Clinical Laboratory Scientist-Ancillary Testing Coordinator

Veterans Health Administration • Dallas, TX

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Ancillary Testing Coordinator provides oversight and guidance for testing programs conducted outside the physical confines of the main laboratory and ensures that the VANTHCS ancillary testing program meets applicable requirements and standards. The position provides oversight for all point-of-care testing locations and requires specialized training and experience.

The coordinator develops and recommends policies and procedures for ancillary testing procurement and service requirements, including maintaining CLIA licenses for off-site facilities such as Community Based Outpatient Clinics. The role advises clinical-service leaders on testing needs, evaluates emerging trends and technology, and provides technical guidance, training, troubleshooting, quality assessment, and program consultation. The coordinator develops technical bulletins, procedures, training materials, and other program materials.

The position evaluates day-to-day compliance with protocols and guidelines; identifies and resolves complex data and program issues; and ensures accreditation and regulatory compliance for patient testing, results reporting, and proficiency testing. Responsibilities include overseeing proficiency-testing enrollment and results, administering remedial or blind samples as required, and transmitting corrective actions to the VA Regional Commissioners Office and CAP. The coordinator maintains the point-of-care program performance-improvement program, monitors site performance and customer feedback, and serves as performance-improvement coordinator for the Ancillary Testing Committee and Laboratory QM Committee. The role monitors and reports continuous-improvement initiatives, evaluates instruments, performs validation studies, and develops corrective actions, including recommendations for policy or protocol changes. The position may coordinate inventory management, supply acquisition, and contracts; follows safety requirements; and performs calibration and preventive maintenance of laboratory equipment.

The full performance level is GS-12. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with rotating weekends and holidays. Telework and virtual work are not available. The position is permanent and is in the Excepted Service.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizen appointments when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).
• Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
• One of the following certifications: generalist MLS certification from ASCP BOC or AMT; generalist MT certification from ASCP BOR or AMT; or categorical or specialist certification from ASCP or AMT.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• One year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level for a GS-12 assignment.
• Knowledge of medical technology concepts, principles, practices, and methodologies sufficient to oversee and guide testing programs outside the laboratory.
• Knowledge of mathematics and statistics as applied to quality control, quality assurance, proficiency testing, inspection and accreditation, and continuous quality improvement.
• Knowledge of Federal, state, and VHA laws, regulations, reference standards, and certifying or accrediting agency requirements applicable to ancillary testing sites.
• Knowledge of laboratory information technology systems and interconnectivity.
• Skill in applying new scientific and technological developments and theories to laboratory testing.
• Ability to evaluate and interpret quality-control procedures, teach others to use them, and implement corrective actions.
• Ability to meet the stated physical requirements, including light lifting and carrying under 15 pounds, reaching above the shoulder, use of fingers and both hands, walking, standing and repeated bending for 2 to 8 hours, rapid mental and muscular coordination, specified near vision and depth perception, color discrimination, and hearing (hearing aid permitted).
• Must meet the position's pre-employment conditions, including applicable drug screening, background/security investigation, onboarding and identification requirements, seasonal influenza vaccination, and a 1- or 2-year trial period.

Nice To Haves

• Experience preparing and coordinating regulatory inspections to ensure organizational readiness and compliance with applicable requirements, standards, and internal procedures.
• Experience developing, reviewing, revising, and maintaining standard operating procedures to meet regulatory requirements, industry standards, and organizational policies.
• Experience planning, executing, and documenting validation and verification activities for processes, equipment, systems, and procedures.
• Experience coordinating and managing proficiency-testing activities to evaluate laboratory performance, analytical accuracy, and regulatory and accreditation compliance.
• Experience delivering laboratory instruction and practical demonstrations to trainees, laboratory personnel, and other end users on techniques, equipment operation, testing procedures, and analytical methods.

Responsibilities

• Develop and recommend policies and procedures for ancillary testing procurement and service requirements, including maintaining CLIA licenses for off-site facilities.
• Consult with clinical-service leadership to identify ancillary testing needs, assess emerging trends and technology, and adopt appropriate methods.
• Provide technical advice, training, troubleshooting, quality assessment, and ancillary testing program consultation.
• Develop technical bulletins, procedures, training materials, and other program materials.
• Evaluate ancillary testing activities for ongoing compliance with established protocols and guidelines.
• Identify, define, and resolve complex data and ancillary testing program issues.
• Ensure accreditation and regulatory compliance for patient testing, results reporting, and proficiency testing.
• Ensure testing sites are enrolled in a CAP-approved proficiency-testing program; review results; administer remedial or blind samples as required; and transmit corrective actions to the VA Regional Commissioners Office and CAP.
• Maintain the point-of-care program performance-improvement program and monitor performance and customer feedback across ancillary testing sites.
• Serve as performance-improvement coordinator for the Ancillary Testing Committee and Laboratory QM Committee; monitor and report continuous-improvement initiatives.
• Evaluate instruments and perform validation studies.
• Develop and implement corrective actions, including recommendations for policy or protocol changes when deficiencies are identified.
• May coordinate inventory management, supply acquisition, and contracts.
• Follow safety requirements.
• Perform calibration and preventive maintenance of laboratory equipment.

Benefits

• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, comprising 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 birth, adoption, or foster-care placement of a child.
• Eligible full-time employees with total family income below $144,000 may receive a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, 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 VA contributions of up to 5%.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term-life, and long-term-care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.

What This Job Offers

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