Supervisory Clinical Lab Scientist (Laboratory Manager)

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Functions or Scope of Assigned Duties:

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.

• The Laboratory is a complexity level index group 1 or group 2 based on the Hospital Complexity Level as designates in Office of Productivity, Efficiency, and Staffing (OPES). VHA Facility Complexity Model History.
• The Laboratory performs at least one million standard billable tests annually (as report to the Laboratory Management Index Program).
• The CLS supervises a staff of non-supervisory and supervisory personnel including at least one GS-13 subordinate.
• Lack of on-site pathologist/Chief with oversight of a large staff (typically>20 employees).
• The CLS oversees additional services (for example, Radiology, Sterile Processing, other).
• Develops guidelines.
• Assesses laboratory effectiveness.
• Establishes and maintains quality assurance programs.
• Serves as an authority on laboratory medicine.
• Serve as a consultant to local, network, and national program officials.
• Keep abreast of current research, clinical methods, and technical advances in the field.
• Develops and integrates new techniques, and procedures into laboratory programs
• Provide direction and guidance to staff.
• Develop and manages program budget.
• Maintain coverage throughout the laboratory and active recruitment and personnel selection functions.
• Interpret and provide technical guidance on agency policies and procedures.
• Serve as a purchase card approving official and complies with all the acquisition regulations, both Federal, VA and local to include 8A, small business, Javis Wagner O'Day Act, and mandatory sources in accordance VHA Handbook 1730.1, Use and Management of the Government Purchase Card Program.
• Monitor to ensure that cardholders conduct daily purchase card reconciliation within the required timeframe and that reconciliations are correct.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:00 am - 3:30 pm PST
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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.
• Certification:
  • Candidates must meet one of the certification options below.
    • (a) Generalist certification as an MLS given by ASCP BOC or AMT.
    • (b) Generalist certification as an MT given by ASCP BOR or AMT.
    • (c) 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).

• 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 "Certification" above automatically determines the foreign education as creditable and no further documentation or proof of equivalency is needed.

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:

Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist (Laboratory Manager) GS-14

Experience: Must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-13) which is directly related to the position to be filled. This is required for all GS-14 assignments.

Examples of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-13): Spends 25% or more of their time providing administrative and technical supervision; performs major duties above those at the FPL that consist of significant scope, complexity, difficulty and variety. Supervises at least one staff member at the GS-12 grade level; Plans, directs, and assess work of subordinate staff; recommends appointments, awards, advancement, and disciplinary actions; Plans and assigns work based in priorities, requirements of assignments, and abilities of employees; provides advice and counsel; and evaluates work of subordinates Ensures compliance with accrediting agencies and regulatory requirements; Establishes and monitors the quality of pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical processes; Executes performance and quality improvement projects; Verifies orientation, training, and competency assessment of assigned staff and develops and updates technical policies and procedure manuals; Ensures all staff and affiliate staff comply with accrediting and regulating bodies; Adjusts staff levels or work procedures to accommodate resource allocation decisions made at the executive level; Manages document control, develops performance standards, position descriptions, and functional statements; Responsible for technical and administrative management of an assigned area including budget execution; Interacts with administrative and clinical onsite personnel and exercises significant independent decision-making authority; Maintains effective interdisciplinary and interprofessional relations with other services to accomplish medical center goals.

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

(1) 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.
(2) Skill in administrative management such as budgeting, contracting, procurement, and property management in accordance with organizational (for example, VHA) regulations.
(3) 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.
(4) Ability to plan and execute short-and long-range programs and/or goals through project management and tactical/strategic planning.(5) 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.
(6) 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.
(7) 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.

Assignment:

The Supervisory CLS serves as the Laboratory Manager (Lab Manager). This individual must spend 25% or more of their time providing administrative and technical supervision and perform major duties above those at the FPL that consist of significant scope, complexity, difficulty, and variety. The CLS must supervise at least one staff member at the GS-13 grade level. The CLS exercises a full range of supervisory responsibilities in planning , directing, and assessing work of subordinate staff. The CLS provides guidance and serves as an authority and subject matter expert on laboratory medicine including research, agency policies, new techniques, and procedures. Develops guidelines, assesses laboratory effectiveness, and establishes and maintains quality assurance and quality management programs. Consults with or serves as a consultant for local, network, and national programs and/or officials. Manages regulatory affairs and compliance and develops and manages program budget and resource usage, inventory, acquisition, and contracting processes. Assist and participate in educational programs affiliated with institutions providing training for individuals in laboratory or other related medical field of study.

Preferred Experience:

• Master's degree desirable but not required
• A minimum of 10 years of supervisory experience.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

• 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 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.

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.