Clinical Lab Scientist

Veterans Health Administration • Louisville, KY

1d • Onsite

About The Position

This Clinical Laboratory Scientist Generalist position is in the Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service at the Robley Rex VA Medical Center. The role performs routine and advanced laboratory procedures, evaluates specimen suitability and processing, maintains laboratory equipment, and produces accurate laboratory results while following established protocols and regulatory requirements.

The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and application requirements. EDRP approval, award amount of up to $200,000, and eligibility period of one to five years are determined by the VA program office. Former EDRP participants are ineligible. The position is not telework-eligible and is not virtual. The work schedule is 11:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, with occasional weekends or holidays possible. Staff may rotate to another section or shift as management determines based on workload and staffing needs. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station benefits are not authorized.

The position may be filled at GS-7 through GS-11, with GS-11 as the full performance level. Applicants must meet the applicable education and certification requirements; qualifying non-certified applicants may be considered for a temporary appointment under specified conditions while working toward certification. Employment is subject to federal eligibility, screening, onboarding, and trial-period requirements.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university, subject to the stated foreign-education equivalency rules.
• Generalist MLS certification through ASCP BOC or AMT, or generalist MT certification through ASCP BOR or AMT; categorical and specialist certifications are not accepted for generalist positions.
• Non-certified applicants may be considered if eligible to take the ASCP BOC or AMT MLS certification examination through an identified route; certification must be actively pursued and obtained within the specified period.
• U.S. citizenship, except where appointment of a non-citizen is permitted under VA policy when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• For GS-09: one year of creditable experience equivalent to GS-07, or a master's degree or two academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education in medical technology or a directly related science.
• For GS-09: knowledge of clinical laboratory testing policies and procedures, laboratory quality control and assurance, and routine equipment maintenance; ability to work as a team member, complete assignments, interpret written instructions, and accurately perform pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical testing phases.
• For GS-11: one year of creditable experience equivalent to GS-09, or three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education or a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in medical technology or a directly related science.
• For GS-11: knowledge of clinical laboratory science principles and practices, quality control and assurance, and performance improvement; informatics, laboratory data flow, and laboratory processes skills; ability to maintain, troubleshoot, and repair instrumentation, exercise independent technical judgment, interpret results, apply complex written instructions, and communicate and interact with healthcare teams and other stakeholders.
• Applicants selected for VA employment in a testing-designated position must undergo urinalysis screening for illegal drug use; refusal results in denial of employment.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
• Subject to background and security investigation, online onboarding, acceptable identity documentation, and applicable application-document requirements.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA health care personnel.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period and receive written certification for continued employment upon completion.
• Must meet the physical requirements, including intermittent lifting and carrying, use of fingers and both hands, walking and standing, bending, possible prolonged stooping and kneeling, color and near-vision ability, hearing, working around constant noise and with others, maintaining accuracy in a fast-paced environment, emotional stability, and wearing required personal protective equipment.

Responsibilities

• Perform a broad range of laboratory procedures, including medical laboratory technician tasks and advanced, complex procedures.
• Recognize deviations from expected results and analyze and correct problems using scientific principles.
• Evaluate and resolve issues related to collection and processing of biological specimens, considering physiologic processes and requirements.
• Assess specimen suitability, request replacement specimens when necessary, and prepare specimens while preserving their properties.
• Select, perform, evaluate, and monitor testing procedures using manual or instrumental techniques and established protocols.
• Maintain, calibrate, standardize, adjust, and troubleshoot laboratory equipment; identify malfunctions, perform simple repairs, and conduct preventive maintenance.
• Verify instrument operation through established procedures, quality-control checks, and monitoring; diagnose deviations in test performance caused by instrument malfunction.
• Perform and document quality-control and quality-assurance activities, corrective actions, and performance-improvement work using statistical principles and theories.
• Conduct quality-control procedures on equipment, reagents, and products and maintain appropriate records and reports.
• Evaluate the validity of data in relation to the test system and accepted assay procedures.
• Correlate quantitative results with patient information, such as history and medications, and perform additional testing to clarify or confirm abnormal results.
• Recognize abnormal results requiring immediate attention and report them directly to the physician.
• Generate laboratory results in the laboratory computer system and edit and verify recorded results.
• Follow biosafety and biosecurity practices and applicable regulatory requirements, including CAP and OSHA protocols.
• Refer deviations from regular procedures, unexpected problems, and unfamiliar situations to more experienced staff for assistance or decisions.
• Rotate to another laboratory section or shift as directed by management based on workload and staffing requirements.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), potentially providing up to $200,000 in student loan reimbursement subject to approval and eligibility.
• Federal employee benefits package; specific benefits depend on position type and eligibility.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level