Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

• Performs the full range of laboratory testing duties listed at the full performance level including duty on weekends and holidays.
• Maintains and documents the optimal functioning of laboratory equipment. Uses calibrates identifies malfunctions repairs and performs preventive maintenance of laboratory equipment. Diagnoses deviations in test performance due to instrument malfunction.
• Assists the Supervisor in modifying existing procedures as new tests are brought on board and as testing requirements change. Ensures that Document Control is up to date.
• Participates in quality assurance efforts by indicating quality improvement indicators. Develops a system to monitor indicators and recommends/implements corrective actions when indicated. Gathers information for monthly Quality Assurance monitors. Uses statistical programs to measure acceptability.
• Reviews regulatory requirements for CAP JCAHO FDA OSHA and AABB to ensure compliance. Performs all needed maintenance and testing to ensure compliance to include but not limited to pipette and balance maintenance Analytical Measurement ranges Reference Range studies linearity studies and monthly reviews of charts.
• Organizes work and sets priorities to meet deadlines.
• Performs duties as the Contract Officer Representative for the department and accepts invoices in the IPPS system.
• In the absence of the Supervisor assigns directs and reviews the work of other Clinical laboratory scientists in the department.
• Communicates effectively professionally and courteously verbally and in writing. Gives direction and guidance using principles of laboratory testing.
• Is responsible as a primary source of information for maintaining current instrumentation. Is responsible for evaluation of new and evolving developments in laboratory instrumentation. Is responsible for validation/ method verification of new instrumentation as it is brought on board.
• Identifies training needs and provides appropriate training and competency as delegated by the Director of PALMS. Performs retraining as needed.
• Maintains documentation of supplies and inventory and ensures that all new lots of reagents are labeled properly and tested for acceptability.
• Acts as a liaison to other departments and represents the laboratory in meetings.
• Incumbent works with supervisor to arrive at solutions that minimizes organizational disruption on any job-related issues.
• Readily accepts additional authority and responsibility during brief periods where immediate supervisor is away from the work site that assists the medical center to maintain consistent operations.

• 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.
• 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.

• 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.

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.
• 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.).
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C.7403(f).
• 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.

• Employees may be reassigned promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level or be changed to a lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or newly placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
• If an assignment above the FPL requires an additional certification over and above the basic requirements employees must meet the assignment-specific requirement before they can be promoted.
• Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
• Employees retained in this occupation under this provision who subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation.
• Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain certification that meets all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.

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.

• Knowledge of medical technology applicable to a wide range of duties to solve complex problems involving diverse aspects of clinical laboratory practice.
• Skill to maintain troubleshoot and repair laboratory instrumentation.
• Ability to develop procedures for new tests and modify existing procedures and methods to resolve problems relative to complex and difficult situations.
• Ability to manage and coordinate daily work activities and assignments in a section.
• Ability to provide or coordinate staff development and training.
• Ability to provide guidance and technical direction to a wide variety of individuals including physicians nurses and other clinical staff regarding technical aspects of testing specimen requirements and results.