Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist

Details

Posted: 03-Jun-25

Location: Houston, Texas

Categories

Allied Health

Internal Number: 837937300

Summary

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.

Qualifications

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. Â
• 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 Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - candidates must meet the following grade-determining criteria for placement at grade levels specified
• Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist - GS-12: Experience: 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
• Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: In addition to the experience or education above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of medical technology applicable to a wide range of duties to solve complex problems involving diverse aspects of clinical laboratory practice
• Skill to maintain - troubleshoot - and repair laboratory instrumentation
• Ability to develop procedures for new tests - and modify existing procedures and methods to resolve problems relative to complex and difficult situations
• Ability to manage and coordinate daily work activities and assignments in a section
• Ability to provide or coordinate staff development and training
• 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
• 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: 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 - puling - and pushing
• May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment
• Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions
• the area is adequately lighted - heated - and ventilated
• However - the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations
  
  

Duties

• Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Medical Technologist: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Medical-Technologist-Career-Flyer.pdf Current permanent VA employees and Federal employees from other federal agencies should apply under CBST-12741488-25-JB This position is in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) - Veterans Health Administration (VHA) - South Central VA Health Care Network (VISN 16) - Michael E
• DeBakey VA Medical Center (MEDVAMC) in Houston - Texas - under Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service in the Microbiology Section
• DUTIES: Serves as an expert providing authoritative advice and consultation for more markedly difficult - complex - unique and/or emerging tests requiring special knowledge
• The incumbent will assist to oversee the implementation and validation of new tests
• Maintains - monitors and prepares reagents for utilization in Microbiology
• Maintains and monitors Microbiology supplies and stock levels
• Requests replacement supplies as needed to ensure Microbiology operations
• Is responsible as a primary source of information for maintaining current instrumentation
• Is responsible for evaluation of new and evolving developments in laboratory instrumentation and automation
• Ensures compliance with rules and regulations of assorted regulatory agencies such as CAP - JC - AABB - FDA - OSHA and Federal Regulations
• Coordinates Quality Control activities with the Supervisor
• Coordinates proficiency program for the appropriate laboratory specialty
• Maintains and monitors recordkeeping systems - establishes effective quality control procedures and identifies/implements changes needed in the quality assurance program
• Evaluates the validity of data by integrating and correlating test data with other laboratory and patient data
• Maintains and monitors conformity to protocols using knowledge of medical technology principles and theories
• Reviews all SOPs for Quality Assurance standards assuring: There are written procedures for validation to insure the procedures accomplish their intended purpose
• That procedures have been developed for training and certifying individuals to perform these procedures
• Responsible for monitoring test analyses and specimen examinations to ensure acceptable levels of performance
• Assures corrective action is initiated when test performance deviates from established performance specifications
• Additional duties/tasks may include any of the following: Attends vendor training for complex analytical instrument(s) and is responsible for training employees in its operation
• Performs complex maintenance procedures and is consulted as the in-house expert for troubleshooting problems
• Responsible for updating procedure manuals for specific laboratory function
• Oversee clinical training experiences or training programs of Blood Bank personnel to fulfill educational and professional requirements (where training programs exist)
• Recommends guidelines and/or policies for non-routine or complex assignments
• Assists General Chemistry Supervisor with competency program
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday: 3:30pm-12:00am or 7:30am - 5:00pm - Alternating Holidays & Weekends Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact demetrius.roberts@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 Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #:02080F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
  
  

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The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.

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