Lead Clinical Lab Scientist MicrobiologyMolecular

• 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 identification 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.

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 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.

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 to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C.7403(f).
• Education. A bachelors degree or higher from an accredited college or university in medical laboratory science medical technology clinical laboratory science or in a related science (e.g. laboratory sciences such as chemistry biochemistry biology microbiology immunology etc.).
• Certification. Candidates must meet one of the certification options below:
  1. Generalist certification as an MLS given by ASCP BOC or AMT.
  2. Generalist certification as an MT given by ASCP BOR or AMT.
  3. Categorical certification or Specialist certification by ASCP or AMT.

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).

Experience.
(1) Creditable Experience. To be creditable the experience must have required the use of knowledge skills and abilities associated with current CLS practices. The experience satisfying this requirement may be paid or non-paid employment as a CLS in the health care field. Research laboratory experience does not fulfill this requirement.
(2) Part-Time Experience. Part-time experience is creditable according to its relationship to a full-time workweek. For example an individual employed 20 hours per week or on a half-time basis would receive 1 full-time workweek of credit for each 2 weeks of service.
(3) Quality of Experience. Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to CLS experience at the next lower grade level of the position being filled. For all assignments above the full performance level (FPL) the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope administrative independence complexity and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time.

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

GS-12 Clinical Laboratory Scientist (Technical Specialist) Experience. 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11) is required. This experience may include but is not limited to: develops performs evaluates interprets correlates and validates the accuracy of laboratory procedures and results in line with current laboratory regulatory requirements. The work performed may be in a variety of laboratory specialties such as chemistry microbiology immunology hematology and immunohematology. Testing procedures are performed on a variety of biological specimens and/or environmental samples using manual or automated addition to routine testing the CLS conducts quality control and routine maintenance of instrumentation and troubleshooting. The CLS correlates abnormal lab data with pathological states determines the validity of test results and the need for additional tests. Specific targeted laboratory responsibilities or projects may include laboratory safety officer analyzer specialist primary operator on new test systems quality control specialist supply control and/or coordinator for the laboratory competency assessment or proficiency/survey program. This assignment may include limited duties in areas such as lab information management and ancillary testing. These tasks require a broad exercise of independent judgment and responsibility including organizing and setting priorities with minimal technical supervision. The CLS assesses a situation considers the options and formulates an appropriate course of action.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

• Knowledge and understanding of concepts principles methodology of medical laboratory technology regulatory and accrediting agency requirements medico-legal requirements and pertinent statistics sufficient to perform complex diagnostic tests..
• Knowledge of instructional techniques to instruct newly hired clinical laboratory scientists and clinical pathology residents in proper performance of tests and applications of laboratory procedures.
• Knowledge of one or more advanced clinical laboratory functions.
• Skill to apply new scientific/technical developments to develop procedures for new tests and modify existing procedures and methods to resolve problems relative to complex and difficult situations.
• Ability to provide guidance and technical direction to accomplish the work of a clinical laboratory.
• Ability to provide guidance and technical direction to accomplish the work of the specific laboratory section.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit Full Performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.

Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting and carrying (15-44 lbs); As needed - Straight pulling pushing walking standing repeated bending reaching above shoulder use of fingers both hands required; both legs required; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; ability to see and distinguish depth perception basic colors and shades of colors; hearing (aid permitted). In addition the ability to deal with constant noise work around machinery with moving parts work closely with others or alone and work protracted or irregular hours.