Clinical Laboratory Scientist

Military Treatment Facilities under DHA • Fort Belvoir, VA

20h • Onsite

About The Position

This position is located in a clinical laboratory at A.T. Augusta Military Medical Center. The incumbent coordinates the full range of clinical laboratory services, with a focus on microbiology and infectious disease testing. The position is being recruited through Direct Hire Authority for certain Department of Defense personnel positions in the competitive service.

The role develops and implements microbiology procedures and standard operating procedures, supports compliance with Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute and College of American Pathologists standards, and helps ensure testing meets accreditation, regulatory, and quality requirements. The incumbent also oversees troubleshooting, resolves complex testing and quality issues, leads staff education and workflow prioritization, and manages quality assurance and improvement activities.

Requirements

• Meet the basic education and training requirement through one of the listed pathways: an appropriate bachelor's or higher degree and an accredited medical laboratory scientist/clinical laboratory scientist program; an approved four-year course of study including 12 months of medical technology training; or a qualifying degree and coursework combined with five years of acceptable full-time clinical laboratory experience.
• Have one year of specialized experience performing highly technical infectious disease analyses in a microbiology/infectious disease laboratory; operating automated blood culture and identification/antimicrobial susceptibility testing platforms; and overseeing quality assurance and performance improvement.
• Specialized experience must be demonstrated through work experience; education cannot substitute for this experience requirement.
• Provide proof of U.S. citizenship.
• If using foreign education to meet requirements, provide an evaluation showing it is equivalent to U.S. accredited education or that the courses received full credit at a U.S.-accredited college or university.
• Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination based on a background investigation.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
• Complete a one-year probationary period; continued employment requires written certification that it advances the public interest.
• Use direct deposit for pay.

Nice To Haves

• Certification as a Medical Technologist (MT) or Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) from ASCP, AMT, or another board or registry deemed comparable by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs or its designee.

Responsibilities

• Implement microbiology protocols.
• Develop standard operating procedures for bacteriology, mycology, parasitology, AFB, microscopy, organism identification, molecular testing, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing in accordance with CLSI and CAP standards.
• Ensure microbiology testing meets CAP accreditation requirements, regulatory expectations, and laboratory quality standards.
• Oversee troubleshooting of microbiology instruments, methods, and manual testing procedures.
• Resolve unusual results, testing discrepancies, contamination events, instrument issues, quality-control failures, and discordant culture or molecular findings.
• Lead staff education and workflow prioritization.
• Manage quality assurance and improvement activities.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package, with benefits available to the employee and family; specific benefits depend on position type and should be confirmed with the hiring agency.

What This Job Offers

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