locations, ensuring consistent laboratory practices, adequate staffing, competency, and high-quality clinical testing services.
• Exercises full supervisory authority, including assigning work, evaluating performance, conducting competency assessments, counseling employees, affecting disciplinary actions, and participating in hiring and selection processes.
• Develops, implements, and revises guidelines that standardize laboratory procedures, workflows, and quality practices across dispersed outpatient locations.
• Assesses laboratory effectiveness by evaluating performance metrics, workload trends, resource utilization, error tracking systems, and customer satisfaction indicators.
• Establishes, monitors, and maintains quality assurance and quality management programs that comply with CLIA, JC, CAP, OSHA, and VHA directives.
• Serves as a subject matter expert and authoritative consultant on laboratory medicine for CBOC leadership, P&LMS leadership, VISN partners, and national program officials.
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of evolving clinical methods, research, laboratory medicine standards, and technical advances, integrating new technologies and procedures into CBOC laboratory operations.
• Provides technical and administrative guidance to staff on laboratory policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements, ensuring standardization across all assigned sites.
• Develops, monitors, and manages program budgets, including supply procurement, equipment lifecycle management, contract oversight, and workload-based resource planning.
• Ensures adequate coverage at CBOCs through staffing plans, cross-training, and resource distribution; actively participates in recruitment, interviewing, and selection of personnel.
• Oversees contracting operations related to reference laboratory services, courier systems, specialized testing agreements, and vendor performance; ensures contract laboratories meet all regulatory and performance expectations.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 72104F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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.
• 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

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.
• English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403 (f)
• 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
    • NOTE: Possession of a certification identified in 4c above automatically determines the foreign education as creditable and no further documentation or proof of equivalency is needed.
• Certification. Candidates must meet one of the certification options below,
  • Generalist certification as an MLS given by ASCP BOC or AMT.
  • Generalist certification as an MT given by ASCP BOR or AMT.
  • 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).

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: In addition to meeting the basic requirements stated above, the following qualifications criteria must be met in determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates.

Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist (Regional Program Manager), GS-14

• Experience. 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, GS-13
• The supervisory CLS serves as the Laboratory Manager (Lab Manager) and shares with the chief of laboratory service/medical director full responsibility for managing and supervising all phases of laboratory service operations where at least three of the five following criteria are met outlined below in (A) - (E):
  • (A) The Laboratory is a complexity level index group 1 or group 2based on the Hospital Complexity Level as designated in Office of Productivity, Efficiency, and Staffing (OPES) VHA Facility Complexity Model History.
  • (B) The Laboratory performs at least one million standard billable tests annually (as reported to the Laboratory Management Index Program).
  • (C) The CLS supervises a staff of non-supervisory and supervisory personnel including at least one GS-13subordinate.
  • (D) Lack of on-site pathologist/Chief with oversight of a large staff(typically >20 employees).
  • (E) The CLS oversees additional services (for example, Radiology, Sterile Processing, other).
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
  • (A) Knowledge of principles and methodology of medical technology programs and operations sufficient to assess program effectiveness and provide authoritative guidance for operations, personnel, and management.
  • (B) Knowledge of laboratory operations and relationships to the organization.
  • (C) Skill in administrative management such as budgeting, contracting, procurement, and property management.
  • (D) Ability to delineate and interpret accreditation standards and regulatory requirements to oversee laboratory programs.
  • (E) Ability to work collaboratively with other departments and upper management in a medical center or health care setting or higher-level managers in regional or national offices (for example, VISN-level staff and VHA Central Office staff).
  • (F) Ability to plan and execute short- and long-range programs.
  • (G) Ability to provide advisory, planning, and surveillance services to clinicians, laboratory directors, and supervisors on specific functions, programs, or problems that are particularly difficult, widespread, or persistent.
  • (H) Ability to solve complex problems involving unique or controversial aspects of laboratory management

Preferred Experience: Preferred Contracting Officer Representative Certification and previous supervisory experience.

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-14.

Physical Requirements: May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, pulling and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment. Must be able to perform moderate lifting of 15-50 pounds, straight pulling, pushing, reaching above shoulder, use of fingers and both hands, walking 4-8 hours, standing 4-8 hours, kneeling, repeated bending, and use of both arms and legs. Specific visual requirements include both eyes, depth perception, the ability to distinguish colors and shades or colors, and the ability to ready ordinary type without strain. Must have adequate hearing (aids permitted), and the emotional stability and mental stability to deal with 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.

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:

• Professional Certification
• Resume
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action

SF-50: All VA/Federal employees must submit a copy of your most recent SF-50 (that is not an award SF-50) that shows you're a current, permanent VA/Federal employee. You may get your SF-50 directly from your eOPF. VA employees may go to:https://eopf.opm.gov/va/. Other Federal employees must contact your current HR Office for assistance assessing your eOPF/personnel folder.

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
• Generalist certification as an MLS given by ASCP BOC or AMT.
• Generalist certification as an MT given by ASCP BOR or AMT.
• Categorical certification or Specialist certification by ASCP or AMT.
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

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