Clinical Lab Scientist

Veterans Health Administration • Louisville, KY

10d • 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 clinical laboratory testing, evaluates specimens and results, maintains and troubleshoots laboratory equipment, and carries out quality control and assurance activities in accordance with established procedures and regulatory requirements. The position may rotate to another laboratory section or shift based on workload and staffing needs.

The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to VHA eligibility requirements and timely application. Approved awards may be up to $200,000, for an eligibility period of one to five years; award decisions are made by the VHA program office. The schedule is 11:30 a.m.–8:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, with occasional weekends or holidays. Telework and virtual work are not available. The full performance level is GS-11, with selection possible from GS-7 through GS-11.

Applicants must meet the applicable education and certification requirements, or qualify under the stated exception for non-certified applicants. The role has physical requirements that include intermittent lifting and carrying, walking and standing, bending, possible prolonged stooping or kneeling, distinguishing basic colors, reading computer screens, working in constant noise and close proximity to others, maintaining accuracy in a fast-paced environment, emotional stability in stressful situations, and wearing required personal protective equipment.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens under VA policy.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university, unless qualifying under an applicable grandfathering provision.
• Generalist MLS certification from ASCP BOC or AMT, or generalist MT certification from ASCP BOR or AMT; alternatively, non-certified applicants may qualify under the stated VA exception and must actively pursue certification.
• For GS-07: meet the basic requirements; no additional experience beyond them is required.
• For GS-09: one year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade, or a master's degree or two academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education in medical technology or a directly related science; also demonstrate the specified knowledge and abilities in clinical laboratory testing, quality control and assurance, equipment maintenance, teamwork, interpreting instructions, and testing phases.
• For GS-11: one year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade, 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; also demonstrate the specified knowledge and abilities in laboratory science, quality assurance and performance improvement, informatics, instrumentation troubleshooting, independent result interpretation, complex instructions, and communication with healthcare teams and others.
• Meet applicable background and security investigation requirements, onboarding and identification requirements, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, as applicable.
• Meet the stated physical requirements, including the ability to lift intermittently, walk and stand, perform bending and stooping or kneeling as needed, distinguish basic colors, read ordinary print and computer screens, work in constant noise and near others, maintain accuracy in a fast-paced environment, and wear required personal protective equipment.

Nice To Haves

• Prior work experience or military service may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, subject to prior request and approval.
• Applicants with foreign education may qualify by obtaining an acceptable credential evaluation or providing a letter from ASCP BOC or AMT confirming eligibility to take the certification examination.

Responsibilities

• Perform routine and advanced clinical laboratory procedures, including tasks associated with the medical laboratory technician occupation.
• Evaluate and resolve issues related to the collection and processing of biological specimens, and determine whether specimens are suitable for analysis.
• Prepare specimens while maintaining their physiologic properties; select, perform, evaluate, and monitor testing procedures using manual and/or instrumental techniques.
• Maintain laboratory equipment, including calibration, standardization, adjustment, preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, and simple repairs; identify malfunctions and correct problems when possible.
• Perform and document quality control, quality assurance, and performance-improvement activities; maintain quality control records for equipment, reagents, and products.
• Verify instrument operation using established procedures and quality-control checks, and evaluate the validity of test data against the test system and accepted assay procedures.
• Correlate quantitative results with patient information, perform additional tests to clarify or confirm abnormal results, and promptly report abnormal results requiring physician attention.
• Generate laboratory results in the laboratory computer system and edit and verify recorded results.
• Comply with biosafety, biosecurity, and regulatory requirements, including applicable CAP and OSHA protocols.
• Refer deviations from routine procedures, unanticipated problems, and unfamiliar situations to more experienced staff for assistance or decisions.
• Rotate to another laboratory section or shift as management deems necessary based on workload and staffing requirements.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program, with approved awards of up to $200,000 for one to five years, subject to eligibility and program approval.
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered based on higher or unique qualifications or VA needs.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, consisting of 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 may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to income and other eligibility limits.
• 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 may be carried into retirement.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to approval.

What This Job Offers

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