Supervisory Clinical Lab Scientist (Lab Manager)

Veterans Health Administration • West Palm Beach, FL

29d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. The Supervisory Clinical Lab Scientist (Lab Manager) shares with the Chief of Laboratory Service/medical director full responsibility for managing and supervising all phases of laboratory service operations in a complexity index group 1 laboratory or in a complexity index group 2 laboratory based on the Hospital Complexity Level as designated in Office of Productivity, Efficiency, and Staffing (OPES) VHA Facility Complexity Model History. The Supervisory Clinical Lab Scientist (Lab Manager) supervises a large staff of nonsupervisory and supervisory personnel including at least one GS-13 subordinate. Provides guidance and serves as an authority and subject matter expert on laboratory medicine, including research, agency policies, new techniques, and procedures.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.
• Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents).
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.
• A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
• Candidates must meet one of the certification options below. (a)Generalist certification as an MLS given by ASCP BOC or AMT. (b)Generalist certification as an MT given by ASCP BOR or AMT. (c)Categorical certification or Specialist certification by ASCP or AMT. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).
• Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403 (f).
• 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level is required for all GS-14 assignments.
• The supervisory CLS serves as the Laboratory Manager (Lab Manager) and shares with the chief of laboratory service/medical director full responsibility for managing and supervising all phases of laboratory service operations where at least three of the five following criteria are met outlined below in (A) - (E): (A) The Laboratory is a complexity level index group 1 or group 2 based on the Hospital Complexity Level as designated in Office of Productivity, Efficiency, and Staffing (OPES) VHA Facility Complexity Model History. (B) The Laboratory performs at least one million standard billable tests annually (as reported to the Laboratory Management Index Program). (C) The CLS supervises a staff of non-supervisory and supervisory personnel including at least one GS-13 subordinate. (D) Lack of on-site pathologist/Chief with oversight of a large staff (typically >20 employees). (E) The CLS oversees additional services (for example, Radiology, Sterile Processing, other).
• Knowledge of concepts, principles, and methodologies of a major clinical laboratory program and operations to assess program effectiveness and provide authoritative guidance for operations, personnel, and management.
• Skill in administrative management such as budgeting, contracting, procurement, and property management in accordance with organizational (for example, VHA) regulations.
• Ability to collaborate with other departments and upper management in a medical center or health care setting or higher-level managers in regional or national offices such as VISN-level staff and VHA Central Office staff.
• Ability to plan and execute short- and long-range programs and/or goals through project management and tactical/ strategic planning.
• Ability to provide advisory, planning, and surveillance services to clinicians, laboratory directors, and supervisors on specific functions, programs, or problems that are particularly difficult, widespread, or persistent.
• Ability to solve complex problems involving unique or controversial aspects of medical technology or laboratory management, new or unconventional methods, program changes or conflicts between scientific/technological requirements and regulatory or program requirements.
• Ability to provide the full range of supervisory duties including responsibility for assignment of work, performance evaluations, selection of staff, and recommendation of awards, advancements, and disciplinary actions.

Nice To Haves

• Former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply

Responsibilities

• Develop guidelines.
• Assess laboratory effectiveness.
• Establish and maintain quality assurance programs.
• Serve as an authority on laboratory medicine.
• Serve as a consultant to local, network, and national program officials.
• Keep abreast of current research, clinical methods, and technical advances in the field.
• Develop and integrate new techniques, and procedures into laboratory programs.
• Provide direction and guidance to staff.
• Develop and manage program budget and resource usage, inventory, acquisition, and contracting processes.
• Maintain coverage throughout the laboratory and active recruitment and personnel selection functions.
• Interpret and provide technical guidance on agency policies and procedures.
• Provide first line supervision to the laboratory section supervisors (Blood Bank, Chemistry, Hematology, Coagulation, Urinalysis, Microbiology, Off-Hours, and support specialists - Lab Information Manager (ADPAC) and Ancillary [Point of Care] Testing Coordinator) and second line supervision to all Clinical Laboratory Scientists, medical technicians, histology technologists, histology technicians, cytology technologists, healthcare technicians, and clerical personnel.
• Responsible for consulting with the P&LMS Medical Director and informing him/her of major problems and decisions in these areas.
• The CLS must spend 25% or more of their time providing administrative and technical supervision and perform major duties above those at the FPL that consist of significant scope, complexity, difficulty, and variety.
• The CLS must supervise at least one staff member at the GS-13 grade level.
• The CLS exercises a full range of supervisory responsibilities in planning, directing, and assessing work of subordinate staff.
• This individual develops guidelines, assesses laboratory effectiveness, and establishes and maintains quality assurance and quality management programs.
• The CLS consults with or serves as a consultant for local, network, and national programs and/or officials.
• The CLS manages regulatory affairs and compliance and develops and manages program budget and resource usage, inventory, acquisition, and contracting processes.
• They assist and participate in educational programs affiliated with institutions providing training for individuals in laboratory or other related medical fields of study.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP)
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
• After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
• After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66 .
• Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
• Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)

What This Job Offers

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