Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist - Microbiology, Sendout, and Central Processing

Veterans Health Administration • Chicago, IL

10d • Onsite

About The Position

The Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) leads operations in the assigned laboratory specialty area, including Microbiology, Sendout, and Central Processing. The role communicates the organization’s strategic plan, mission, vision, and values; distributes and balances work; coaches staff; facilitates problem solving; maintains work-status records and reports; addresses simple informal complaints; and reports team performance, progress, training needs, behavioral issues, personnel needs, and recognition or reassignment information. The Lead CLS is responsible for work assignments, workload management, completion of staff assignments, records and reports, testing methodology analysis, training, instrumentation, and compliance. The position may serve as a liaison to the supervisor and other medical-center departments or divisions.

The Lead CLS provides expert advice and consultation on difficult, complex, unique, or emerging tests. The role designs workflow, advises organizational levels on specialized testing and test appropriateness in clinical context, recommends alternate testing when needed, and resolves complex or unprecedented issues related to data and testing. It coordinates daily laboratory activity, staff orientation and competency evaluation, technical instruction, procedure development or modification, and quality-control reviews and method verification. The Lead CLS monitors workflow and equipment maintenance, develops and coordinates quality-control and preventive-maintenance programs, recommends instrumentation, evaluates emerging trends and technology, and applies applicable laws, policies, regulations, licensing, and accreditation requirements to maintain process control and quality assurance. The position also coordinates teaching activities for Medical Technology students in an NMCLS-accredited CLS Program and complies with federal regulations associated with the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act of 1988.

This is a full-time, non-telework and non-virtual position. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with rotating weekends and holidays. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station benefits are not authorized. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, subject to its eligibility rules, application deadline, and program approval; awards may be up to $200,000 for one to five years.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university; transcripts are required.
• One of the following certifications: 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.
• At least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11), directly related to the position.
• 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.
• Successful completion of applicable background/security investigation and onboarding requirements.
• Compliance with the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program for health-care personnel.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, as applicable, and receive written certification for continued employment after the trial period.

Responsibilities

• Communicate the organization’s strategic plan, mission, vision, and values.
• Identify, distribute, and balance work; coach staff; and facilitate problem solving.
• Prepare reports and maintain records of work status, performance, progress, training needs, behavioral problems, and personnel needs.
• Manage operations in the specialty area, including work assignments, workload, staff assignments, records, testing methodologies, training, instrumentation, and compliance.
• Serve as a liaison to the supervisor and other medical-center departments or divisions as appropriate.
• Provide authoritative technical advice and consultation on difficult, complex, unique, or emerging laboratory tests.
• Conduct studies and recommend changes to correct deficiencies and improve the specialty area.
• Recommend new or replacement instrumentation and design workflow to accomplish specialty-area objectives.
• Advise on specialized testing, test appropriateness, clinical context, and alternate testing to resolve diagnostic ambiguities.
• Identify and resolve complex or unprecedented issues involving testing data and results.
• Receive referrals of abnormal or unusual results and technical or administrative issues, advise on appropriate action, and monitor resolution.
• Conduct ongoing reviews of work, workflow, and equipment maintenance in assigned laboratory sections.
• Plan, develop, modify, implement, and coordinate quality-control and preventive-maintenance programs to meet accreditation requirements.
• Analyze emerging trends and technology and adopt appropriate testing methods.
• Apply laws, policies, regulatory, licensing, and accrediting requirements to specialized testing and maintain process control through quality assurance.
• Coordinate staff orientation, competency assessment, continuing education, and training; provide technical instruction and direction.
• Write or modify technical procedures and advise on action when results or samples are unacceptable.
• Coordinate or perform quality-control reviews and method-verification activities.
• Coordinate and instruct Medical Technology students to fulfill NMCLS-accredited CLS Program requirements.
• Maintain knowledge of and comply with federal Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act of 1988 regulations.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and program approval; award amounts may be up to $200,000 for one to five years.
• Federal employee benefits package for the employee and family, with eligibility dependent on position type and other factors.

What This Job Offers

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