Career Center

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
• 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
• 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
• In addition to the basic requirements for employment - candidates must meet the following grade-determining criteria for placement at grade levels specified
• Clinical Laboratory Scientist - GS-07
• (1) Experience
• None beyond the basic requirements
• Clinical Laboratory Scientist - GS-09
• (1) Experience or Education
• Candidates at this level must meet one of the criteria below: (a) Experience
• 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade
• OR (b) Education
• Master's degree or 2 academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education in medical technology or a directly related science
• (2) Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience or education above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of policies and procedures of clinical laboratory testing
• (b) Knowledge of laboratory quality control and quality assurance principles
• (c) Knowledge of laboratory equipment and routine maintenance
• (d) Ability to work as a team member and effectively complete assignments
• (e) Ability to read and interpret written instructions
• (f) Ability to accurately perform pre-analytical - analytical - and post-analytical phases of testing
• Clinical Laboratory Scientist - GS-11
• (1) Experience or Education Candidates at this level must meet one of the criteria below: (a) Experience
• 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
• OR (b) Education
• Must have 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education or a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in medical technology or a directly related science
• (2) Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience or education above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of professional clinical laboratory science principles - practices - concepts - and theories that support sound - independent work
• (b) Knowledge of laboratory quality control and quality assurance procedures and principles of performance improvement
• (c) Skill in informatics - laboratory data flow - and laboratory processes
• (d) Ability to maintain - troubleshoot - and repair instrumentation
• (e) Ability to use independent technical judgment to analyze and interpret laboratory results
• (f) Ability to read - interpret - and apply complex written instructions
• (g) Ability to communicate - consult - and interact with other members of the health care team - external relations - customer service - and patient education
• Preferred Experience: Must have knowledge and be competent in Microbiology culture plate reading and gram stains 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-11
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-7 to GS-11
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements

Duties

• The VA Eastern Oklahoma Health Care System - Pathology and Laboratory Service - is currently recruiting for one (1) Clinical Laboratory Scientist in Muskogee - OK
• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional CLS is a certified laboratory professional who performs complex laboratory diagnostic testing on human specimens for diagnosis - treatment - or prevention of disease in clinical laboratory specialties including - but not limited to - Hematology - Chemistry - Immunohematology(Blood Bank) - Microbiology - Immunology - Cytogenetics - Anatomic Pathology - Electron Microscopy - Molecular Diagnostics - and Flow Cytometry
• A CLS is responsible for performing the pre-analytical - analytical - and post-analytical phases of clinical laboratory test
• Major Duties and Responsibilities: The Clinical Laboratory Scientist is responsible for performing a wide range of routine and specialized test procedures
• These procedures may include serological - microbiological - or molecular methodologies
• These methodologies range from basic screening tests to complex procedures that require specialized training
• These procedures may include - but are not limited to - processing specimens from a variety of sources - culture workups - polymerase chain reaction (PCR) - immunoassays - organism isolation and identification techniques - gram staining procedures - biochemical reactions - antimicrobial susceptibilities - and serological grouping procedures
• The Clinical Laboratory Scientist evaluates requested procedures to determine the suitability of specimens for analysis - requesting new specimens if necessary
• He/She will advise laboratory personnel or healthcare workers on the appropriate collection containers and handling of specimens
• The Clinical Laboratory Scientist prepares specimens for analysis and/or dispatch ensuring that the physiologic state of the specimen is maintained
• He/She follows the guidelines outlined in the Laboratory Information Manual and appropriate procedure manuals for specimen handling
• The Clinical Laboratory Scientist prepares reagents and primary reference materials
• selects - performs - evaluates and monitors the performance of routine and complex procedures using manual and/or micro-processor controlled instruments in accordance with established laboratory medicine protocols
• recognizes and reacts to indicators of malfunctions
• locates and implements troubleshooting and corrective actions
• obtains analytical data - reviews and correlates data to verify validity and accuracy of results
• verifies laboratory test results and reports to appropriate individuals in a manner suitable to the nature of the request
• The Clinical Laboratory Scientist calibrates - standardizes - adjusts - performs routine preventative maintenance - and documents service on the instruments
• He/She verifies correct instrument operation using established procedures and quality control checks The Clinical Laboratory Scientist identifies the cause of common problems and makes minor and sometimes complex instrument repairs
• The instruments may include automated analyzers - centrifuges - and microscopes The Clinical Laboratory Scientist performs daily quality control to assure that the reagents - equipment - and temperatures are within the recommended guidelines
• He/She identifies quality control variations and initiates corrective action to correct the quality control problem
• The Clinical Laboratory Scientist documents all quality control activities and maintains accurate records in compliance with accrediting agencies such as CAP - TJC - and CLIA
• Other Duties as Assigned Work Schedule Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m
• - 4:30 p.m
• Compressed/Flexible: Not available EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases 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: Not authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 613390 - 613400 - 613410