Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist -Evening / Night / Weekend Team

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.

Duties

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Prioritizes workload to ensure prompt reporting of test results, keeping TAT for lab tests within established guidelines (STAT, Timed, routine). Serves as the Acting Supervisor on behalf of the Section Supervisor as needed. Oversees day-to-day operations of the section, ensuring optimal workflow, resource allocation, and staff utilization. Observes and evaluates the work of subordinates. Performs testing in all areas of the Chemistry / Hematology Core laboratory, Microbiology, and Blood Bank. Performs the full range of Transfusion Medicine procedures, including ABO/Rh, antibody screen, antibody identification, compatibility testing, Direct Antiglobulin testing, antigen typing, donor unit confirmation, component modifications, blood product issuance, Transfusion Reaction workups, Quality Control testing, and documentation in the Facility's Electronic Medical Record. Coordinates and serves as the primary trainer for new employees, students, Pathology residents, and clinicians, providing comprehensive education on all laboratory aspects relevant to their roles and responsibilities. Maintains readiness for regulatory inspections by relevant agencies and serves on mock inspection and/or safety teams as assigned. Conducts quality assurance activities, initiates corrective actions related to instrument functions and test performance, and incorporates statistical principles and performance improvement theories. Receives, accessions, and processes incoming samples per Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) from all areas of the hospital and outlying clinics. Acts as the primary technical resource for staff during the shift, assisting with complex procedures, resolving instrument malfunctions, and supporting troubleshooting across all sections. Communicates critical or unusual results promptly following policy; escalate significant incidents to supervisors or leadership. Performs and document preventive maintenance, calibrations, and QC for manual and automated analyzers; initiate corrective action for instrument failures. Maintains compliance with biosafety, PPE, chemical hygiene, and biosecurity practices; report unsafe conditions to Supervisor. Work Schedule: Full-Time, Monday-Friday 12:00 am to 8:00 am (Overnight shift) with rotating weekends and holidays. Subject to change based on the needs of the facility. Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance):Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact [email protected], 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: No Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 01554F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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. 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. 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. 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) Employe