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
• Education
• A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university
• Certification
• 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
• 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
• Grade Determinations: Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist, GS-12
• Experience
• 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower GS 11 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: 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
• Preferred Experience: Preferred experience includes advanced technical competence in urinalysis and send-out testing, including quality control oversight, proficiency testing, re-agent and method validation, and application of CAP and Joint Commission regulatory standards
• Experience is preferred in generating and verifying laboratory results across multiple shifts
• coordinating instrument troubleshooting, maintenance, and supply management
• and preparing statistical or workload reports using a laboratory information system
• Additional preferred experience includes training and evaluating staff or students, writing or revising procedure manuals, collaborating with clinical and laboratory personnel, and supporting implementation or validation of new tests, instrumentation, or methodologies
• 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: This factor covers the requirements and physical demands placed on the clinical laboratory scientist by the work assignment
• This includes physical characteristics and abilities (e.g., distant and color vision, hearing, specific agility and dexterity requirements) and the physical exertion such as prolonged standing, bending over microscopes, reaching for supplies or materials, lifting moderately heavy items such as reagent packs and adequate dexterity to perform intricate procurement of specimens or analysis procedures
• Work Environment: The work involves regular and recurring exposure to potentially irritating and volatile organic solutions and infections materials
• Adherence to safety and universal precautions and use of protective gear such as laboratory coats, fume hoods, safety goggles and gloves are required to reduce occupational risk factors
• Work is performed in a laboratory setting
• 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.