Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist

Veterans Health Administration • New York, NY

20d • Onsite

About The Position

The Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist works in the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service at the VA New York Harbor Healthcare System. The incumbent leads assigned specialty-area operations and collaborates with team members to coordinate tasks, priorities, goals, and achievements with management. Specialty areas may include urinalysis, chemistry, special chemistry, hematology, coagulation, immunohematology, and microbiology.

The role serves as a subject-matter expert for complex, unique, or emerging testing; advises organizational levels on test selection and interpretation in clinical context; and identifies alternatives when testing may not resolve diagnostic ambiguity. The incumbent maintains quality assurance and process control, monitors quality-control data, and assists with equipment calibration and preventive maintenance. The position also prepares reports and operating procedures, maintains records and administrative information, presents work-related information to the supervisor, and identifies appropriate training needs.

The work schedule is 7:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m.; the schedule may be discussed with the hiring manager. Telework is not available, and the position is not virtual. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change-of-station assistance are not authorized.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA policy exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
• One of the specified certifications: generalist MLS certification from ASCP BOC or AMT; generalist MT certification from ASCP BOR or AMT; or an applicable categorical or specialist certification from ASCP or AMT. Categorical and specialist certifications are limited to relevant lab sections or specified non-section-specific assignments.
• One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level for GS-12 assignments.
• 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 address complex and difficult situations.
• 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 clinical staff about testing, specimen requirements, and results.
• Successful completion of applicable pre-employment screening and onboarding requirements, including a drug test for testing-designated positions, background/security investigation, and physical examination if applicable.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA health care personnel.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period and receive written certification for continued employment upon its completion.
• Foreign education used to qualify must meet the stated equivalency requirements; qualifying applicants using foreign education must provide the required foreign-education documentation.
• Physical requirements are governed by VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Nice To Haves

• Two years of experience as a Lead Tech.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all aspects of operations in assigned specialty areas, including records and reports, testing methodologies, training, instrumentation, and compliance.
• Coordinate tasks, priorities, goals, needs, and achievements with team members and management.
• Act as a liaison between assigned specialty areas and the supervisor.
• Provide expert advice and consultation on difficult, complex, unique, and emerging tests.
• Advise organizational levels on specialized testing, including test appropriateness, clinical context, and usefulness of test information.
• Advise on alternate testing to address ambiguities in clinical diagnoses.
• Identify, define, and resolve issues involving complex data or unique or controversial testing without direct precedent.
• Maintain process control through a multifaceted quality assurance program and monitor and review quality-control data.
• Assist with and oversee laboratory equipment calibration and preventive maintenance.
• Prepare reports and operating procedures, maintain records and administrative information, and present work-related information to the supervisor.
• Identify training needs appropriate to the type and complexity of laboratory services performed.
• Accept assigned specialty areas as needed to meet clinical laboratory requirements, at the discretion of the Laboratory Manager and/or Medical Director.
• Manage and coordinate daily work activities and assignments in a section and provide or coordinate staff development and training.
• Provide guidance and technical direction to physicians, nurses, and other clinical staff on testing, specimen requirements, and results.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package, with access to benefits for employees and their families; specific benefits depend on position eligibility.
• Selected applicants may request consideration of prior federal or military service for annual-leave accrual credit; approval is not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

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