Clinical Laboratory Scientist
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Job Location:
Charleston, SC - USA
Yearly Salary:
$ 64019 - 116593
Posted on:
Yesterday
Vacancies:
1 Vacancy
Job Summary
Summary
This is an open continuous announcement. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis and qualified candidates will be considered as vacancies become available. Applications will remain on file until September 30 2026.
The incumbent serves as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service with the responsibility for testing performed in Chemistry Hematology Coagulation Urinalysis lmmunohematology (Blood Bank) Microbiology Immunology and Molecular Diagnostic sections at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System a tertiary healthcare facility that provides acute intermediate primary psychiatric and long term care 24 hours a day seven (7) days a week and on public holidays.
Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional
The Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) is responsible for assessing conducting interpreting and validating the accuracy and reliability of test outcomes. This CLS showcases progressive clinical expertise and experience through the execution of testing protocols on various biological samples using both manual and automated techniques. Tasks encompass routine testing quality assurance equipment maintenance and problem-solving. Any deviations from standard procedures unexpected issues or unfamiliar scenarios are escalated to the full performance CLS or above for guidance.
Under close supervision and daily guidance of a Clinical Laboratory Scientist at or above the full performance level (FPL) the employee performs the following functions:
Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm; 4:00pm - 12:00am; or 12:00am - 8:00am Monday - Friday (with rotating weekends and holidays). Work Schedule is subject to change based on agency need.
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized.
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Authorized.
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).
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)
Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work experience or military service experience.
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 $144000 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.
Functional Statement #: 534-59435F; 534-59437F; 534-59485F
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 ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
- 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.
- 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.
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: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403 (f).
- Education: A bachelors degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
- NOTE: The Supervisory CLS (Laboratory Director) GS-15 requires unique education requirements.
- Certification: Candidates must meet one of the certification options below.
- Generalist certification as an MLS given by ASCP BOC or AMT OR
- Generalist certification as an MT given by ASCP BOR or AMT OR
- 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.
Clinical Laboratory Scientist GS-07. Experience. None beyond the basic requirements.
Clinical Laboratory Scientist GS-09. Experience or Education. Candidates at this level must meet one of the criteria below:
Experience. 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade.
OR
Education. Masters degree or 2 academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education in medical technology or a directly related science.
Knowledge Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
- Knowledge of policies and procedures of clinical laboratory testing.
- Knowledge of laboratory quality control and quality assurance principles.
- Knowledge of laboratory equipment and routine maintenance.
- Ability to work as a team member and effectively complete assignments.
- Ability to read and interpret written instructions.
- Ability to accurately perform pre-analytical analytical and post-analytical phases of testing
Experience or Education. Candidates at this level must meet one of the criteria below:
Experience. 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
OR
Education. Must have 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education or a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in medical technology or a directly related science.
Knowledge Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
- Knowledge of professional clinical laboratory science principles practices concepts and theories that support sound independent work.
- Knowledge of laboratory quality control and quality assurance procedures and principles of performance improvement.
- Skill in informatics laboratory data flow and laboratory processes.
- Ability to maintain troubleshoot and repair instrumentation.
- Ability to use independent technical judgment to analyze and interpret laboratory results.
- Ability to read interpret and apply complex written instructions.
- Ability to communicate consult and interact with other members of the health care team external relations customer service and patient education.
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-07 to GS-11.
Physical Requirements: This work requires some physical exertion such as prolonged periods of standing bending reaching crouching stooping stretching and lifting moderately heavy items such as manuals record boxes equipment or assisting patients.
See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.
Education
Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges universities schools or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: 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:
Additional information
Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: 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. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.
During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38 and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicants criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations Security and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government passionate about the ideals of our American republic and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
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.
Required Experience:
IC
Key Skills
- Laboratory Experience
- Immunoassays
- Machine Learning
- Biochemistry
- Assays
- Research Experience
- Spectroscopy
- Research & Development
- cGMP
- Cell Culture
- Molecular Biology
- Data Analysis Skills
