Clinical Lab Scientist

Veterans Health Administration • Syracuse, NY

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Syracuse VA Medical Center has one vacancy for a Clinical Lab Scientist in the Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service. The position may require rotation, as needed, among clinical laboratory departments including bacteriology, chemistry (including endocrinology and toxicology), molecular biology, coagulation, flow cytometry, genetics, hematology, immunology, immunohematology (blood banking), mycology, parasitology, serology, urinalysis, and virology.

The Clinical Lab Scientist performs a broad range of laboratory procedures, including the testing and tasks performed by medical laboratory technicians, as well as advanced moderate- and high-complexity procedures. The role requires recognizing deviations from expected results, analyzing and correcting problems using scientific principles, and applying comprehensive clinical laboratory science knowledge to perform sound independent work. The scientist interprets and applies complex written instructions, organizes work and priorities to meet routine and urgent testing deadlines, and evaluates issues related to the collection and processing of biological specimens.

The position includes maintaining, calibrating, troubleshooting, repairing, and performing preventive maintenance on laboratory equipment; diagnosing instrument-related testing deviations; and using independent technical judgment to analyze and interpret results. The scientist performs and documents quality control, quality assurance, and corrective actions, identifies discrepancies, and recommends solutions when testing platforms, quality control, or patient results deviate from expected performance. The role also involves responding to inquiries about results and methodologies, interpreting findings and recommending follow-up testing, evaluating and implementing laboratory techniques and procedures, and instructing and training employees and students.

The work schedule is intermittent, with days and hours determined by service needs. Telework is unavailable, and the position is not virtual. The full performance level and actual selection grade are GS-11. The position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. Non-certified candidates who meet the stated eligibility route may be considered for a temporary appointment while working toward certification, subject to the conditions and time limits described in the announcement.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
• Meet an eligible certification option: generalist MLS certification from ASCP BOC or AMT; generalist MT certification from ASCP BOR or AMT; or eligible categorical or specialist certification from ASCP or AMT. Categorical or specialist certifications are limited to relevant sections or specified non-section-specific assignments.
• Non-certified applicants may be considered if eligible to take the MLS certification examination through ASCP BOC or AMT; certification must be actively pursued and obtained within the timeframe set at appointment.
• 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.
• Knowledge of professional clinical laboratory science principles, practices, concepts, and theories to support independent work.
• Knowledge of laboratory quality control, quality assurance, and performance-improvement principles and procedures.
• Skill in informatics, laboratory data flow, and laboratory processes.
• Ability to maintain, troubleshoot, and repair instrumentation.
• Ability to independently analyze and interpret laboratory results using technical judgment.
• Ability to read, interpret, and apply complex written instructions.
• Ability to communicate, consult, and interact with health care team members and external relations, and to provide customer service and patient education.
• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Must meet pre-employment requirements, including applicable background/security investigation, drug screening for testing-designated positions, physical evaluation, onboarding, and influenza vaccination requirements.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.

Responsibilities

• Perform routine and advanced moderate- and high-complexity laboratory procedures.
• Recognize deviations from expected test results and analyze and correct problems using scientific principles.
• Interpret and apply complex written testing instructions and organize work to meet routine and urgent deadlines.
• Evaluate and resolve issues related to the collection and processing of biological specimens.
• Maintain, calibrate, troubleshoot, repair, and perform preventive maintenance on laboratory equipment.
• Diagnose instrument-related deviations in test performance and troubleshoot to maintain operating conditions and result accuracy.
• 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 develop solutions for testing platforms, quality control, or patient results that deviate from expected performance.
• Respond to inquiries about test results, methodology, specificity, sensitivity, and factors affecting results.
• Interpret findings and recommend follow-up test selections or procedures.
• Evaluate and implement new laboratory techniques and procedures, including equipment and method comparisons and establishing reference intervals using statistical methods and theoretical knowledge.
• Provide interpretations and recommendations based on laboratory findings.
• Instruct and train new employees and students and contribute to laboratory in-service and continuing education.
• Rotate among clinical laboratory departments as needed.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• 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.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to family-income, child-eligibility, and subsidy limits.
• Traditional federal pension, with five-year vesting, and federal 401(k) with VA contributions up to 5%.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs may be continued into retirement.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to request and approval before appointment.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Senior