SUMMARY

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

QUALIFICATIONS

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 in medical laboratory science, medical technology, clinical laboratory science, or in a related science (for example, chemistry, biochemistry, biology, microbiology, immunology, etc.
• 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).

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 4c above automatically determines the foreign education as creditable and no further documentation or proof of equivalency is needed.
NOTE: Possession of a certification identified in 4c above automatically determines the foreign education as creditable and no further documentation or proof of equivalency is needed
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/.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. YOUR APPLICATION, RESUME, C.V., AND/OR SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION WILL BE VERIFIED. PLEASE FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY. ERRORS OR OMISSIONS MAY AFFECT CONSIDERATION FOR EMPLOYMENT.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate’s abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.
It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.
Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

IF YOU ARE RELYING ON YOUR EDUCATION TO MEET QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

DUTIES

The incumbent is a qualified and experienced clinical laboratory scientist (CLS) who supervises clinical laboratory scientists at the GS-9 and GS-11 grade levels. The incumbent has full supervisory responsibility for nonsupervisory personnel in a lab section of the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service (P&LMS).

Major Duties:

• Facilitating team or unit processes by working in collaboration with team members or employees to ensure that section tasks are completed and team priorities, goals, needs, and achievements are coordinated with management.
• Preparing reports and maintains records and administrative information. Prepares and presents work-related information to the lab manager. Reports include but are not limited to reports for quality assurance, result turnaround times, specimen mislabeling issues, and corrected reports.
• Acting as liaison to other departments of the medical center for the appropriate laboratory specialty area.
• Providing technical support, training, and directions to nursing staff, nursing managers, and medical staff of the medical center.
• Researching, adapting, developing, writing, and revising standard operating procedures.
• Develops, performs, evaluates, interprets, correlates, and validates the accuracy of test results.
• Responsible for training new employees, students, and laboratory staff on the performance of tests, operation of instrumentation, and section policies and procedures.
• Performing the more complex tests that may be requested of the section. Is the primary source of information for maintaining current instrumentation. Responsible for the evaluations of new and evolving developments in laboratory instrumentation and automation.
• Ordering supplies and reagents for the section and controls adequate stock to cover typical workloads.
• Ensuring compliance with rules and regulations of assorted regulatory agencies such as the TJC, CAP, FDA, and the National Program Office.
• Coordinating Quality Control and Quality Assurance programs for the appropriate laboratory specialty area with the lab manager.
• Responsible for the proficiency testing in the section and investigates any results that are not acceptable in the proficiency testing program. Communicates QC, QA, PT problems to the laboratory manager.
• Reviewing all test results produced in the section (including results from off-hours and weekend shifts) for correctness as required by TJC/CAP, directs involved CLS in correcting errors, and notifies attending physicians as appropriate.
• Performing a broad range of laboratory procedures, including all testing and tasks of the clinical laboratory scientist.
• Resolving problems/concerns from the hospital and physicians regarding the quality of testing and customer service.
• Executing all delegated duties assigned by the medical laboratory director. The incumbent reports directly to the lab manager and laboratory director.
• Outlining assignment parameters, deadlines, and priorities and advises on how to proceed when encountering unusual problems.
• Independently planning and caring out the procedures necessary to complete the work assignment, handling problems, and determining corrective action in accordance with established policies. A great deal of independent judgment is required.
• Work is reviewed only for adherence to established laboratory policies and to assure that Laboratory Service maintains accreditation standards.

Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf
Clinical Laboratory Scientist formerly Medical Technologist: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Medical-Technologist-Career-Flyer.pdf
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact vhaedrpprogramsupport@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases.
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 of up to 25% of the total eligible childcare costs for eligible children, up to a 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 #: 25035F

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50’s (current/former Federal employees), etc.

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (VA)
• License
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcrip

All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 09/02/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12790727.

• To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
• Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package