Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist - Assistant Laboratory Manager for Clinical Pathology

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.

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.

• 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
• *This GS-13 Supervisory CLS is a generalist
• (a) and (b) are qualifying certifications - (c) is NOT a qualifying certification
• 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)
• 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: 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: 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
• Experience
• 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level is required for all GS-13 assignments.(1) 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) The Laboratory is a complexity level index group 1 or group 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
• (2) Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit
• Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurrent standing to perform procedures and tests - walking between different areas within the laboratory and throughout the medical center
• The work involves sitting at a microscope or computer - manual dexterity - visual acuity - color vision and the ability to sit and concentrate for long periods of time
• Requires intermittent moderate lifting (15-44 pounds)
• light carrying (under 15 pounds)
• use of fingers
• both hands required
• intermittent but possibly prolonged stooping and kneeling
• ability to read and comprehend ordinary type and computer screens
• ability to hear (aid permitted) and work in an environment with constant noise
• working closely with others
• high cognitive function required to work in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities without loss of accuracy
• emotional stability required to maintain self-control in difficult and stressful situations.

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The incumbent serves as the Assistant Laboratory Manager for Clinical Pathology in the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service (PALMS) at Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center
• The laboratory is a complexity level index group 1 - performing over 4 million billable tests annually
• The purpose of the position is to manage the Ancillary Testing - Blood Bank/ Hematology - Auto Chemistry - Special Chemistry - Microbiology - Second Shift - Third Shift - Phlebotomy and Processing - Esoteric Testing Sections which directly affects the ability of the PALMS to provide good quality patient care in the diagnosis and treatment of disease
• The work involves isolating and defining unknown conditions - resolving critical problems - or developing new protocols
• The work generated and service performed in the CP lab affects the decisions of other experts in almost all areas of clinical medicine and has direct impact on the wellbeing of substantial numbers of people
• The incumbent establishes - develops - and modifies analytic methodology - validations - quality control systems - and provides training for the technical staff
• The incumbent will provide direct supervision to the Section supervisory staff
• The incumbent is responsible for identifying - researching and preparing supply contract requirement
• Researching - identifying and recommending equipment purchases or leases for equipment in all Clinical Pathology Sections
• The manager independently plans and carries out assignments in order to accomplish the goals of the PALMS and initiates and completes new projects which extend the applications of the current technologies and incorporate new technological advances
• The incumbent supervises a staff of supervisory personnel and one GS-12 supervisory position
• Performs testing and phlebotomy as necessary
• Work Schedule: Full time - Monday - Friday - 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized 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
• 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: Ad hoc - per agency policy
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 943380 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized