Clinical Laboratory Scientist - Generalist

Veterans Health Administration • Oklahoma City, OK

2d • Onsite

About The Position

A Clinical Laboratory Scientist performs complex diagnostic testing across multiple specialties within the Pathology and Laboratory Service at the Oklahoma City VA Medical Center. The role ensures accurate testing processes, maintains instruments, troubleshoots issues, conducts quality control, validates results, supports patient care, and manages laboratory projects independently.

The position performs laboratory procedures ranging from routine to advanced testing, including body fluid differentials, special stains, cardiac panels, microbiology, and blood bank testing. It supports all phases of testing, specimen preparation and processing, instrument maintenance, quality assurance, interpretation and reporting of results, evaluation of new methods and instrumentation, laboratory information-system accuracy, regulatory and safety compliance, supply management, and staff training. The full performance level is GS-11; selection may be at GS-7 through GS-11.

The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with rotating holidays and weekends. Telework is not available, and the position is not virtual. The position requires a bachelor's degree or higher and qualifying generalist certification, or eligibility under an applicable exception for non-certified applicants. Grade placement depends on relevant experience or graduate education. The preferred experience is at least one year of blood bank experience.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university is required.
• Meet one of the certification options: generalist MLS certification from ASCP BOC or AMT, or generalist MT certification from ASCP BOR or AMT. The announcement also allows qualifying non-certified applicants under specified eligibility routes to sit for the MLS examination; they must work under certified CLS supervision and are limited to entry-level appointment until certified.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English is required.
• GS-07: No experience beyond the basic requirements is required.
• 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 closely related science. Required knowledge and abilities include laboratory testing policies and procedures, quality control and assurance, equipment and routine maintenance, teamwork, following written instructions, and accurate performance of all testing phases.
• GS-11: One year of creditable experience equivalent to GS-09, or three full years of progressively higher graduate education, a Ph.D., or an equivalent doctoral degree in medical technology or a related science. Required knowledge and abilities include advanced clinical laboratory science principles; quality control, assurance, and performance improvement; informatics, data flow, and laboratory processes; instrument maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair; independent technical judgment in analyzing and interpreting results; applying complex written instructions; and effective communication and consultation with healthcare teams, external partners, customers, and patients.
• Meet applicable education and foreign-education equivalency requirements; qualifying foreign education must be evaluated or supported as specified in the announcement.
• Meet pre-employment conditions, including applicable background/security investigation, urinalysis for selected applicants, onboarding, acceptable identification, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to the conditions described in the announcement.
• Meet the physical requirements, including moderate lifting up to 20 pounds, pushing, pulling, reaching, manual dexterity, standing and walking, bending and kneeling, visual acuity and color discrimination, hearing, and cognitive and emotional capacity.

Nice To Haves

• At least one year of blood bank experience.

Responsibilities

• Perform routine through advanced laboratory procedures across multiple specialties and identify and resolve testing issues using scientific principles.
• Carry out pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical testing phases and verify specimen suitability and processing.
• Prepare specimens, reagents, and equipment; ensure instruments function properly; and perform complex testing, including body fluid differentials, special stains, cardiac panels, microbiology, and blood bank testing.
• Maintain, calibrate, troubleshoot, and document laboratory instruments; perform preventive maintenance and minor repairs.
• Implement quality control and quality assurance measures, maintain records, validate data, and take corrective action as needed.
• Integrate laboratory findings with clinical data, perform and interpret additional or confirmatory testing, and promptly report critical values.
• Respond to inquiries about test results, methodologies, and interpretations, and recommend follow-up testing when appropriate.
• Support evaluation and implementation of new techniques and instrumentation, perform method comparisons, and provide recommendations.
• Manage laboratory results in the information system and identify and correct clerical or analytical errors.
• Comply with biosafety, biosecurity, OSHA, HIPAA, VHA, and local safety directives; maintain a safe and organized work environment.
• Monitor and manage laboratory supplies and communicate supply needs to leadership.
• Collaborate with other services to resolve issues and escalate complex matters to supervisors.
• Communicate professionally and provide customer service to clinicians, patients, and stakeholders.
• Train and mentor new staff, students, and lower-graded personnel; support educational programs and continuing education.
• Manage workload, prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and exercise independent judgment.
• Maintain professional credentials and perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step may be considered based on higher or unique qualifications or VA special 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.
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to approval.
• 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 and other eligibility limits.
• 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.

What This Job Offers

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