Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist

Veterans Health Administration•Houston, TX

6d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is in the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, South Central VA Health Care Network (VISN 16), Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston, Texas, within the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service, Evening Core Lab Section. The Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist serves as an expert and provides authoritative advice and consultation on difficult, complex, unique, or emerging tests requiring specialized knowledge. The role assists with overseeing the implementation and validation of new tests and helps ensure the section’s testing, instrumentation, quality systems, and operations meet applicable requirements. The position maintains reagents, supplies, and stock levels; serves as a primary information resource for current instrumentation; and evaluates developments in laboratory instrumentation and automation. It coordinates quality-control and proficiency-testing activities, maintains quality-assurance records and procedures, evaluates the validity of test data, and monitors compliance with protocols and regulatory requirements. The position also supports staff training and competency activities, complex instrument maintenance and troubleshooting, procedure-manual updates, and clinical training experiences where applicable. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 3:30 p.m. to 12:00 a.m., and may change based on facility needs. Telework is not available. The position is not virtual. The work is performed in an office/clinic laboratory setting and may involve handling several tasks at once in stressful situations. Physical activities may include standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing; personal protective equipment may be required.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA exception for appointment of non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
Proficiency in written and spoken English.
A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
Meet one of the certification options: 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. A qualifying current VHA employee may meet the grandfathering provision described in the VA qualification standard.
One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level for GS-12.
Knowledge of medical technology applicable to a wide range of duties and 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 guidance and technical direction to physicians, nurses, and other clinical staff on testing, specimen requirements, and results.
Must pass the required pre-employment physical evaluation and applicable background/security investigation.
Must participate in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program and satisfy the stated pre-employment drug-testing requirement for testing-designated positions.
Must complete the required online onboarding process and application documentation.
Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, as applicable.

Responsibilities

Provide expert advice and consultation on difficult, complex, unique, or emerging tests requiring specialized knowledge.
Assist with overseeing implementation and validation of new tests.
Maintain, monitor, and prepare reagents for use in the Evening Core Lab Section.
Monitor supplies and stock levels and request replacements as needed to support operations.
Serve as a primary source of information about current laboratory instrumentation.
Evaluate new and evolving developments in laboratory instrumentation and automation.
Ensure compliance with requirements of regulatory agencies, including CAP, JC, AABB, FDA, OSHA, and federal regulations.
Coordinate quality-control activities with the Supervisor.
Coordinate proficiency-testing programs for the appropriate laboratory specialty.
Maintain and monitor recordkeeping systems, establish effective quality-control procedures, and identify and implement needed changes to the quality-assurance program.
Evaluate the validity of data by integrating and correlating test data with other laboratory and patient data.
Monitor conformity to protocols using medical technology principles and theories.
Review SOPs for quality-assurance standards, including procedures for validation and training and certification of personnel.
Monitor test analyses and specimen examinations to ensure acceptable performance.
Ensure corrective action is initiated when test performance deviates from established specifications.
Attend vendor training for complex analytical instruments and train employees in their operation.
Perform complex maintenance procedures and troubleshoot instrumentation as an in-house expert.
Update procedure manuals for specific laboratory functions.
Oversee clinical training experiences or personnel training programs where such programs exist.
Recommend guidelines or policies for non-routine or complex assignments.
Assist the Evening Shift Supervisor with the competency program.