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. Responsibilities The supervisory CLS performs higher-level duties consisting of significant scope, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety, well over 25% of the time. Functions also include (but are not limited to): Oversees the operations of a complexity level index group 1 laboratory that performs at least 5 million Standard Billable Tests annually. GS-0644-13, Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist 2 Exercises full supervisory responsibility for planning, directing, and assessing work, assigning tasks, and prioritizing resources across multiple laboratory sections (e.g., Molecular, Flow Cytometry, Cytogenetics, Processing, Send Outs, Urinalysis, Chemistry, Special Chemistry, Hematology, Coagulation, Immunohematology, & Microbiology and Off shift Operations). Ensures adequate staffing levels and adjusts workloads, schedules, and assignments to meet dynamic clinical and administrative demands. Collaborates with the Laboratory Manager, Laboratory Director, and other leaders to align laboratory strategies, goals, and objectives with medical center and VHA missions. Supervises a contingent of CLS and laboratory personnel, including at least one GS-12 subordinate and multiple levels of laboratory staff (GS-07, GS-09, GS-11, and GS-12). Initiates recruitment actions, conducts interviews, and recommends appointments, promotions, awards, and disciplinary measures. - Provides ongoing performance management, including setting performance standards, preparing performance evaluations, identifying training needs, and verifying staff competency at orientation, six-month, and annual intervals. Acts as a point of contact for Human Resources in matters related to laboratory staffing, labor relations, and position classification. Develops, edits, and maintains policies, procedures, and process control documents to meet all regulatory and accrediting bodies' requirements (e.g., AABB, CAP, TJC, CLIA, FDA, VHA, OSHA) Oversees day-to-day performance of complex laboratory testing, ensuring adherence to established methodologies, standard operating procedures, and regulatory standards. Leads quality management initiatives, integrating laboratory QA/QC activities, proficiency testing, corrective actions, and continuous quality improvement strategies. Stays current on evolving guidelines, translating them into actionable policies and operational changes within the laboratory. Travels to other sites within the system to provide on-site assistance and ensure standardized quality and testing practices are maintained across all facilities. Performs and supervises a broad range of laboratory testing and procedures to maintain operational continuity, including off-hour shifts, weekends, holidays, and emergency coverage as needed. Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 12:00 am -8:00 am CST with rotating weekends/holidays. Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact VISN17EDRP2@VA.GOV, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Telework: Not Available Functional Statement #: 53959-F Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a trial period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). 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. 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: 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- The applicant submits a letter from ASCP BOC or AMT stating the individual is eligible to take the certification examination. 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. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403 (f). 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: Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist, GS-13: Experience. Must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12) which is directly related to the position to be filled. Examples of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-12): The supervisory CLS exercises a full range of supervisory responsibilities in planning, directing, and assessing work of subordinate staff. The supervisory CLS 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. The CLS has full supervisory responsibility in a laboratory where at least three of the five following conditions are met outlined below: Lab is a complexity level index group 1 or 2 based on the Hospital Complexity Level as designated in Office of Productivity, Efficiency, and Staffing (OPES) VHA Facility Complexity Model History. The laboratory performs at least one million standard billable tests annually (as reported to the Laboratory Management Index Program). The CLS supervises a staff of non-supervisory personnel including at least one GS-12 subordinate. Lack of on-site pathologist. Oversight of more than one laboratory specialty. KSAs: And the candidate must demonstrate ALL of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) should be reflected within your resume or on a separate document: Knowledge of Federal and state laws and regulations, laboratory accrediting, and regulatory requirements to develop new policies and guidelines, formulate plans, and judge effectiveness of the operation. Knowledge of laboratory quality management procedures and principles sufficient to establish and monitor a laboratory quality management program and/or the education and training of laboratory staff. Skill in interpersonal relations and conflict resolution. Ability to provide the full range of supervisory duties, which includes responsibility for assignment of work to be performed, performance evaluations, selection of staff, recommendation of awards, advancements, and disciplinary actions. Ability to analyze organizational, technical, and administrative problems to develop and implement solutions that result in efficient laboratory operation. Ability to manage fiscal matters, forecast resource and equipment needs, and administer the allocated budget. Ability to set short and/or long-term goals for the section and conduct studies on technical and administrative problems including personnel shortages, organizational structure, and new technology. Preferred Experience: Minimum 3 years Supervisory Experience Experience with Quality Assurance Program Experience with Regulatory and Accrediting agencies Minimum 5 years Generalist Experience Experience with Method Validation 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-13. Physical Requirements: Light lifting and carrying under 15-44 pounds; reaching above shoulder; repeating bending and pulling for 1/2 hour; both hands required; use of fingers up to 8 hours; walking or sitting up to 4 hours; ability to distinguish basic colors; constant noise; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4 depth perception; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; ability to distinguish shades of colors and hearing (aid may be permitted); Mental & Emotional Stability; exposure to chemical biologic agents. Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. NOTE: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application. If your school was accredited by at the time of graduation but is no longer listed on the website, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet. Additional Information During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
