Clinical Lab Scientist

Veterans Health Administration • East Orange, NJ

4d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is for a Generalist Clinical Laboratory Scientist in the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service at the VA New Jersey Healthcare System. The scientist regularly rotates among laboratory benches and may work as a generalist or assigned specialist in areas including Blood Bank, hematology, chemistry, coagulation, microbiology/molecular, molecular, serology, special chemistry, and urinalysis. The role may require working alone on weekends, holidays, or evening and night shifts when operational priorities require it.

The Clinical Laboratory Scientist performs a broad range of laboratory procedures, including testing and tasks associated with the medical laboratory technician occupation. The role requires independent application of clinical laboratory science principles to interpret complex instructions, prioritize routine and urgent work, resolve specimen collection and processing problems, maintain and troubleshoot laboratory equipment, interpret results, and perform quality control and assurance activities. The scientist also evaluates laboratory methods and procedures, provides guidance about test results and follow-up testing, contributes to staff and student training, and follows biosafety, biosecurity, and infection-prevention practices.

The position is scheduled for the midnight shift, 12 a.m.–8 a.m. It is not virtual, and telework is not available. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, subject to individual eligibility and application requirements. The full performance level is GS-11.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when qualified U.S. citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
• Generalist MLS certification from ASCP BOC or AMT; generalist MT certification from ASCP BOR or AMT; or an eligible categorical or specialist certification from ASCP or AMT, subject to the stated limitations for generalist positions.
• For GS-11, one year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, 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, practices, concepts, and theories; laboratory quality control, quality assurance, and performance improvement; and laboratory informatics, data flow, and processes.
• For GS-11, ability to maintain, troubleshoot, and repair instrumentation; independently analyze and interpret laboratory results; read and apply complex instructions; and communicate and interact with healthcare team members, external relations, customer service, and patient education.
• Applicants using foreign education must provide the required credential evaluation or other specified documentation; applicants relying on foreign education may need a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with their transcript.
• Must meet applicable pre-employment screening and appointment conditions, including drug testing for selected applicants in testing-designated positions, background/security investigation, onboarding, identification verification, physical evaluation, and seasonal influenza vaccination.
• Must complete application requirements specified in the announcement and serve a one- or two-year trial period if appointed.

Nice To Haves

• Two to five years of experience as a CLS Generalist covering laboratory sections including Blood Bank, Chemistry/UA, Hematology/Coagulation, Microbiology/Molecular, and Quality Management.
• Understanding of regulatory compliance and Quality Management.

Responsibilities

• Rotate among clinical laboratory benches and work as a generalist or assigned specialist in areas such as Blood Bank, hematology, chemistry, coagulation, microbiology/molecular, serology, special chemistry, and urinalysis.
• Perform a broad range of laboratory procedures, including testing and tasks associated with the medical laboratory technician occupation.
• Interpret complex written instructions and organize work to meet routine and urgent testing deadlines.
• Evaluate and resolve problems related to the collection and processing of biological specimens for analysis.
• Maintain and document laboratory equipment function, including use, calibration, malfunction identification, repair, and preventive maintenance.
• Troubleshoot instrument-related deviations in test performance to maintain operating conditions and accurate results.
• Use independent technical judgment to analyze and interpret laboratory results.
• Perform and document quality control, quality assurance, and corrective actions using statistical principles and performance-improvement theories.
• Identify discrepancies and resolve problems involving testing platforms, quality control, or patient results that deviate from expected performance.
• Respond to inquiries about test results, methodology, test specificity and sensitivity, and factors that influence results; interpret findings and suggest follow-up tests or procedures.
• Evaluate and implement laboratory techniques and procedures, including equipment and method comparisons and establishment of reference intervals.
• Instruct and train new employees and students and participate in the laboratory's in-service and continuing education program.
• Follow workplace biosafety, biosecurity, and infection-prevention practices.
• Communicate effectively and courteously as a member of the healthcare team.
• Work the midnight shift and, when operational priorities require, work independently on weekends, holidays, or evening/night shifts.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) student loan repayment, subject to eligibility and approval; award amounts may be up to $200,000 for an eligibility period of one to five years.
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered based on qualifications or VA needs.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, including 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster-care placement of a child.
• Potential childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment for eligible full-time employees and qualifying families, up to 25% of eligible childcare costs and a monthly maximum of $416.66.
• Traditional federal pension, with five-year vesting, and federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.
• Potential annual-leave accrual credit based on prior work or military service, subject to request and approval before appointment.

What This Job Offers

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