Clinical Laboratory Scientist-Quality 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.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Major duties but are not limited to:

• Serves as the liaison between administration, clinical staff, and technical staff regarding the clinical, business, technical operations management processes associated with each specific quality assurance and management program.
• Develops and reviews laboratory general operation and quality management program, procedures and policy. Recommends laboratory and section procedures and policy changes as appropriate.
• Maintains and serves as administrator of the VACHCS - Pathology and Laboratory document control software system.
• Demonstrates the ability to assess data needed, design data collection procedures, identify quality assurance monitors and indicators, and reviews all data analyzed with appropriate audiences as needed.
• Performs statistical analysis (variations, standard deviation, and trend-analysis) on quality control and quality assurance data collected. Identifies, documents, and takes corrective action on testing methods or procedures or staff members deemed to be in need of quality improvement.
• Assists in development, implementation, and monitoring of external and internal proficiency survey programs. Coordinates analysis of data to assess efficiency of program and correctness of responses.
• Monitors quality measures and activities of the laboratory to determine conformance with established policies, regulatory or accreditation requirements; and makes recommendations for appropriate corrective action and follow-up as necessary. Provides quarterly and/or annual quality reports directly to the Chief, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Laboratory Manager.
• Formulates of further measures for data collection and analysis to assist or correct problem areas identified.
• Ensures compliance with local and national policies and procedures, and federal agency regulations for the Quality Management program.
• Facilitates planning and implementation of new Quality Management procedures and policies for Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service.
• Coordinates and trains laboratory supervisors and bench level personnel on the necessary data collection, analysis and statistical aspects of each individual laboratory section, instrument, and test.
• Establishes baseline measures (data collection, analysis, reporting) through standardized methodologies pre- and post-implementation.
• Acts as the conduit between laboratory management, VACHS QM section, Infection Control section and aide accreditation agencies.
• Maintains effective relationships with all hospital services/sections. Assists in providing continuing education and development for the needs of managers/supervisors in such areas as Quality Control, Quality Assurance, and Quality Improvement.
• Responds to all national accreditation agencies, VHA Clinical Laboratory Scientist (National Quality and Compliance Agent), National and VISN inquiries, surveys, and questionnaires as requested.
• Participates in National Accreditation Conference call, VISN QA committee conference calls, and other training initiatives.
• Comprehensive quality management knowledge of federal acquisition regulations (FAR) and maintains COR training and certification.
• Other duties as assigned

Work Schedule: Monday to Friday 8:00am-4:30pm . This position will participate in an emergency response rotation and may be required to provide coverage during emergencies, disasters or other operational contingencies.
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact VISN8CCOE@va.gov, 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 $144,000 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 Authorized
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 62583F
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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 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:

• Generalist certification as an MLS given by ASCP BOC or AMT.
• 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. 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).

Loss of Credential. If an employee fails to maintain the required certification, management officials, in collaboration with HR Office staff, must immediately remove the employee from duties and responsibilities associated with this occupation. This may also result in separation from employment. 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. NOTE: Possession of a certification identified 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: : In addition to the basic requirements for employment, candidates must meet the following grade-determining criteria for placement at grade levels specified.

GS-12 Experience. 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level is required for all GS-12 assignments.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
(A) Knowledge of the concepts, principles, and practices of medical technology sufficient to perform the full range of duties involved in planning, coordinating, and evaluating laboratory services.
(B) Knowledge of accrediting agencies and regulatory requirements pertaining to laboratory operations.
(C) Knowledge of laboratory operations and relationships to the organization.
(D) Skill in applying laboratory quality control/assurance policies, procedures, and principles and safety practices and regulations.
(E) Ability to apply quality management performance improvement principles, methodology, and processes to develop and manage a clinical laboratory quality management program.
(F) Ability to apply statistical evaluation and analysis to quality assurance data and implement corrective actions when indicated.

Preferred Experience: Demonstrated understanding and experience with accreditation and regulatory compliance and development of dashboards. Demonstrated understanding and experience supporting contract oversight functions and familiar with federal acquisition regulations and vendor management processes. Demonstrate understanding and experience managing or supporting Laboratory Information Systems (LIS) and ability to validate data, generate reports and support decision making through metrics. Candidates with demonstrated leadership in cross functional initiatives,
quality improvements and operational efficiency in a high volume environment are strongly encouraged.


Selective Placement Factor (SPF) for locations in Puerto Rico- This position includes a skill, knowledge, ability or other worker characteristic basic to -and essential for- satisfactory performance of the job. Selective Placement Factors are a prerequisite to appointment and represent minimum requirements for a position. Applicants who do not meet it are ineligible for further consideration. Evidence of the Selective Placement Factor must be reflected in your resume. The SPF for this position is: In addition to the English Language Proficiency, you must also be proficient in basic written and spoken Spanish in order to perform the duties of this position.


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

Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing. May be required to
wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment. The incumbent must be able to perform moderate lifting of 15-44 pounds, straight pulling, pushing, reaching above the shoulder, use of fingers and both hands, walking 4-8 hours,
standing 4-8 hours, kneeling, repeated bending, and use of both arms and legs. Specific visual requirements include vision for both eyes, depth perception, the ability to distinguish colors and shades of colors, and

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.
• 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 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.
• Must possess a valid, state driver's license.
• Copy of Driver's license record.
  

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.