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
• 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
• 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)
• 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) Employees may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level - or be changed to a lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or newly placed in supervisory or managerial positions
• (2) If an assignment above the FPL requires an additional certification over and above the basic requirements - employees must meet the assignment-specific requirement before they can be promoted
• 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)
• GRADE DETERMINATIONS
• In addition to the basic requirements for employment - candidates must meet the following grade-determining criteria for placement at grade levels specified
• Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist - GS-13 .(1) General
• For all GS-13 assignments above the FPL - the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope - complexity (difficulty) and range of variety - and be performed by the CLS at least 25% of the time
• Candidates at this grade level are in one of the following assignments
• (2) Experience
• 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level is required for all GS-13 assignments
• The CLS has full supervisory responsibility in a laboratory where at least three of the five following conditions are met outlined below in (A) - (E)
• (A) 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
• (B) The laboratory performs at least one million standard billable tests annually (as reported to the Laboratory Management Index Program)
• (C) The CLS supervises a staff of non-supervisory personnel including at least one GS-12 subordinate
• (D) Lack of on-site pathologist
• (E) Oversight of more than one laboratory specialty
• Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (A) 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
• B) 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
• (C) Skill in interpersonal relations and conflict resolution
• (D) 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
• (E) Ability to analyze organizational - technical - and administrative problems to develop and implement solutions that result in efficient laboratory operation
• (F) Ability to manage fiscal matters - forecast resource and equipment needs - and administer the allocated budget
• (G) 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
• Assignment
• For all supervisory assignments - the CLS must spend 25% or more of their time providing administrative and technical supervision and perform major duties above those at the FPL that consist of significant scope - complexity - difficulty - and variety
• 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 evaluates work of subordinates
• The supervisor ensures compliance with accrediting agencies and regulatory requirements and establishes and monitors the quality of pre-analytical - analytical - and post-analytical processes - initiating corrective actions as needed as part of the overall laboratory quality management program
• The supervisory CLS plans and executes performance and quality improvement projects
• The supervisory CLS verifies orientation - training - and competency assessment of assigned staff and develops and updates technical policies and procedure manuals
• The supervisory CLS ensures all staff and affiliate staff comply with accrediting and regulating bodies
• The supervisory CLS adjusts staffing levels or work procedures to accommodate resource allocation decisions made at the executive level
• This individual manages document control - develops performance standards - position descriptions - and functional statements and is responsible for technical and administrative management of an assigned area including budget execution
• The supervisory CLS interacts with administrative and clinical onsite personnel and exercises significant independent decision-making authority
• The supervisory CLS maintains effective interdisciplinary and interprofessional relations with other services to accomplish medical center goals.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The Supervisor Clinical Laboratory Scientist is considered above the FPL and carries out all functions of the GS-12 but has higher levels of professional responsibilities and expertise
• The Supervisor CLS is responsible for all aspects of operation in their area of specialty - including assignment of work responsibilities - workload management - and completion of assignments for staff at or above the FPL as well as preparation and maintenance of records and reports - analysis of testing methodologies - training - instrumentation - and compliance
• The Supervisor CLS may act as a liaison to the supervisor and other departments/divisions of the medical center for the appropriate laboratory specialty
• The Supervisor CLS communicates the organization's strategic plan - mission - vision - and values as well as identifies - distributes - balances work - coaches - and facilitates with problem solving methods
• The Supervisor CLS prepares reports and maintains records of work status
• resolves simple - informal complaints
• reports performance - progress - and training needs of the team and on behavioral problems
• and provides information on promotions - reassignment - recognition of outstanding performance - and personnel needs
• Duties include - but not limited to: Duties include - but not limited to:- Plans and schedules on-going work for their section/s
• - Adjusts staffing levels or work procedures to accommodate resource allocation decisions made at the executive level
• - Chooses methods for achieving work goals - objectives - and management strategies
• - Day-to-day supervision of highly complex test performance.- Is responsible for monitoring test analyses and specimen examinations to ensure acceptable levels of performance .- Assures corrective action is initiated when test performance deviates from established performance specifications
• - Assures orientation - training - and competency assessment of staff.- Plans and executes performance and quality improvement projects
• - Collaborates with other sections/services as necessary for quality improvement projects and quality management processes
• - Performs the full range of supervisory duties
• Recommends appointment - plans - and assigns work - gives advice and counsel - and evaluates work of subordinates.- Verifies orientation - training - and competency assessment of assigned staff.- Develops and updates technical policies and procedure manuals
• - The supervisory CLS ensures all staff and affiliate staff comply with accrediting and regulating bodies
• - Manages document control - develops performance standards - position descriptions - and functional statements and is responsible for technical and administrative management of an assigned area including budget execution .- The supervisory CLS interacts with administrative and clinical onsite personnel and exercises significant independent decision-making authority.- Other duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 0800-1630.T Telework: Not authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.