Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist (Laboratory Manager)

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

These duties include the following:
a. Reviews and implements staffing goals and objectives. Initiates necessary requests to meet staffing needs. Carries out the duties involving recruitment and hiring of laboratory personnel. Ensures appropriate orientation and training.
b. Provides guidance and serves as an authority and subject matter expert on laboratory medicine including research agency policies new techniques and procedures.
c. Attends meetings/conferences representing the Chief and reports directly to the Chief.
d. Advises the Chief of Service Clinical Directors Supervisors Lead CLS and other applicable staff on any problems and their impact on the Service.
e. Reviews and approves performance ratings and consults with Employee Relations/Labor Relations (ER/LR) regarding personnel actions to be taken involving conduct grievance serious employee complaints progressive discipline etc.
f. Acts as an alternate control point official for the service approving expenditures as required.
g. Develops guidelines assesses laboratory effectiveness establishes and maintains quality assurance and quality management programs.
h. Assists and participates in educational programs affiliated with institutions providing training for individuals in laboratories or other related fields of study.
i. Makes recommendations for the overall laboratory physical facility to include design development and modifications of existing and new facilities. Participates in long-range planning for P&LMS including personnel and space requirements.
j. Ensures compliance with requirements of accreditation agencies for all laboratories in the Columbia VA Health Care System as well as for Point of Care Testing.
k. Serves as the laboratory liaison to services and committees in the medical center and also for contacts from outside the medical center.
l. Prepares submits and analyzes data related to staffing salary expenses test volumes Relative Value Units (RVU) productivity etc.
m. Serves as a first-line supervisor for designated staff in P&LMS (performance management leave approval personnel actions ensuring competency etc.) and second-line for others with grades ranging from GS-4 to GS-13.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized
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 #: 62376F
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

• 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.
• 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.

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)
• 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.
  • TRANSCRIPTS MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH APPLICATION.
    • 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:
      • 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
      • The applicant submits a letter from ASCP BOC or AMT stating the individual is eligible to take the certification examination.
      • TRANSCRIPTS MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH APPLICATION.
    • 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
    • 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. 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).

• Knowledge of concepts principles and methodologies of a major clinical laboratory program and operations to assess program effectiveness and provide authoritative guidance for operations personnel and management.
• Skill in administrative management such as budgeting contracting procurement and property management in accordance with organizational (for example VHA) regulations.
• Ability to collaborate with other departments and upper management in a medical center or health care setting or higher-level managers in regional or national offices such as VISN-level staff and VHA Central Office staff.
• Ability to plan and execute short- and long-range programs and/or goals through project management and tactical/ strategic planning.
• Ability to provide advisory planning and surveillance services to clinicians laboratory directors and supervisors on FORMER VA HANDBOOK REFERENCE: Part II Appendix G24 EFFECTIVE DATE: Decemberspecific functions programs or problems that are particularly difficult widespread or persistent.
• Ability to solve complex problems involving unique or controversial aspects of medical technology or laboratory management new or unconventional methods program changes or conflicts between scientific/technological requirements and regulatory or program requirements.
• Ability to provide the full range of supervisory duties including responsibility for assignment of work performance evaluations selection of staff and recommendation of awards advancements and disciplinary actions.