Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist

This position is located at the Joseph Maxwell Cleland Atlanta VA Medical Center within Pathology and Laboratory Service. The Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist provides leadership and technical oversight of laboratory operations in the Blood Bank Lab Dept. or as assigned, coordinates workflow, assigns work, supports staff training and competency, ensures compliance with quality and regulatory standards, oversees quality control activities, maintains records and reports, supports Veteran care.

Functions include any combination of those found at the GS-11 grade level for a Clinical Laboratory Scientist. For all GS-12 assignments above the FPL, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety and be performed by the CLS at least 25% of the time. Candidates at this grade level are in one of the following assignments. Experience. 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level is required for all GS-12 assignments.

Duties:
Accepts responsibility in a specialty area such as safety, quality improvement, training or other as assigned by the supervisor, Is a Team leader of the section assignment.

• Facilitates team or unit processes by working in collaboration with team members or employees to ensure that tasks are completed and team priorities, goals, needs and achievements are coordinated with management.
• Receives training for complex analytical instrument or procedures and is responsible for training other employees in its operation, is consulted as the shift expert for troubleshooting problems and coordinates shift competency checks.
• Evaluates quality control protocols for performance of tests and evaluation of results. Performs validation/method verification studies for new systems or is responsible for the implementation and oversight of a test system on an off shift.
• Recognizes methodology limitations such as linearity, interference, sensitivity, and specificity and considers these when drawing conclusions about the validity of testing results.
• Ensures that laboratory tests and procedures are consistent with accrediting agencies standards and requirements.
• Performs all the elements for quality improvement assessment such data collection and evaluation, graphical and verbal presentation, and recommendation for actions/solutions.
• Consults with healthcare providers on logical protocol to follow in attempting to confirm the diagnosis of risk assessment of a patient.
• Provides advisory services to technicians, technologist, and other specialist relative to higher knowledge acquired thru continuing education and work experience.
• Performs qualitative and quantitative tests and examinations using various analyzers and/or manual methods on specimen sources such as blood, urine, and other body fluids using established procedures.
• Performs established quality assurance procedures (quality control testing, instrument function checks and calibrations) maintains appropriate documentation and reports irregularities.
• Assesses accuracy and validity of obtained test results by applying knowledge of relevant scientific principles, recognizes changes that are critical to patient care, and identifies probable causes for irregular and atypical findings.
• Maintains records of test and examinations and final results for all record functions and inquires related to patient care.
• Monitors and evaluates quality control data reporting outliers to the Lead Medical Technologist.
• Troubleshoots instruments and resolves technical problems whenever possible, document corrective action, and reports problems to the supervisor.
• Assists in instructing students and laboratory personnel in the principles and techniques of diagnostic tests and examinations.
• Performs COR and fund control point duties as assigned.
• The CLS works assigned department bench duties including off-shifts, weekends, and holiday in the clinical laboratory when assigned and as the need arises.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

VA Careers - Medical Support Assistant: https://youtube.com/embed/EE9c4XkaELo
Work Schedule: 07:30am - 4:00pm with rotating weekends and holidays. Tour may change based on agency needs
Telework: Not Authorized
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 59131F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): 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.
• Education. A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
• Certification.
  • (1) 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).
• • (2) Exception for Non-Certified.
    • (a) Applicants who do not currently hold valid certification may be hired by VA and actively work toward their certification if they meet one of the routes identified in Appendix A that makes them eligible to take the MLS certification exam through the ASCP BOC or the MLS certification exam through AMT Certification Agency.
    • (b) Non-Certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for licensure may be given a temporary appointment CLS under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2).
    • (c) Non-Certified individuals may only provide care under the supervision of a certified CLS at or above the FPL.
    • (d) Non-certified individuals may only be appointed at the entry level and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained.
    • (e) Temporary appointments of non-certified CLS may not be extended beyond 2 years or be converted to a new temporary appointment.

Grandfathering Provision: Employees in VHA in this occupation under a permanent, appropriate, and legal placement on the effective date of this qualification standard, are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade and/or assignment held, including positive education and certification where applicable. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements of this standard but met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed, the following provisions apply:
(1) 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.
(2) 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.
(3) 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.
(4) 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.
(5) 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.

NOTE: This provision is not intended to regularize appointments/ placements

Grade Determinations: Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
(A) Knowledge of medical technology applicable to a wide range of duties to solve complex problems involving diverse aspects of clinical laboratory practice.
(B) Skill to maintain, troubleshoot, and repair laboratory instrumentation.
(C) Ability to develop procedures for new tests, and modify existing procedures and methods to resolve problems relative to complex and difficult situations.
(D) Ability to manage and coordinate daily work activities and assignments in a section.
(E) Ability to provide or coordinate staff development and training.
(F) 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.

Preferred Experience:
1. Comprehensive knowledge of and skill in applying a wide range of concepts, principles and methodology of the field to perform advanced techniques.
2. Ability to modify or adapt established methods, procedures or techniques to resolve difficult or complex problems.
3. Knowledge of the application of laboratory regulatory requirements.
4. Ability to provide or coordinate staff development and training.

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

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.

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

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.
• To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the 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 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.

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.