Lead Clinical Lab Scientist

Veterans Health Administration • Murfreesboro, TN

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist serves in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service at the VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, which provides comprehensive and complex laboratory services. The incumbent provides day-to-day technical leadership, distributes workload, and ensures effective use of resources for the assigned laboratory section. The role covers section operations, including work assignments, workload and inventory management, staff training, instrumentation, testing methodologies, and regulatory compliance. The incumbent may serve as a liaison to the supervisor and other medical-center departments or divisions.

The position includes orienting and evaluating staff competency; identifying continuing education and training needs; coordinating daily laboratory activities; writing or modifying technical procedures; providing technical instruction; and ensuring adherence to policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements. The incumbent advises on actions when test results or samples are unacceptable and coordinates or performs quality-control reviews and method-verification activities. The role also includes preparing reports and maintaining records, addressing informal complaints, reporting team performance and training needs, and providing input on personnel matters. The incumbent communicates the organization’s strategic plan, mission, vision, and values; oversees staff who teach and train new personnel or students; and provides courteous, respectful, policy-consistent service to patients, visitors, volunteers, and medical-center staff. Services must be appropriate to patients’ age and developmental needs.

This is a full-time position with a Monday–Friday schedule of 2:00 p.m.–10:30 p.m.; weekends and holidays are required as needed. The position is not telework or virtual. An Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) may be available to eligible applicants, subject to VHA approval; awards may be up to $200,000 over one to five years. Sign-on and relocation incentives are not authorized.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
• Must possess an eligible generalist or categorical/specialist clinical laboratory certification from ASCP or AMT, as specified in the announcement.
• For GS-12, one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-11 full-performance level, directly related to the position.
• Knowledge of medical technology applicable to a wide range of duties and ability to solve complex clinical laboratory problems.
• Skill in maintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing laboratory instrumentation.
• Ability to develop procedures for new tests and modify existing procedures and methods to resolve complex problems.
• Ability to manage and coordinate daily work activities and assignments in a section.
• Ability to provide or coordinate staff development and training.
• Ability to provide technical guidance to physicians, nurses, and other clinical staff regarding testing, specimen requirements, and results.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Must be a U.S. citizen, subject to the stated limited exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Must meet the stated pre-employment conditions, including applicable drug screening, background/security investigation, pre-employment physical, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, as applicable.
• Physical ability to stand and walk regularly, use manual dexterity and visual acuity, sit and concentrate for extended periods, intermittently lift 15–44 pounds and carry under 15 pounds, and perform intermittent stooping and kneeling.
• Ability to read and comprehend ordinary type and computer screens, hear (hearing aids permitted), and work amid constant noise and closely with others.
• Ability to maintain accuracy and emotional stability in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities and stressful situations.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day technical leadership for the assigned laboratory section and distribute workload effectively.
• Manage section operations, including staff work assignments, workload, inventory, and completion of assignments.
• Prepare reports and maintain records of work status; report team performance, progress, training needs, behavioral problems, and personnel needs.
• Identify, distribute, and balance work; coach staff and facilitate problem solving.
• Orient and evaluate assigned staff competency, identify continuing education and training needs, and coordinate daily laboratory activities.
• Write or modify technical procedures and provide technical instruction.
• Ensure compliance with policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
• Advise on actions to take when test results or specimens are unacceptable.
• Coordinate or perform quality-control reviews and method-verification activities.
• Analyze testing methodologies and oversee training and instrumentation in the assigned area.
• Serve as a liaison to the supervisor and other medical-center departments or divisions as appropriate.
• Oversee staff assigned to teach and train new personnel or students.
• Communicate the organization’s strategic plan, mission, vision, and values.
• Provide courteous, respectful, and consistent customer service in accordance with established policies and procedures, including handling conflicts constructively.
• Provide care or services appropriate to patients’ age and cognitive, emotional, and chronological maturation.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and approval; award amount may be up to $200,000 over one to five years.
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered based on qualifications or VA needs.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, including annual leave, sick leave, and 11 paid Federal holidays.
• Potential 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.
• Potential childcare subsidy for eligible full-time employees 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 programs may be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

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