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: As required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - you must be proficient in spoken and written English
• Education: This position requires a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university
• GS-09: Master's degree or 2 academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education in medical technology or a directly related science
• GS-11: Must have 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education or a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in medical technology or a directly related science
• Certification
• Candidates must meet one of the certification options below
• Generalist certification as an MLS given by ASCP BOC or AMT
• OR Generalist certification as an MT given by ASCP BOR or AMT
• Exception of Noncertified
• 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
• 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)
• Non-Certified individuals may only provide care under the supervision of a certified CLS at or above the full performance level
• Non-Certified individuals may only be appointed at the entry level and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained
• Temporary appointments of non-certified CLS may not be extended beyond 2 years or be converted to a new temporary appointment
• 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: For the GS-07: Experience
• None beyond the Basic requirements For the GS-09: Experience
• 1-year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-07)
• OR Education
• Master's degree or 2 academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education in medical technology or a directly related science
• AND In addition to the Experience or Education above - you must demonstrate the following Knowledge - Skills - & Abilities (KSA)s: (a) Knowledge of policies and procedures of clinical laboratory testing
• (b) Knowledge of laboratory quality control and quality assurance principles
• (c) Knowledge of laboratory equipment and routine maintenance
• (d) Ability to work as a team member and effectively complete assignments
• (e) Ability to read and interpret written instructions
• (f) Ability to accurately perform pre-analytical - analytical - and post-analytical phases of testing
• For the GS-11: Experience
• 1-year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-09)
• OR Education
• Must have 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education or a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in medical technology or a directly related science
• AND In addition to the Experience or Education above - you must demonstrate the following Knowledge - Skills - & Abilities (KSA)s: (a) Knowledge of professional clinical laboratory science principles - practices - concepts - and theories that support sound - independent work
• (b) Knowledge of laboratory quality control and quality assurance procedures and principles of performance improvement
• (c) Skill in informatics - laboratory data flow - and laboratory processes
• (d) Ability to maintain - troubleshoot - and repair instrumentation
• (e) Ability to use independent technical judgment to analyze and interpret laboratory results
• (f) Ability to read - interpret - and apply complex written instructions
• (g) Ability to communicate - consult - and interact with other members of the health care team - external relations - customer service - and patient education
• 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-11
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-07 - GS-09 to GS-11 Physical Requirements: Refer to VA Directive & Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional As a Clinical Laboratory Scientist - you will be: GS-07: Expected to receive guidance from more experienced staff members and require daily direct supervision
• GS-09: Developmental in nature - is responsible for evaluating - performing - interpreting - and validating the accuracy and validity of test results
• Demonstrate a clear progression of clinical knowledge and experience by performing testing procedures on a variety of biological specimens using manual or automated methods
• This includes routine testing - quality control - routine maintenance of instrumentation - and troubleshooting that applies innovative procedures - unanticipated problems - and unfamiliar situation are referred to more experienced staff for a decision or assistance
• Expected to be assigned duties of increasing scope and diversity
• Perform more complex work while receiving less frequent supervision
• GS-11: Independently carry out day-to-day operations in the laboratory
• Develop - perform - evaluate - interpret - correlate - and validate the accuracy of laboratory procedures and results in line with current laboratory regulatory requirements
• Testing procedures are performed on a variety of laboratory disciplines - such as basic chemistry - immunochemistry - coagulation - immunology - hematology - molecular microbiology and urinalysis
• Performance of waived - moderate and high complexity testing procedures
• In addition to routine testing - perform routine maintenance of instrumentation and troubleshooting
• Perform and monitor quality control systems and measures
• Correlate abnormal laboratory data and pathological states
• determine the validity of test results - and the need for additional tests
• and communicate critical values to providers - which includes the maintenance of required documentation in accordance with applicable VHA and accrediting agency standards such as CLIA and The Joint Commission Participate in teaching and education activities for students - laboratory staff members - healthcare professional - and instructional guidance to patients for home collection samples Assist in ensuring training and competency assessments are completed for laboratory staff members and documentation thereof Act as the Subject Matter Expert in assigned areas
• May be required to travel to other VA facility sites or vendor training centers for new operator training - other educational opportunities - or for laboratory staffing coverage
• Other duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Tour of Duty Varies * Typically Monday through Friday * Possible Saturday Rotation 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 vhav21ccoeedrp@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 #: 09292-F - 09293-F - & 08092-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized