Supervisory Clinical Lab Scientist

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.

Duties

The Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist position is in the Pathology and Lab Services at the VA Boston Healthcare System located at the West Roxbury, MA location. This position is full time at 40 hours per week. The Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist position plans and assigns work based on priorities, requirements of assignments, and abilities of employees; provides advice and counsel; and evaluates work of subordinates. Duties include, but are not limited to: Plans and schedules on-going work. Adjusts staffing levels and/or work procedures as needed. Day-to-day supervision of highly complex test performance. Responsible for monitoring test analyses and specimen examinations to ensure acceptable levels of performance. Responsible for ensuring the correct specimen requirements are met for both in house and reference lab testing. Assures corrective action is initiated when test performance deviates from established performance specifications. Assures orientation, training, and competency assessment of staff. Completes performance evaluations; selection of staff; recommendations for awards, advancements, and, when appropriate, disciplinary actions. Implements and monitors quality management activities. Performs the full range of supervisory duties. Recommends appointment, plans, and assigns work, gives advice and counsel, and evaluates work of subordinates. Approves Annual & Sick Leave requests and posts timecards. Acts as laboratory liaison with other Clinical Services to maintain a good relationship with Hospital Staff for better patient care services. Confers with physicians and nurses to clarify test results or recommend additional tests that might assist in diagnosis or treatment of patients. Designs and prepares appropriate instrument maintenance logs and QC charts, reviews these logs and charts monthly, and assures that proper routine maintenance and corrective action are being performed by technicians/technologists. Evaluates, develops, establishes protocols, and procedure manuals for new instrumentation, methodologies and procedures using knowledge and experience. Maintains appropriate levels of supplies and reagents for the efficient operation of the department that individual supervises. Work Schedule: Full Time Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Not authorized Telework: Not authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: F08760 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact Karen Chapman ([email protected]), the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure: Not Required 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). NOTIFICATIONS: This position is in the Excepted Service. This position is on a special salary rate. The incumbent may be required to travel to other VA campuses and CBOC's. Current and former Federal employees may submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held. No award SF50s will be accepted. Narrative responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment. Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.

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). GS 13 Experience: At least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS 12). Examples of specialized experience at the next lower grade includes: Ensures that orientation, training, competency assessment, and continuing education requirements are met. The individual ensures compliance with accrediting agencies and regulatory requirements. The supervisory CLS establishes and monitors the quality of pre-analytical processes as part of the overall laboratory quality management program and initiates corrective actions. This individual develops policies and procedures, manages document control, develops performance standards, position descriptions, and functional statements. The supervisory CLS is responsible for professional and administrative oversight of operations, including fiscal and resource management. The supervisory CLS maintains effective interdepartmental relations with other services to accomplish medical center goals. Assignment: The CLS must supervise at least one staff member at the GS-12 grade level. The supervisory CLS exercises a full range of supervisory responsibilities in planning, directing, and assessing work of subordinate staff. The supervisory CLS recommends appointments, awards, advancement, and disciplinary actions. The CLS plans and assigns work based on priorities, requirements of assignments, and abilities of employees; provides advice and counsel; and evaluat