Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist

Veterans Health Administration • Augusta, ME

15h • Onsite

About The Position

The Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) works in the Pathology and Laboratory Service at the VA Maine Healthcare System in Augusta, Maine. This is a full-time position scheduled for 40 hours per week, with a schedule that varies. The role leads operations in an assigned laboratory specialty, coordinating staff work and daily laboratory activities and supporting compliance, training, and quality practices.

The Lead CLS distributes and balances work, coaches staff, and facilitates problem solving. The position is responsible for work assignments, workload management, and completion of staff assignments, as well as maintaining records and reports, analyzing testing methodologies, and overseeing training, instrumentation, and compliance. The Lead CLS may serve as a liaison to the supervisor and other medical center departments. The role also includes orienting and evaluating staff competency, identifying continuing education and training needs, writing or modifying technical procedures, providing technical instruction, and ensuring that policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements are followed.

The position is graded at GS-12. Applicants must meet the applicable education, certification, and experience requirements, or qualify under the stated grandfathering provision. The role is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to program eligibility and approval. Applications must be submitted within four months of appointment; approved awards may be up to $200,000 for one to five years. Former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply. The position is not authorized for telework, virtual work, compressed or flexible scheduling, relocation incentive, or permanent change of station.

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.
• Meet one certification option: MLS generalist certification from ASCP BOC or AMT; MT generalist certification from ASCP BOR or AMT; or categorical or specialist certification from ASCP or AMT, subject to the stated restrictions on categorical and specialist certifications.
• One year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-11 level for the GS-12 grade determination, unless qualifying under the applicable grandfathering provision.
• Demonstrate knowledge of medical technology applicable to a wide range of duties and complex clinical laboratory problems.
• Ability to maintain, troubleshoot, and repair 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.
• Meet applicable pre-employment requirements, including drug screening for testing-designated positions, background/security investigation, pre-employment physical evaluation, and any required credentialing.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program as required for VA health care personnel.
• Complete required application and onboarding materials; selected applicants must serve a one- or two-year trial period.
• Submit a transcript with the application if relying on education to meet qualification requirements; foreign education requires the specified foreign-equivalency documentation.

Nice To Haves

• At least two years of Blood Bank experience.
• VISTA, CPRS, and VBECs experience.

Responsibilities

• Identify, distribute, and balance work; coach staff and facilitate problem solving.
• Prepare reports and maintain records of work status.
• Resolve simple, informal complaints and report team performance, progress, training needs, and behavioral problems.
• Provide information concerning promotions, reassignment, recognition of outstanding performance, and personnel needs.
• Manage all aspects of operations in the assigned specialty, including staff work assignments, workload, and completion of assignments.
• Maintain records and reports and oversee analysis of testing methodologies, training, instrumentation, and compliance.
• Act as a liaison to the supervisor and other medical center departments or divisions for the applicable laboratory specialty.
• Orient assigned staff and evaluate their competency, including identifying continuing education and training needs.
• Coordinate daily laboratory-section activities.
• Write or modify technical procedures and provide technical instruction.
• Ensure policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements are followed.
• Advise on courses of action when test results or samples are unacceptable.
• Coordinate or perform quality-control reviews and method-verification activities.
• Communicate the organization's strategic plan, mission, vision, and values.
• Provide technical guidance to physicians, nurses, and other clinical staff on testing, specimen requirements, and results.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and approval, with awards up to $200,000 for one to five years.
• Federal employee benefits package; specific benefits depend on position eligibility.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to request and approval.

What This Job Offers

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